Scripture Verse

I build a house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to Him. 2 Chronicles 2:4

Introduction

portrait
Cornelius T. Shaffer
1847–1919

Words: Cor­ne­li­us. T. Shaf­fer, in the Af­ri­can Me­tho­dist Epis­co­pal Hymn and Tune Book (Phi­la­del­phia: Af­ri­can Me­tho­dist Epis­co­pal Book Concern, 1898), num­ber 754.

Music: Ward ar­ranged from a Scot­tish tune by Lo­well Ma­son, 1830 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Lowell Mason (1792–1872)

Lyrics

O Lord of hosts, we seek to raise,
Houses of worship, to Thy praise;
Wilt Thou Thy people’s hearts prepare,
Who meet this day for praise and prayer?

And Lord, let living souls be fed,
On this glad day, with heavenly bread;
That they in hope of glories blessed,
May hence prepare, Thee, earthly rest.

That ev­ery­where, throughout the land,
There may to Thee a temple stand,
That there proclaimed, Thy mercy sure,
Shall stand, while time and man endure.

Jehovah, here our hearts inspire,
Baptize our souls with hallowed fire;
Bless Thou Thy people’s work for good,
And fill Thy poor with heav’nly food.

That songs triumphant—earth and sky,
May joyful to the sound reply;
And hallelujahs hence as­cend,
With prayer and praise, ’till time shall end.