Once to Every Man and Nation

Once to Every Man and Nation

Text written in 1845 by James Russell Lowell (1819-1891)

Sung to the tune TON-Y-BOTEL, composed in 1890 by T. J. Williams (1869-1944)

Joshua 24:15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

V. 1 Once to every man and nation

Comes the moment to decide,

In the strife of truth with falsehood,

For the good or evil side;

Some great cause, God's new Messiah,

Offering each the bloom or blight,

And the choice goes by forever

'Twixt that darkness and that light.

V. 2 Then to side with truth is noble

When we share her wretched crust,

Ere her cause bring fame and profit,

And 'tis prosperous to be just;

Then it is the brave man chooses,

While the coward stands aside,

Till the multitude make virtue

Of the faith they had denied.

V. 3 By the light of burning martyrs,

Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,

Toiling up new Calvaries ever

With the cross that turns not back;

New occasions teach new duties,

Time makes ancient good uncouth;

They must upward still and onward,

Who would keep abreast of truth.

Psalm 121:5 The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand.

V. 4 Though the cause of evil prosper,

Yet 'tis truth alone is strong;

Though her portion be the scaffold,

And upon the throne be wrong;

Yet that scaffold sways the future,

And, behind the dim unknown,

Standeth God within the shadow,

Keeping watch above His own.

Played on harp 

Bonus link, an organ fantasia based on this hymn 

If you're not used to listening to a fantasia-type piece, you're in for a treat.  The hymn tune isn't "spelled out" for you in the piece.  You have to listen for bits and pieces and elements of it (such as the triplet rhythm pattern).  This fantasia is lovely, and you'll find it challenges your musical senses as you listen to it.  Enjoy!