Scripture Verse

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. James 1:17

Introduction

Words: Ed­mund B. Sar­gant (1855–1935).

Music: Saf­fron Wal­den Ar­thur H. Brown, in The Hymn­al Com­pan­ion, 1890 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know when this hymn was writ­ten, or where to get a good pho­to of Sar­gant (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Arthur Brown (1830–1926)

Lyrics

Dear Fa­ther-Mo­ther, Thou dost grant
All good and per­fect gifts to me;
’Tis mine to raise this bea­con here,
Obedience un­to Thee.

He knows not death who Life obeys,
Nor errs at all when Truth he heeds;
While merged in Love, what hold has hate
Upon his thoughts or deeds?

Eternal Life and Truth and Love,
They who obey Thine ev­ery call,
Thy free­men are, and free­ly have
Dominion ov­er all.