Scripture Verse

There shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek. Isaiah 11:10

Introduction

Words: John Bell, in Hymns, Psalms and Gos­pel Songs, by James Mc­Gra­na­han et al. (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Hugh H. Mc­Gra­na­han, 1904), num­ber 456.

Music: Lou­is D. Eich­horn (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Bell or Eich­horn (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Great, and high, and ho­ly, Lord,
Heav’n and earth are full of Thee;
Spread abroad Thy pre­cious word,
Let the world Thy glo­ry see.

Refrain

Raise, raise the en­sign far, far and wide,
Out over mount­ain, hill and plain!
Tell, tell of Christ, the Cru­ci­fied,
Bring all the world to own His reign!

Why in dark­ness, still and deep,
Should the hea­then na­tions lie,
Afric’s strick­en daugh­ters weep,
India’s sons no light des­cry?

Refrain

May Thy Spir­it pierce the gloom,
Scatter night and mist afar;
Save the hea­then from their doom,
By the ris­ing Morn­ing Star.

Refrain