Scripture Verse

Let us put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12

Introduction

Words: Mrs. E. E. Will­iams (1832–1895). Ap­peared in Gos­pel Prais­es for Use in Meet­ings of Chris­tian Wor­ship, ed­it­ed by Will­iam J. Kirk­pat­rick, J. Lin­coln Hall & Hen­ry L. Gil­mour (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia, Hall-Mack, 1899), num­ber 186.

Music: Paul­ine G. Hatch, 1899 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Will­iams’ full name, or where to get a good pho­to of her (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Pauline G. Hatch (1871–1955)

Lyrics

Volunteers are want­ed! hear the stir­ring call,
O be swift to an­swer, com­rades, one and all;
Girding on your ar­mor, haste to march away,
For the Lord is call­ing,
To the front to­day!

Refrain

Away to the bat­tle­field, away, away!
The King calls for sol­diers in His ranks to­day;
Hear the bu­gles call­ing, in­to line be fall­ing,
Forth to the bat­tle­field, away, away!

Volunteers are want­ed! val­iant men and true,
In the ranks, my bro­ther, there is room for you;
Christ is the com­mand­er, let us all ob­ey
When He gives the ord­er,
To the front to­day!

Refrain

Volunteers are want­ed! for on land and sea
Satan’s starv­ing bond­men cla­mor to be free;
Hasten to their res­cue; if you still de­lay
Blood-bought souls must per­ish,
To the front to­day!

Refrain

Volunteers are want­ed! on the bat­tle plain
Soldiers brave are fall­ing, ne’er to fight again;
Who will take their plac­es in the dead­ly fray?
Who will march with Je­sus
To the front to­day?

Refrain