Scripture Verse

Preach the Gospel in the regions beyond. 2 Corinthians 10:16

Introduction

Words: Grace P. Turn­bull, in Scrip­tur­al Songs (Me­mo­ri­al Edi­tion), edited by Mary E. Cur­ri­er (Spring­field, Mas­sa­chu­setts: R. B. Cur­ri­er, 1908), num­ber 24, alt.

Music: Troyes George C. Steb­bins, 1913 Ap­peared in Im­ma­nu­el’s Praise, ed­it­ed by Charles M. Al­ex­an­der, J. Fred Scho­field & George Steb­bins (New York; Chi­cago, Il­li­nois; and Tor­on­to, Canada: Flem­ing H. Re­vell, 1914), num­ber 134. Ar­ranged by Richard W. Adams, 2022 (pub­lic do­main) (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
George C. Stebbins (1846–1945)

Lyrics

“Why didn’t you tell us soon­er?
The words came sad and low;
O ye who know the Gos­pel truths,
Why didn’t you let us know?
The Sav­ior died for all the world,
He died to save from woe;
But we ne­ver heard the sto­ry,
Why didn’t you let us know?

“You have had the Gos­pel mes­sage,
You have known the Sav­ior’s love;
Your dear ones passed from Chris­tian homes,
To the bless­èd land above.
Why did you let our fa­hers die,
And in­to si­lence go?
With no thought of Christ to com­fort,
Why didn’t you let us know?

“You say you are Christ’s dis­ci­ples,
That you try His work to do;
And yet His ve­ry last com­mand
Is dis­ob­eyed by you.
’Tis in­deed a won­drous sto­ry!
He loved the whole world so,
That He came and died to save us!
Why didn’t you let us know?

“O souls re­deemed by Je­sus,
Think what your Lord hath done!
He came to earth and suf­fered,
And died for ev­ery­one.
He ex­pect­ed you to tell it!
As on your way you go;
But you kept the mes­sage from us!
Why didn’t you let us know?

“O hear the pa­the­tic cry­ing,
Ye who dwell in Chris­tian lands!
For Af­ri­ca stands be­fore you,
With plead­ing, out­stretched hands;
You may not be able now to come,
But some in your stead may go;
Will you not send us teach­ers?
Will you not let us know?”