The Hymnbook ‎#361

361. Once to Every Man and Nation

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, some new decision,
Offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever
'Twixt that darkness and that light.

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.

3 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.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Once to every man and nation
• Title: Once to Every Man and Nation
• Author: James Russell Lowell (1845; alt.)
• Meter: 8. 7. 8. 7. D.
• Publication Date: 1955
• Scripture:
  Joshua 24:15
  ;
  1 Thessalonians 1:9
• Topic: Citizenship; Courage; Nation, The; Trial and Conflict; Life in Christ: Trial and Conflict

Tune Information

• Name: EBENEZER (TON-Y-BOTEL)
• Composer: Thomas John Williams (1890)
• Meter: 8. 7. 8. 7. D.
• Key: f minor
• Copyright: Music copyright by Gwenlyn Evans, Ltd. Used by permission.