Onward, Forward

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Have you heard the marching orders

Author: Mrs. C. H. Morris
Tune: [Have you heard the marching orders]
Published in 7 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Have you heard the marching orders
From the mighty King of kings?
All along the line of battle
Like a clarion call it rings;
Gird ye on the gospel armor!
Onward! forward, soldiers true!
In the conflict fiercely raging,
Christ, the Lord, has need of you.

Refrain:
Onward! forward!
Let the glorious watchword ring!
Onward! forward!
Help the victory to bring!
Soldiers true must never sound retreat,
Soldiers true must never know defeat!
Onward! forward!
We are under marching orders of the King.

2 Have you felt the call to duty
Surging, pulsing in your breast?
Voices which would not be silent,
Would not let you longer rest?
‘Tis the Spirit’s call to service,
Rise, and at His bidding go
To the fields with harvest bending,
And the joys of reaping know. [Refrain]

3 There are lands which must be taken,
Battles to be fought and won,
Precious sheaves which must be gathered,
So much work yet to be done!
Stand no longer idly waiting,
When you precious souls might win;
Haste away, and with the faithful
Let your name be counted in. [Refrain]

Source: The King of Glory #116

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Author: Mrs. C. H. Morris

Lelia (Mrs. C.H.) Morris (1862-1929) was born in Pennsville, Morgan County, Ohio. When her family moved to Malta on the Muskingum River she and her sister and mother had a millinery shop in McConnelsville. She and her husband Charles H. Morris were active in the Methodist Episcopal Church and at the camp meetings in Sebring and Mt. Vernon. She wrote hymns as she did her housework. Although she became blind at age 52 she continued to write hymns on a 28-foot long blackboard that her family had built for her. She is said to have written 1000 texts and many tunes including "Sweeter as the years go by." Mary Louise VanDyke Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Have you heard the marching orders
Title:	Onward, Forward
Author:	Mrs. C. H. Morris
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	Onward, forward, let the glorious watchword ring
Copyright:	Public Domain