1. Now let us all arise and sing
The coming kingdom of our king,
The time when all shall brothers be,
Each loving each, all loving Thee.
How long, O Lord, O Lord, how long
Shall these Thy weak ones suffer wrong?
2. O when shall dawn the glorious day
For which we hope and work and pray?
Dear Father, use what means Thou wilt
To cleanse our lives from greed and guilt;
Help us to put away our sin
And learn to bring Thy kingdom in.
Emily Greene Balch was born near Boston. She graduated from Bryn Mawr in 1889, focusing on economics. She began a teaching career at Wellesley College in 1896 focusing on the economic roles of women, immigration and consumption. She was a longtime pacifist, supporting conscientious objectors. She became a leader in the international peace movement and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946 for her work with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).
Dianne Shapiro Go to person page >
The original chant melody associated with this text [i.e., "Eternal Father, strong to save"] is found in most hymnals of denominations where chant has played a role, including the Lutheran tradition, which has produced much organ music on this well-known chant.
The setting here is by John B. Dykes (…