Our Surest Stay

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When softly falls the twilight hour

Author: F. E. Belden
Tune: BRADBURY (Belden)
Published in 4 hymnals

Representative Text

1 When softly falls the twilight hour,
O'er moor and mountain, field and flow'r,
How sweet to leave a world of care,
And lift to heav'n the voice of pray'r!

2 In solemn midnight's silence deep,
When Nature's voice is hush'd in sleep,
Then heavy hearts with grief oppress'd
May find in pray'r the sweetest rest.

3 And when with red'ning blush of morn
The newborn day begins to dawn,
Then upward to the mercy-seat
Let pray'r ascend like incense sweet.

4 When midday's burning heat we feel,
When daily cares our hearts would steal,
O, then to heav'n we look away,
And find in pray'r our surest stay.

Source: Christ in Song: for all religious services nearly one thousand best gospel hymns, new and old with responsive scripture readings (Rev. and Enl.) #307

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Author: F. E. Belden

Belden was born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1858. He began writing music in his late teenage years after moving to California with his family. For health reasons he later moved to Colorado. He returned to Battle Creek with his wife in the early 1880s, and there he became involved in Adventist Church publishing. F. E. Belden wrote many hymn tunes, gospel songs, and related texts in the early years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Belden was able to rapidly write both music and poetry together which enabled him to write a song to fit a sermon while it was still being delivered. He also wrote songs for evangelist Billy Sunday. Though Belden’s later years were marred by misunderstandings with the church leadership over his royal… Go to person page >

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