Beacon-Light

Top Media Text Author Text Info Tune Instances

Lo, the darkness gathers round us

Author: Ellen Lakshmi Goreh
Tune: [O I often sit and ponder] (Armen)
Published in 1 hymnal

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Lo, the darkness gathers round us:
Christians, we must watch and pray;
Many secret foes surround us,
Dangers threaten night and day.
While the enemy is keeping
Careful vigil in his tower,
Should the Church of Christ be sleeping
At her ease in pleasure’s bower?

Refrain:
Let the beacon lights be burning
With a clear and ruddy glow;
Eager eyes to us are turning—
Steady gleams toward them throw!

2 Quicken we the dying embers,
And our watch lights let us trim:
Who the Master’s love remembers,
Must arise and shine for Him.
’Tis no time to be half-hearted,
Wavering, faltering, blown about.
In His service have we started?
No one, then, must be in doubt! [Refrain]

3 Let the flames be shooting upward;
Add as fuel faith and love:
And sweet hope which beckons onward:
And the graces of a dove:
Patience, gentleness, uprightness,
Joy, and true humility—
Shining forth in golden brightness:
Shining daily, hourly. [Refrain]

4 Lord, on Thee, the Rock of Ages,
Low we lay each willing heart;
Help us while the conflict rages,
And to each Thy strength impart.
Let our earnest prayers ascending
Reach the King enthroned on high:
Then shall seven-fold gifts descending
All our seven-fold needs supply. [Refrain]

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #6452

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Author: Ellen Lakshmi Goreh

Goreh, Ellen Lakshmi, daughter of the Rev. Nehemiah Goreh, a Christian convert, a Brahmin of the highest class, was born. at Benares, Sept. 11, 1853. Her mother died in Dec. the same year, and the child was adopted first by a Mr. Smailes. Through the Mutiny in 1857 Mr. Smailes lost his property, and the child was then taken into the family of the Rev. W. T. Storrs and brought to England, where she was educated, and resided until 1880, when she returned to India to take up mission work with her own countrywomen. Through Miss F. R. Havergal's advice and influence Miss Goreh published From India's Coral Strand: Hymns of Christian Faith [1883]. The best known of these hymns is "In the secret of His Presence" (Jesus all in all).… Go to person page >

^ top

Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Lo, the darkness gathers round us
Title:	Beacon-Light
Author:	Ellen Lakshmi Goreh
Meter:	8.7.8.7.8.7 D
Source:	From India's Coral Strand: Hymns of the Christian Faith (London: "Home Words" Publishing Office, 1883)
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	Let the beacon lights be burning
Copyright:	Public Domain