You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

White to the Harvest

Representative Text

1 White already, the fields that wait,
Why should you tarry longer?
Come, O come for the hours grow late,
Ne’er will your arms be stronger.

Refrain:
White, so white, see the harvest field,
White already for reaping;
Lo, that precious and plenteous yield
Given into your keeping.

2 White already, for sun and rain,
Given to overflowing,
Pour their treasure, and not in vain,
See where the grain is growing. [Refrain]

3 White already, but where are those
Waiting with purpose steady?
Where the reapers, whose fervor glows,
Answering—“we” are ready? [Refrain]

Source: Hymns of the Kingdom: for use in religious meetings #87

Author: Julia H. Johnston

Julia Harriet Johnston, who was born on Jan. 21, 1849, at Salineville, OH, in Columbiana County. Her father was a minister and he mother was a poet. She began writing when she was nine years old but really started writing verse in high school. She lived in Peoria, Ill. Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: White already, the fields that wait
Title: White to the Harvest
Author: Julia H. Johnston
Language: English
Refrain First Line: White, so white, see the harvest field
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 2 of 2)
TextAudioPage Scan

Hymns of the Kingdom #87

Page Scan

World-Wide Hosannas #43

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.