O'er Continent and Ocean

O’er continent and ocean,
From city, field, and wood,
Still speak, O Lord, Thy messengers
Of peace and brotherhood.
In Athens and Benares,
In Rome and Galilee,
They fronted kings and conquerors,
And taught mankind of Thee.

We hear, O Lord, these voices,
And hail them as Thine own,
They speak as speak the winds and tides
On planets far and lone.
One God, the Life of Ages,
One rule, His will above,
One realm our wide humanity,
One law, the law of love.

The tribes and nations falter
In rivalries of fear;
The fires of hate to ashes turn,
To dust the sword and spear.
Thy Word alone remaineth;
That word we speak again;
O’er sea and shore and continent,
To all the sons of men.