O Son of God, our
Captain of salvation,
Thyself by suffering
schooled to human
grief,
We bless Thee for Thy
sons of consolation,
Who follow in the
steps of Thee their
Chief.
Those whom
Thy Spirit’s dread
vocation severs
To lead the vanguard
of Thy conquering
host;
Whose toilsome years
are spent in brave
endeavors
To bear Thy saving
Name from coast to
coast.
Those whose bright
faith makes feeble
hearts grow stronger,
And sends fresh
warriors to the great
campaign,
Bids the lone convert
feel estranged no
longer,
And wins the sundered
to be one again.
And all true
helpers, patient,
kind, and skillful,
Who shed Thy light
across our darkened
earth,
Counsel the doubting,
and restrain the
willful,
Soothe the sick bed,
and share the
children’s mirth.
Such was Thy
Levite, strong in
self oblation,
To cast his all at
Thine Apostles’ feet;
He whose new name,
through every
Christian nation,
From age to age our
thankful strains
repeat.
Thus, Lord, Thy
blessèd saints in
memory keeping,
Still be Thy Church’s
watchword, “Comfort
ye,”
Till in our Father’s
house shall end all
weeping,
And every want be
satisfied in Thee.
