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elijah cassel

Loyalty to Christ

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Words: Elijah Taylor Cassel (b. Nov. 27, 1849; d. July 3, 1930)
Music: Flora Hamilton Cassel (b. Aug. 21, 1852; d. Nov. 17, 1911)

Note: Elijah and Flora Cassel were husband and wife. Elijah Cassel was a medical doctor, who later served as a pastor. They also combined their talents on a song entitled The King’s Business (a better quality selection, in my view). The present one is another of those extremely repetitive gospel songs, with the word “loyalty” used some 37 times, counting the refrains. I suppose it does work as a rallying cry, but that seems a bit much!

The song was written in 1894 at the request of the Baptist Young People’s Union. It was sent to them, but not used, so Mr. Cassel asked for it to be returned. He then sent it to the Epworth League, a Methodist organization for young adults. They soon put it to use. Later, the BYPU thought the song had merit, and started using it themselves. That focus on a challenge to young people can be seen in the closing stanza.

(4) The strength of youth we lay at Jesus’ feet today,
’Tis loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ;
His gospel we’ll proclaim, throughout the world’s domain,
Of loyalty, loyalty, yes, loyalty to Christ.

On Hymnary.org (link below) you can see the original publication. Notice that the first line then was, “Upon the western plain / There comes the signal strain,” perhaps indicating the location of the convention for which it was initially intended. This opening remained for some time, but a 1902 book begins the broader form we have now.

(1) From over hill and plain there comes the signal strain,
’Tis loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ;
Its music rolls along, the hills take up the song,
Of loyalty, loyalty, yes, loyalty to Christ.

“On to victory! On to victory!”
Cries our great commander, “On!”
We’ll move at His command,
We’ll soon possess the land,
Through loyalty, loyalty,
Yes, loyalty to Christ.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

Loyalty. The dictionary defines it as faithfulness to one’s commitments, faithfulness to an individual or a group. Fidelity, trustworthiness and allegiance are possible synonyms. Disloyalty, when it relates to one’s country or rulers, is called treason, or being a traitor. Disloyalty to the Lord God, at least in its final form, is called apostasy–a departure from the faith.

In the Old Testament, King David’s son Solomon was blessed with many wonderful gifts. When he took the throne, his father prayed, “Give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your statutes” (I Chron. 29:19). And David advised his son, “Let your heart therefore be loyal to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day” (I Kgs. 8:61).

But over the years Solomon’s passion to serve the Lord began to fade. In disobedience to God (Deut. 17:14, 17), he acquired a huge harem, and many of the women were idol worshipers. It seemed almost inevitable that, “When Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David” (I Kgs. 11:4).

The most infamous traitor in the New Testament, perhaps the greatest in all of human history, is Judas Iscariot. While he feigned loyalty to Christ and the other disciples, he stole from the common purse (Jn. 12:6). Later, for “thirty pieces of silver” (which some estimate as being worth about twenty dollars) he agreed to betray Christ to His enemies (Matt. 26:15).

The Lord Jesus declared plainly, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money]” (Matt. 6:24). Whether the temptation to turn away comes from money, or promised pleasures, or popularity and power, or something else, no disloyalty to God is ever worth what it will cost in the long run.

(2) O hear, ye brave, the sound that moves the earth around,
’Tis loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ;
Arise to dare and do, ring out the watchword true,
Of loyalty, loyalty, yes, loyalty to Christ.

(3) Come, join our loyal throng, we’ll rout the giant wrong,
’Tis loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ;
Where Satan’s banners float we’ll send the bugle note,
Of loyalty, loyalty, yes, loyalty to Christ.

Questions:

  1. What will be the practical evidence of loyalty to Christ in one’s life?
  2. What are some other things pressing for the loyalty of our young people today?

Links:

Today in 1911 – Flora Cassel Died

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Flora Hamilton Cassell partnered with her husband, Elijah Taylor Cassel in writing the gospel songs Loyalty to Christ, and The King’s Business. He wrote the words, and his wife gave us the tunes.

Elijah Cassel trained as a doctor and practiced for a while in Nebraska. Around 1910 he entered the ministry, pastoring churches in Colorado. For her part, Flora was a trained musician and composer. She showed her musical gifts even in childhood, being able to sing and accompany herself, while still a small girl.

Loyalty to Christ was written in 1894 for the first convention of the Baptist Young People’s Union. It is a challenge to commitment to Christ, but there is little depth or spiritual insight in its message. And one wonders about the meaning of “We’ll soon possess the land.” It may be an allusion to the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites. But the parallel of that today is found in believers living in spiritual victory and the enjoyment of the abundant life Christ promised (Jn. 10:10), not in conquering a country. If evangelism is the subject, that application is not made clear in the song. For a bit more on this hymn, see Today in 1930.)

From over hill and plain there comes the signal strain,
’Tis loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ;
Its music rolls along, the hills take up the song,
Of loyalty, loyalty, yes, loyalty to Christ.

“On to victory! On to victory!”
Cries our great Commander, “On!”
We’ll move at His command,
We’ll soon possess the land,
Through loyalty, loyalty,
Yes, loyalty to Christ.

The King’s Business has a clearer biblical message. It is based on II Cor. 5:20, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” The Bible says Christians are citizens of the heavenly kingdom (Phil. 3:20), but we are here for a time as representatives of the King, to declare His message to a needy world.

I am a stranger here, within a foreign land;
My home is far away, upon a golden strand;
Ambassador to be of realms beyond the sea,
I’m here on business for my King.

This is the message that I bring,
A message angels fain would sing:
“Oh, be ye reconciled,”
Thus saith my Lord and King,

(2) More from William Cushing

William Orcutt Cushing has given us many fine gospel songs, including Hiding in Thee and Under His Wings. In 1878, he published a song of commitment called simply Follow On. Mr. Cushing said this about it:

Long­ing to give up all for Christ who had giv­en his life for me, I want­ed to be will­ing to lay ev­er­ything at his feet, with no wish but to do his will, to live hence­forth on­ly for his glo­ry. Out of this feel­ing came the hymn, ‘Fol­low On.’

Down in the valley with my Saviour I would go,
Where the flowers are blooming and the sweet waters flow;
Everywhere He leads me I would follow, follow on,
Walking in His footsteps till the crown be won.

Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!
Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!
Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!
Everywhere He leads me I would follow on!

Down in the valley with my Saviour I would go,
Where the storms are sweeping and the dark waters flow;
With His hand to lead me I will never, never fear,
Danger cannot fright me if my Lord is near.

Today in 1930 – Elijah Cassel Died

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Elijah Taylor Cassel was a medical doctor, an active Christian layman, and a gifted song leader. Around 1909 he abandoned his medical career and entered full-time Christian ministry.

Some years before, the Baptist Young People’s Union had asked him to write a hymn that they could use as a national theme. The result was the gospel song Loyalty to Christ. Cassel’s wife Flora composed the strong martial music for it.

Steadfast loyalty to the Lord was demonstrated by godly King Josiah in the Old Testament. Of him we read, “He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father [i.e. his forefather] David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (II Kgs. 22:2).

And consider how Peter and John testified before the Jewish Sanhedrin, when told not to tell others about Christ, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:18, 19-20). The Cassels’ song is a call to that kind of commitment.

From over hill and plain there comes the signal strain,
‘Tis loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ;
Its music rolls along, the hills take up the song,
Of loyalty, loyalty, yes, loyalty to Christ.

“On to victory! On to victory!”
Cries our great Commander, “On!”
We’ll move at His command,
We’ll soon possess the land,
Through loyalty, loyalty,
Yes, loyalty to Christ.

Come, join our loyal throng, we’ll rout the giant wrong,
‘Tis loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ;
Where Satan’s banners float we’ll send the bugle note,
Of loyalty, loyalty, yes, loyalty to Christ.

(2) Let Christian Faith and Hope Dispel (Data Missing)

The authorship of this encouraging hymn is unknown, but the writing must have predated 1781, when it was revised for publication. You can listen to the tune on the Cyber Hymnal.

The words reflect upon the certainty and security of salvation in Christ, as Paul describes it in Romans 8:31-39. Nothing in heaven or earth is able to separate the believer from the love of Christ.

Let Christian faith and hope dispel
The fears of guilt and woe;
The Lord Almighty is our Friend,
And who can prove a foe?

The Saviour died, but rose again
Triumphant from the grave:
And pleads our cause at God’s right hand,
Omnipotent to save.

Who then can e’er divide us more
From Jesus and His love,
Or break the sacred chain that binds
The earth to heav’n above?

Let troubles rise, and terrors frown,
And days of darkness fall;
Through Him all dangers we’ll defy,
And more than conquer all.

Nor death, nor life, nor earth, nor hell,
Nor time’s destroying sway
Can e’er efface us from His heart
Or make His love decay.

Each future period that will bless
As it has blessed the past;
He loved us from the first of time,
He loves us to the last.