Today in 1930 – Elijah Cassel Died
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.