Above:  The Union Jack

Image in the Public Domain

Walter John Mathams (1853-1931) was a British Baptist (187os-1900) then Presbyterian minister and hymn writer.

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Now in the Days of Youth

Jesus, Friend of Little Children

Christ of the Upward Way

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Above:  Interfaith Children’s Movement Prayer Breakfast, October 22, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = Pilgrim Hymnal (1931/1935), U.S. Congregationalist

Words written before 1913 but published in Worship and Song (1913)

Words by Walter John Mathams (1853-1931)

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1.  Now in the days of youth,

When life flows fresh and free,

Thou Lord of all our hearts and lives

We give ourselves to thee;

Our fervent gift receive,

And fit us to fulfill,

Through all our days, in all our ways,

Our Heav’nly Father’s will.

2.  Teach us where’er we live,

To act as in thy sight,

And do what thou wouldst have us do

With radiant delight;

Not choosing what is great,

Nor spurning what is small,

But take as from thy hands our tasks

And glorify them all.

3.  Teach us to love the true,

The beautiful and pure,

And let us not for one short hour

An evil thought endure.

But give us grace to stand

Decided, brave, and strong,

The lovers of all holy things,

The foes of all things wrong.

4.  Spirit of Christ, do thou

Our first bright days inspire,

That we may live the life of love

And loftiest desire;

And be by thee prepared

For larger years to come,

And for the life ineffable

Within the Father’s home.

Above:  St. George’s Episcopal Church, Griffin, Georgia, May 4, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = The Church Hymnary (1927), Presbyterian

Words (1882) by for the Baptist Psalms and Hymns for School and Home (1882) by Walter John Mathams (1853-1931)

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1.  Jesus, Friend of little children,

Be a friend to me;

Take my hand and ever keep me

Close to Thee.

2.  Teach me how to grow in goodness

Daily as I grow;

Thou hast been a child, and surely

Thou dost know.

3.  Never leave me nor forsake me,

Ever be my Friend;

For I need Thee from life’s dawn

To its end.

Above:  Good Friday Pilgrimage, Atlanta, Georgia, April 18, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/6003693870076348721/6003732661277397378?banner=pwa&pid=6003732661277397378&oid=114749828757741527421)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1933), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Words (between 1909 and 1915) by Walter John Mathams (1853-1931)

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1.  Christ of the Upward Way,

My Guide divine,

Where Thou hast set Thy feet

May I place mine;

And move and march wherever Thou hast trod,

Keeping face forward up the hill of God.

2.  Give me the heart to hear

Thy voice and will,

That without fault or fear

I may fulfill

Thy purpose with a glad and holy zest,

Like one who would not bring less than his best.

3.  Give me the great stout arm

To shield the right,

And wield Thy sword of truth

With all my might,

That, in the warfare I must wage for Thee,

More than a victor I may ever be.

4.  Christ of the Upward Way,

My Guide divine,

Where Thou hast set Thy feet,

May I place mine;

And when Thy last call comes serene and clear,

Calm may my answer be, “Lord, I am here.”