The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-06
Abraham Lincoln Took Delight in His
Singing.

Abraham Lincoln Took Delight In HIS
Singing.
Philip Phillips. who died last month. was
the pioneer of song evangelsts and COM
poser of many of the most popular hymns
In use by the Protestant churches OF
America and Europe. A national repute
was given him by President Lincoln, who
was deeply touched by Phillips singing
of the hymn, Your Mission" and re-
quested its repetition in the proceedings
of the United States Christian Commits
sion at Washington City. Others present
on that occasion were: William II. Sew
ard, James G. Blaine, Schuyler Colfax.
Edwin NJ. Stanton and James A. Gar
field. After the hymn had been sung
once the president handed this note TO
Seward, the chairman:
Near the close let us have Your Mis-
sion" repeated by Mr.. Phillips. Don't
say I called for 1t, LINCOLN.
This is the hymn. which came TO be
known as the presidents favorite and
made the singer famous:
If you cannot on the ocean
Sail among the Swiftest fleet,
Rocking on the highest pillows,
Laughing at the storms you meet
You can stand among the sailors.
Anchored yet within the bay;
You can lend hand 10 help them,
AS they launch their boats away.
REFRAIN.
AS they launch their boats away,
AS they launch their boats away
You can lend a hand to help them,
AS they launch their boats away.
IL you are too weak to journey
Up the mountain steep and high.
You can stand within the valley,
While the multitudes go by.
You can chant in happy measure.
AS they slowly pass along:
Tho they may forget the singer,
They will not forget the song.
Ref-They will not forget. etc.
II you have not gold and silver
Ever ready 10 command:
If you cannot tow'rd the needy
Reach an eVer-open hand:
You can visit the afflicted,
Ger the erring you can weep.
You can he a true disciple.
Sitting at the Saviour's feet.
Ref.-Sitting at the Saviour's. etc.
II you cannot in the conflict
.--~ Prove yourself a soldier true;
H,where fire and smoke are thickest,
There's no work for you to do;
When the battlefield is silent.
You can go with careful tread,
You can bear away the wounded,
You can cover UP the dead.
Ref.-You can cover. etc.
If YOU cannot in the harvest ~
Garner up the richest sheaves.
Many a grain both ripe and golden -
VIII the careless reapers leave;
Go and CLEAN among the briars.
Growing rank against the wall.
For il may be mat their shadow
Hides the heaviest wheat of all.
Ref-Hides the heaviest. etc.
Do not. then. stand idly waiting
For some greater work 70 do;
Fortune is A lazy goddess.
She will never come 10 you.
Go, and toll in any vineyard,
DO not fear 10 do or dare:
II YOU want A field Of labor
You can find IL anywhere.
Ref-You can find. etc.
Mr.. Philips naturally had many follow
ers I'm his song sermon methods. the most
successful of these being Sankey. Mr..
Phillips had a voice Of great range and
sweetness. and his musical talents were
marked. He was, moreover a gifted elo-
cutionist. and many OF his hymns were
simply rectted rather than sung while
others were chanted. His heart was in
the work. Phillips success was as great
in Europe as in America. One song serv-
ice In the temperance cause in England
was attended by eco people.