Once to every man and nation

Fountainview Academy Orchestra & Singers

Once to every man and nation Fountainview Academy Orchestra & Singers

1 Verse:
Once to every man and nation
comes the moment to decide,
in the strife of truth with falsehood,
for the good or evil side;

Some great cause, some great decision,
off'ring each the bloom or blight,
and the choice goes by forever
'twixt that darkness and that light.

2 Verse:
Then to side with truth is noble,
when we share her wretched crust,
ere her cause bring fame and profit,
and 'tis prosp'rous to be just;

Then it is the brave man chooses
while the coward stands aside,
till the multitude make virtue
of the faith they had denied.

3 Verse:
By the light of burning martyrs,
Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track;
toiling up new Calv'ries ever
with the cross that turns not back.

New occasions teach new duties;
ancient values test our youth.
They must upward still and onward,
who would keep abreast of truth.

4 Verse:
Though the cause of evil prosper,
yet the truth alone is strong;
though her portion be the scaffold,
and upon the throne be wrong;

yet that scaffold sways the future,
and, behind the dim unknown,
standeth God within the shadow
keeping watch above His own.