"Hold the fort, For I am Coming."
I am told that when General Sherman went through Atlanta towards the
sea--through the Southern States--he left in the fort in the Kennesaw
Mountains a little handful of men to guard some rations that he brought
there. And General Hood got into the outer rear and attacked the fort,
drove the men in from the outer works into the inner works, and for a
long time the battle raged fearfully. Half of the men were either killed
or wounded; the general who was in command was wounded seven different
times; and when they were about ready to run up the white flag and
surrender the fort, Sherman got within fifteen miles, and through the
signal corps on the mountain he sent the message: "Hold the fort; I am
coming. W. T. Sherman." That message fired up their hearts, and they
held the fort till reinforcements came, and the fort did not go into the
hands of their enemies. Our friend, Mr. Bliss, has written a hymn
entitled "Hold the fort for I am coming," and I'm going to ask Mr.
Sankey to sing that hymn. I hope there will be a thousand young converts
coming into our ranks to help hold the fort. Our Saviour is in command,
and He is coming. Let us take up the chorus.
Ho! my comrades, see the signal
Waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing,
Victory is nigh!
CHO.--
"Hold the fort, for I am coming,"
Jesus signals still.
Wave the answer back to heaven,
"By Thy grace we will."
See the mighty hosts advancing,
Satan leading on;
Mighty men around us falling,
Courage almost gone.--Cho
See the glorious banner waving
Hear the bugle blow.
In our Leader's name we'll triumph
Over every foe.--Cho.
Fierce and long the battle rages,
But our Help is near;
Onward comes our Great Commander,
Cheer, my comrades, cheer!--Cho.
P. P. Bliss.
"Let the Lower Lights be Burning."
A few years ago at the mouth of Cleveland harbor there were two lights,
one at each side of the bay, called the upper and lower lights; and to
enter the harbor safely by night, vessels must sight both of the lights.
These western lakes are more dangerous sometimes than the great ocean.
One wild, stormy night, a steamer was trying to make her way into the
harbor. The Captain and pilot were anxiously watching for the lights. By
and by the pilot was heard to say, "Do you see the lower lights?" "No,"
was the reply; "I fear we have passed them." "Ah, there are the lights,"
said the pilot; "and they must be from the bluff on which they stand,
the upper lights. We have passed the lower lights; and have lost our
chance of getting into the harbor;" What was to be done? They looked
back, and saw the dim outline of the lower lighthouse against the sky.
The lights had gone out. "Can't you turn your head around?" "No; the
night is too wild for that. She won't answer to her helm." The storm was
so fearful that they could do nothing. They tried again to make for the
harbor, but they went crash against the rocks, and sank to the bottom.
Very few escaped; the great majority found a watery grave. Why? Simply
because the lower lights had gone out. Now with us the upper lights are
all right. Christ himself is the upper light, and we are the lower
lights, and the cry to us is, Keep the lower lights burning; that is
what we have to do. He will lead us safe to the sunlit shore of Canaan,
where there is no more night.
Brightly beams our Father's mercy
From His lighthouse ever more.
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.
CHO.--
Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
Dark the night of sin has settled,
Loud and angry billows roar;
Eager eye's are watching, longing,
For the lights along the shore.--Cho.
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;
Some poor seaman tempest-tost,
Trying now to make the harbor,
In the darkness may be lost.--Cho.