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Hymn for Absent Soldiers and Sailors [hymn by L. E. Homfray, 1915]

1 February 2022 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: This hymn, words written by L. E. Homfray, with music by Maud Ingoldby, was published as a single-sided leaflet in 1915.]

Sold for the Benefit of the Red Cross Fund.

Hymn for Absent Soldiers and Sailors.

M. INGOLDBY.

[music notes]

Lord, we plead for those dear loved ones
Far from home or friend,
May Thy gracious love sustain them,
And defend.

In the awful day of battle
When their foes prevail,
Strengthen them with hope and courage,
Lest they fail.

When the night of darkness deepens,
And no help is near,
May the comfort of Thy Presence
Calm each fear.

If in pain or sickness lying,
Far beyond our care,
Jesu, by Thy mercy keep them
From despair.

So in lowly faith we leave them
To Thy love divine,
For we know that, dead or living,
All are Thine.

Thus shall we in soul and spirit
Still united be,
And may every parting bring us
Nearer Thee.

Amen.

L. E. HOMFRAY.

A.B.M. Office 242 Pitt Street, Sydney; Mrs. Homfray, “Halloween,” Lindfield.

Price One Penny; 3s. 6d. per 100.



Source:
[Sheet music] Hymn for Absent Soldiers and Sailors, Australian War Memorial [an audio recording of the hymn is included]

Editor’s notes:
The only mention located of this undated work appeared in 1915; it appears that this item was published in that year.
See: “For the Red Cross Fund”, The Southern Mail (Bowral, NSW), 30 July 1915, p. 2

A.B.M. = Australian Board of Missions, an Anglican (Church of England) organisation dedicated to spreading the Christian religion to non-Christians in Australia and overseas; it was founded in 1850 as the Australasian Board of Missions; in 1872, with a slight name change, it became the Australian Board of Missions, with its primary aim being “to promote the mission work of the Church among the aborigines in Australia and in the islands adjacent”; in 1995 it changed its name again, to Anglican Board of Mission – Australia
See: 1) “Australian Board of Missions (1872 – 1995)”, Find & Connect
2) “The General Conference and General Synod of the Church of England in Australia and Tasmania”, The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, NSW), 4 November 1872, p. 7 (column 6)

d. = a reference to a penny, or pennies (pence); the “d” was an abbreviation of “denarii”, e.g. as used in “L.S.D.” or “£sd” (pounds, shillings, and pence), which refers to coins used by the Romans, as per the Latin words “librae” (or “libra”), “solidi” (singular “solidus”), and “denarii” (singular “denarius”)

Jesu = (archaic) an alternative poetic spelling of “Jesus”

s. = a reference to a shilling, or shillings; the “s” was an abbreviation of “solidi”, e.g. as used in “L.S.D.” or “£sd” (pounds, shillings, and pence), which refers to coins used by the Romans, as per the Latin words “librae” (or “libra”), “solidi” (singular “solidus”), and “denarii” (singular “denarius”)

Thee = (archaic) you

Thine = (archaic) your; yours

Thy = (archaic) your

[Editor: Added a comma after “Lord”; added a comma before and after “dead or living”.]

Filed Under: sheet music, songs Tagged With: hymn, L. E. Homfray (author) (1873-1951), leaflet, songs patriotic, SourceAustralianWarMemorial, World War One, year1915

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