-T* HYMNS F<*R USB AT THE SERVICE HELD ANNUALLY ON BOARD “THE HARMONY,” PREVIOUS TO HER LEAVING LONDON ON THE VOYAGE TO labrador. I%%\ The mission to the Eskimoes in Labrador was established in the year 1771 by a colony of brethren and sisters from England and Germany, who on July 1st reached Unity’s Harbour (N. Lat. 56° 55', W. Long. 62°), and at once began the erection of a station, calling it Nain. An earlier attempt in the year 1752 under the direction of John Christian Erhardt had failed, the leader of the little band of missionaries, and the captain of the ship, together with several men of the crew having been killed by the natives. Five more stations were subsequently added—viz.. Zoar and Hopedale to the south, and Okak, Hebron, and Ramah to the north of Nain. The distance from Ramah to Hopedale is between three and four hundred miles. Owing to a variety of causes the Eskimo population on the coast has for a considerable time past been decreasing, while a mixed race of Europeans and Americans with Eskimoes, formerly only found considerably to the south of Hopedale, is rapidly increasing in number and importance. Missionary work among these so called settlers” is prospering under God’s blessing. Since the year 1770, when the “ Jersey Packet ” was sent out on an exploratory trip, the Society for the Furtherance of the Gospel has maintained regular communication with Labrador by dispatching each year a ship, specially devoted to this missionary object. Eleven different ships have been employed in this service, ranging from a little sloop of seventy tons to a barque of two hundred and forty tons. Of these only four were specially constructed for Arctic service, including the vessel now in use. She was built in the year 1861, and is the fourth of the Society’s Labrador ships which has received the well-known name “ Tiie Harmony.” More than a century of voyages successfully undertaken to the Coast of Labrador without an} r serious injury to the missionary vessel or those on board should surely stimulate us to grateful praise for God's great goodness and mercy, and may well justify humble, yet confident hopes for the future. London. June 1st, 18S1. HYMNS. I. TUNE 22. 1 THIS ship we now commend to Thee, Thou God of providence and grace ; Here may Thy presence ever dwell, To sanctify and bless the place. 2 Lord, speed the vessel in its course : Let winds and waves propitious be; Let Thy divine protection shield All whom we now commend to Thee. 3 Hallow’d to Thee be every heart: Instructed in Thy righteous will, Where’er they go, whate’er they do, In all, Thy great designs fulfil. 4 0 God of Bethel, hear our prayer, And keep Thy servants to the end; Then let us meet around Thy throne, A blest eternity to spend. 4 HYMNS. II. 1 THE Lord hath ever to his flock Kept without separation ; He doth abide our shield, and rock, Our peace, and our salvation ; He leads us with a mother’s care, Protects from danger, guards from fear : Give to our God the glory. 2 Yea, when all creatures here deny Their help and consolation, Our great Creator then is nigh With succour and compassion, And sets the humble souls at rest, That live forsaken'and oppress’d : Give to our God the glory. 3 As long as I have breath in me I will sound forth His praises : His precious saving name shall be Exalted in all places : My heart, with all thy strength adore The God of grace, the God of power, And give Him all the glory. 4 Ye who profess His sacred name, Give to our God the glory : Ye who His power know and proclaim, Give to our God the glory : Rejoice, from all vain idols freed, The Lord is God, is God indeed : Give to our God the glory. HYMNS. O 5 Now then before His face appear, With praises and thanksgiving ; With awe His holy name revere, And join with all the living, To extol the wonders He hath wrought, His mighty deeds, surpassing thought: Give to our God the glory. III. TUNE 22. 1 JESUS shall reign where’er the sun Doth his successive journeys run; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more. 2 Eor Him shall endless prayer be made, And praises throng to crown His head; His name like sweet perfume shall rise With every morning-sacrifice. 3 People and realms of every tongue Dwell on His love with sweetest song, And infant voices shall proclaim Their early blessings on His name 4 Blessings abound where’er He reigns, The prisoner leaps to lose his chains, The weary find eternal rest, And all the sons of want are blest. 5 Let every creature rise and bring Peculiar honours to our King; Angels descend with songs again, And earth repeat the loud Amen. 6 HYMNS. IV. tune, God Save the Queen. 1 THOU, whose Almighty word Chaos and darkness heard, And took their flight : Hear ns, we humbly pray, And w T here the Gospel’s day Sheds not its glorious ray, Let there be light! 2 Thou, who didst come to bring On Thy redeeming wing Healing and sight, Health to the sick in mind, Sight to the inly blind, Oh, now, to all mankind Let there be light! 3 Spirit of truth and love, Life-giving holy Dove, Speed forth thy flight: Move on the water’s face, Bearing the lamp of grace, And in earth’s darkest place Let there be light! 4 Holy and Blessed Three, Glorious Trinity, Wisdom, Love, Might! Boundless as ocean’s tide, Bolling in fullest pride, Through the world, far and wide, Let there be light. HYMNS. y. tune 39. YE servants of God, jour great Master proclaim, And publish abroad his most excellent name: The name all victorious of Jesus extol, His kingdom is glorious, he rules over all. 2 God ruleth in heaven, almighty to save, And yet he is with us, his presence we have : The great congregation his triumphs shall sing, Ascribing salvation to Jesus, our King. 3 Salvation be brought unto God on the throne, Let all sing rejoicing, and honour the Son ; The praises of Jesus the angels proclaim, Fall down on their faces and worship the Lamb. 4 Then let us adore him and give him his right, All glory, and power, and wisdom, and might, And honour, and blessing, with angels above, And thanks never-ceasing, for infinite love. VI. TUNE 167. 1 LORD, her watch Thy Church is keeping; When shall earth Thy rule obey ? When shall end the night of weeping F When shall break the promised day ? See the whitening harvest languish, Waiting still the labourers’ toil ; Was it vain—Thy Son’s deep anguish ? Shall the strong retain the spoil ? 8 HYMNS. 2 Tidings sent to every creature Millions yet Lave never heard ; Can they hear without a preacher ? Lord Almighty, give the word ! Give the word; in every nation Let the Gospel-trumpet sound, Witnessing a world’s salvation, To the earth’s remotest bound. 3 Then the end,—Thy Church completed, All Thy chosen gathered in, With their King in glory seated, Satan bound, and banished sin ; Gone for ever, parting, weeping, Hunger, sorrow, death, and pain;— Lo ! her watch Thy Church is keeping ; Come, Lord Jesus, come to reign ! VII. TUNE 22. 1 BRETHREN, while to our Saviour’s praise An Ebenezer here we raise, We for the future yet untrod Commend you to the grace of God. 2 Lord of the tempest and the wave, Oh ! be it thine to guard and save, To smooth a path from shore to shore, And speed Thy messengers once more ! 1 HYMNS. 3 Giver of all the earth’s increase, Sustainer of our health and peace, Without the manna Thou canst feed : Remember, Lord, Thy children’s need ! 4 Father of lights, let fall a ray Where ignorance enshrouds the day, And bid the glorious Word divine Far into heathen darkness shine. 5 And come with all Thy sevenfold power In God’s appointed gracious hour, Spirit, by whom to man is given To know the mysteries of heaven ! 6 Shine on the precious sacrifice From which alone our hopes arise, And fix the trembling sinner’s gaze Upon Immanuel’s lovely face. 7 And when in weakness or in fear Thy servants call, 0 Christ, be near ! Near, with Thy pitying kind embrace, Near, with Thy all-sufficient grace,— 8 Near, with the tongue of fire to teach Hearts that no human power can reach, Near them, when they at last shall be Absent from us, at home with Thee ! 10 HYMNS. VIII. TUNE 166. 1 JESUS, beliold Thy servants stand Prepared to follow Thy command. Though great the work, the danger great, They neither fear nor hesitate : Not in themselves, 0 Lord ! they trust, Sinful and frail, poor mortal dust; Only Thy grace to them is given, Only they know their Friend in heaven. 2 Jesus, behold Thy servant's lean Upon Thy faithful arm unseen, And venture, in Thy holy name, Thy lawful heritage to claim. Oh! keep to them thy plighted word : “ Lo, I am with you,” said the Lord, To whom alone all power is given To conquer hearts, to open heaven. 3 Jesus, receive Thy servant’s prayer. On Thee they now cast all their care ; Their treasures in Thy hand they leave, Themselves into Thy keeping give. Whate’er the race they are to run, They only pray, “ Thy will be done But in themselves, whate’er betide, Thy name on earth be glorified. HYMNS. 11 4 Jesus, receive their humble praise On whom Thou hast bestowed the grace For Thee in a far distant land As Thine ambassadors to stand. Oh ! may their crown at length be bright With many a gem of dazzling light, When from the glory of Thy throne Them as Thy servants Thou shalt own. IX. TUNE 22. 1 GO, Brethren of the King of kings ! O’er you are spread the almighty wings. Far through the deep your pathwmy lies, But o’er you bend His watchful eyes. Through crashing ice and wintry day Oh ! may He guide your dangerous way, And as His consecrated ark Still deign to bless our fragile bark! 2 Go, Soldiers of the scorned Cross ! For Christ you count all else but loss, And triumph only in the shame Of His dear, still-rejected name. You leave the country of your birth, The loved and treasured things of earth, To win some jewel for the day When heaven and earth shall pass away. 3 Go, Heralds of the Prince of Peace ! Wave wide your wand, till storms shall cease Till holy truth and heavenly love Shall bring their radiance from above, And Sharon’s far-transplanted rose Shall gladden all the desert-snows, And over hill and dale shall ring The praises of the thorn-crowned King. 4 And come, thou heaven-descended Flame ! As once to prayer the promise came. We who the Gospel long have known Would call its highest joys our own, Would walk in fellowship of light For ever with the Infinite, Till in earth’s every heart and home The reign of God in Christ be come. X. TUNE 166. 1 AXH now farewell ! our paths divide, Hear followers of the Crucified. Be well assured our Father’s hand Shall lead you in the distant land; Be well assured our Saviour’s smile Shall greet you in a little while ; Be well assured that not in vain Believers hope to meet again. HYMNS. 13 2 The precious seed in tears ye sow Shall to a golden harvest grow. The culture of a barren plain Shall prove an overwhelming gain. The net you cast into the wave Is fraught with power divine to save ; And oh ! what songs shall on the strand Hing, as we bear our prize to land! 3 For we would share with you the toil: You bear the lamp we feed wdth oil; With faithful aid and earnest prayer Your burden we would help to bear ; We would support your lifted hand, While in the foremost rank you stand ; And to each sound that greets our ear A true response shall vibrate here. 4 Farewell then ! May our paths unite One day in everlasting light ! There we will lay the trophies won Low at the feet of God’s dear Son ; There we w r ill make His praise resound Through whom, redeemed, the lost is found; Though of His love we there shall be Learners to all eternity. 14 HYMNS. XI. TUNE 11. 1 HE must reign who won the right Once on Calvary’s darkened height; Farther than the farthest plain, O’er creation He must reign. 2 He must reign, whose blood alone Flowed for human guilt to atone ; By that hour of awful pain He has triumphed. He must reign. 3 What though somewhere realms of light Bow before His sceptre bright ? O’er the hearts He died to gain He has rights, and He must reign. 4 What though round us Christian lands Vie in keeping His commands, Where they stoop to error's chain As Redeemer He must reio-n. O 5 By the Almighty Father’s will, He shall rule from Zion’s hill. Fixed is the decree and plain : He is King, and He must reign.' 6 Earth and all its works shall pass, Scorched and burnt as summer-grass, But, when death itself is slain, He shall live, and He must reign. 7 He has died, and He must reign— Hied for all and rose again. Can Jehovah’s word be vain ? God has said it: He must reign. HYMNS. XII. TUNE 14. 1 LORD, by Thy powerful grace divine, We pray that we may be As stars that to Thy honour shine, Reflecting light from Tbee. 2 Whene’er our feet shall doubtful stand, 0 Lord ! may we be led, As children by a Father’s hand, In Jesus’ steps to tread. 3 When dark the way, and sad the heart, With grief to friends unknown, A sweet assurance then impart That we are not alone. 4 Though from the world removed our way, Oh! may we ever fear, Remembering while on earth we stav Temptation still is near. 5 Let mercy brighten all our days, And make our work complete, But may we ever bring the praise And lay it at Thy feet. 6 Should faith be tried, our purpose crossed, Still hopeful may we be, Knowing no labour can be lost If done as unto Thee. 7 And when the blessing from above In copious streams is poured, Oh ! may we more entirely love And humbly serve the Lord. 16 HYMNS. XIII. TUNE 185. WE who here together are assembled, Joining hearts and hands in one, Bind onrselves with love that’s nndissembled, Christ to love and serve alone : O may onr imperfect songs and praises Be well-pleasing unto Thee, Lord Jesus: Say, My peace I leave with you Amen, Amen, be it so. Die wir uns allliier beisammen fmden Schlagen unsre Hiinde ein, Uns auf deine Marter zu verbinden, Dir auf ewig treu zu sein : Und zum Zeichen dass dies Lobgetone Deinem Herzen angenehm und schone, Sage Amen, und zugleich : Friede, Friede sei mit euch. Pamphlets on “ The History of the Mission in Labrador ,” and the “ History of the Labrador Mission¬ ary Ships” as also mats and baskets made by the Hskimoes, photographs of natives and stations , and specimens of the Labrador Stone may be obtained at The Moravian Church and Mission Agency, 82, Fetter Lane, London, E.C.