Launch the Life Boat

Launch the life boat, many souls are stranding

Author: F. E. Belden
Tune: [Launch the life boat, many souls are stranding]
Published in 4 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Launch the life-boat! see; the ship is stranding!
There are loved ones you may save:
Launch the life-boat from the gospel landing!
The storm is on the wave.

Chorus:
Launch the life-boat! launch the life-boat!
Tho' the surges roar;
Launch the life-boat! launch the life-boat
From the gospel shore!
Wrecks of manhood on the rocks of evil,
Wrecks of youth upon the shoals:
Quickly launch the blessed gospel life-boat,
And gather in the souls.

2 Oft beneath youth's mild and sunny waters
Hidden shoals of danger lie;
Where's the pilot for our sons and daughters,
To guide them safely by! [Chorus]

3 Oft upon life's dark and stormy ocean
Sturdy manhood's bark is tossed;
Where's the faith that stills the wild commotion
Before a soul is lost! [Chorus]

4 O for hearts to love as did the Master
Those who sadly fail in life!
O for willing hands that labor faster
The fiercer grows the strife! [Chorus]

Source: The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book: for use in divine worship #1384

Author: F. E. Belden

Belden was born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1858. He began writing music in his late teenage years after moving to California with his family. For health reasons he later moved to Colorado. He returned to Battle Creek with his wife in the early 1880s, and there he became involved in Adventist Church publishing. F. E. Belden wrote many hymn tunes, gospel songs, and related texts in the early years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Belden was able to rapidly write both music and poetry together which enabled him to write a song to fit a sermon while it was still being delivered. He also wrote songs for evang­el­ist Bil­ly Sun­day. Though Belden’s later years were marred by misunderstandings with the church leadership over his royal… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Launch the life boat, many souls are stranding
Title: Launch the Life Boat
Author: F. E. Belden
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 4 of 4)

Hymns for Use in Divine Worship ... Seventh-Day Adventists #d600

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Songs for the King's Business #92

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The Gospel Song Sheaf #208

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The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book #1384

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