Roll On, O Billow of Fire!

Hark! the alarm

the clang of the bells!

Signal of dan­ger

it rises and swells;

Flashes like light­ning il­lum­ine the sky

See the red glare as the flames mount on high.

Roll on

roll on

O bil­low of fire!

Dash

with thy fu­ry-waves high­er and high­er;

Ours is a mans­ion abid­ing and sure;

Ours is a king­dom eter­nal

se­cure.

Oh

like a fiend in its tow­er­ing wrath

On

and de­struct­ion alone points the path;

Mercy

O Heav­en

the suf­fer­ers wail

Feeble hu­man­ity naught can avail.

Thousands are home­less

and quick to their cry

Heaven-born char­ity yields a sup­ply;

Upward we glance in our ter­ri­ble grief

Give us this day

brings the pro­mised relief.

Treasures have van­ished

and rich­es have flown

Hopes for the earth-life are blast­ed and gone;

Courage

O bro­ther

yield not to des­pair:

God is our re­fuge

His king­dom we share.