Jesus, thou divine Companion

This hymn, known by the name, "Pleading Savior" has become a real favorite of mine over the years. It comes from "The Christian Lyre," published in 1830, and the harmony is more-or-less by Richard Proulx (1937-2010).

It's played in a "simple style," as I would play it for the service on the Sunday before Labor Day. Congregation size is probably down, but the hymn, and it's fine text by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933) can still make a fine impact and effect. It's a wonderful example of "words to live by..."

Those from Roman Catholic backgrounds will also know this tune and associate it with the words, "Sing of Mary, pure and lowly."

For those "Herefordians" thinking about the "solo sound" in verse 2, it's the Solo Tromba, playing at 16' pitch, with the Great coupled to the Solo. So, you get the sound as if you were playing on the Great, but the Solo Tromba plays the melody in the "tenor register", and octave lower.

The last two phrases are the introduction.

Jesus, thou divine Companion,
By thy lowly human birth
Thou hast come to join the workers,
Burden-bearers of the earth.
Thou, the carpenter of Nazareth,
Toiling for thy daily food,
By thy patience and thy courage,
Thou hast taught us toil is good.

Where the many toil together,
There art thou among thine own;
Where the solitary labor,
Thou art there with them alone;
Thou, the peace that passeth knowledge,
Dwellest in the daily strife;
Thou, the Bread of heav'n art broken
In the sacrifice of life.

Every task, however simple,
Sets the soul that does it free;
Every deed of human kindness
Done in love is done to thee.
Jesus, thou divine Companion,
Help us all to work our best;
Bless us in our daily labor,
Lead us to our Sabbath rest.

I want to give a shameless plug of self-promotion and say that tomorrow, September 5th will see a very significant upload from me. It has great personal significance, and is an amazing piece, so, please, give a listen!