OUR RESPONSIBILITY by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Mar 8, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 10.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

By Editor

[The following is sent us by a retired Christian switchman and signalman on the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. It was dedicated to the Switchman’s Brotherhood. The writer tells us that apart from the Bible he thinks the SIGNS is the best thing he knows. And this is, we are sure, because there is so much Bible in it.]

WE’VE chummed it well, my lamp and I, For eighteen years together; Through dreary nights, ’neath cloudy sky, In every kind of weather.

The iron horse we helped to guide Upon his steely way; Our brother men must safely ride And death rides every day.

And so we swung the red or clear, Or gave the switch a turn; For trains run fast, and danger’s near, Our lamp must brightly burn.

But God was at the switch each day, And I was switchman under, Else there were many a big delay, And many a serious blunder.

Our life is like the iron road, And we are switchmen all; We help our fellows up to God, Or make them sadly fall.

Our thoughts, our words, our many deeds, Are switches in disguise; They turn men from the path of life, Or lead them to the skies.

O Saviour, swing Thy lamp of love Before our eyes to-day From Thy great signal tower above, And show the heavenly way.

This train of life is nearing home, The station’s just at hand; But will it be the place of doom, Or be God’s glory land?