TEMPERANCE SONG by Mrs. Lilla D. A. Stuttle

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Mar 6, 1879

TEMPERANCE SONG

By Mrs. Lilla D. A. Stuttle

Ye sons of Temperance! Raise your banners high, Unfurl them proudly 'neath the azure sky, And bravely march, a calm devoted band, Against the base despoilers of our land, With daring courage battle for the right, With rays of glory dissipate the night.

Go seek the haunts of misery and death, Where vile Intemperance, breathes its furious breath, Go lift the poor inebriate from the street, In paths of virtue place the trembling feet, Be thou his friend, and whisper in his ear, Strong words of love, and courage brave to cheer.

Oh! blessed Temperance! with thy face divine, Like stars of dazzling beauty, rise, and shine, Light the "dark places" of our weary earth, Where crime and evil have their hated birth— And plant the homes of industry and wealth,— The bliss of innocence, the bloom of health. Go, snatch the wine cup from the trembling hand, And peace, and virtue, plant within the land.

Oh! vile Intemperance, hide thy tyrant head! To shame and death thy ways have ever led, Thou'st filled our land with desolating fear, And changed the garden to a desert drear! Thou'st filled our homes with poverty and woe, And caused the bitter tears of man to flow. Thou'st smitten Reason from her God-like throne, And Passion placed where once her rays had shone. Then rise! ye sons of Temperance,—rise and fling Your banner high! till earth with joy shall ring, Till millions join in one harmonious song, And glorious Right shall triumph over Wrong.

Vernon, Mich. MRS. LILLA D. A. STUTTLE.