By Tom Lawson

In 1829, Barton W. Stone and Thomas Adams published The Christian Hymn-Book. It was printed by Finnel (Georgetown, Kentucky). The great majority of the hymns are anonymous (pretty common at that time). Hymns, of course, were just poems set to standard meter patterns. I assume Stone or Adams composed a number of these. Hymn No. 165 has no title (except the first line: “Come, my Christian friends and brethren”). As you read it, you’ll see there’s no doubt whatsoever that this hymn comes out of our movement.

I am moved by the song’s clarion call for unity and the strong connection drawn between working for unity and winning the world to Christ. The meter pattern is 8787D. Tunes that would work include: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”, “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”, “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”, “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”, “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”, or “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Some tunes seem to fit the spirit better than others, but these can all work.

If the Stone-Campbell movement ever wanted an “anthem” of our own, I’d vote for this one.

HYMN 165

1. Come, my Christian friends and brethren, Bound for Canaan’s happy land,
   Come, unite and walk together, Christ our leader gives command.
   Lay aside your party spirit, Wound your Christian friends no more,
   All the name of Christ inherit, Zion’s peace again restore.
   
   
   
2. We’ll not bind our brother’s conscience, This to God alone is free,
   Nor contend with one another, But in Christ united be:
   Here’s the Word, the grand criterion, This shall all our doctrine prove,
   Christ the centre of our union, And the bond is Christian love.
   
   
   
3. Here my hand, my heart, my spirit, Now in fellowship I give,
   Now we’ll love and peace inherit, Show the world how Christians live;
   We are one in Christ our Saviour, Here is neither bond nor free,
   Christ is all in all for ever, In his name we all agree.
   
   
   
4. Now we’ll preach and pray together, Praise, give thanks, and shout and sing;
   Now we’ll strengthen one another, And adore our heavenly King;
   Now we’ll join in sweet communion, Round the table of our Lord;
   Lord, confirm our Christian union, By thy Spirit and thy word.
   
   
   
5. Now the world will be constrained To believe in Christ our King;
   Thousands, millions be converted, Round the earth his praises ring;
   Blessed day! O joyful hour! Praise the Lord his name we bless;
   Send thy kingdom, Lord, with pow’r, Fill the world with righteousness.

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Lawson Introduction from "One Body" (Vol 20, No. 3, Summer 2003) by permission of the publisher and the author.

Hymn 165 from the “Love and Union” section of "The Christian Hymn-Book", compiled and published at the request of the Miami Christian Conference. By B. W. Stone and Tho: Adams. First Edition. Georgetown, Ky: N. L. Finnell, 1829.