Hold to the helm sailor when the skies are clear

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Hold to the helm sailor when the skies are clear

Author: F. E. Belden
Tune: [Hold to the helm, sailor, when the skies are clear]
Published in 2 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Hold to the helm, sailor, when the skies are clear,
Hold more firmly when the storms appear;
Begin the watch ere you leave the shores of youth,
And always keep hold of the helm of truth.

Chorus:
Hold to the helm, hold to the helm,
Hold to the guiding helm of truth;
Hold to the helm on the sunny seas of youth,
And all through the voyage let us hold to the truth.

2 Thousands have launched on the changeful sea of life
Who have perished in the awful strife;
Thousands today flaunt abroad profession sail,
But where is the helm for the fearful gale? [Chorus]

3 Greater the danger, the broader flies the sail,
Trusting this alone, you're sure to fail;
Signal the lifeboat before the waves o'erwhelm,
And ask for the Bible, the guiding helm. [Chorus]

Source: The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book: for use in divine worship #1301

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Author: F. E. Belden

Belden was born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1858. He began writing music in his late teenage years after moving to California with his family. For health reasons he later moved to Colorado. He returned to Battle Creek with his wife in the early 1880s, and there he became involved in Adventist Church publishing. F. E. Belden wrote many hymn tunes, gospel songs, and related texts in the early years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Belden was able to rapidly write both music and poetry together which enabled him to write a song to fit a sermon while it was still being delivered. He also wrote songs for evangelist Billy Sunday. Though Belden’s later years were marred by misunderstandings with the church leadership over his royal… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Hold to the helm sailor when the skies are clear
Author:	F. E. Belden
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	Hold to the helm, hold to the helm
Copyright:	Public Domain