The Homeward Way

My pilgrim staff I take with joy

Author: Julia H. Johnston
Tune: [My pilgrim staff I take with joy]
Published in 8 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 My pilgrim staff I take with joy,
I’m on the homeward way;
The pilgrim songs my lips employ,
I’m on the homeward way;
It matters not what ills oppose,
My Guide I must obey,
The path He knows, the path He chose,
I’m on the homeward way.

Refrain:
The homeward way, I’m on my homeward way,
No more I fear the longest night nor dread the darkest day;
The homeward way, I’m on my homeward way,
No ills betide, when Christ is guide on the homeward way.

2 Uncounted hosts thro’ ages past,
Have trod the homeward way;
I, too, shall reach the goal at last,
I’m on the homeward way;
My Lord is mine, I know His name,
I follow, as did they,
Today the same, His grace I claim,
I’m on the homeward way. [Refrain]

3 Above each cloud and shadowed place,
Along the homeward way;
I see the shining of His face,
Who points the homeward way;
In sunlit paths I sometimes go,
My Shepherd says I may,
I wait to know what He will show,
I’m on the homeward way. [Refrain]

4 Tho’ earthly joys and hopes allure,
Outside the homeward way;
With Christ alone I walk secure
Along the homeward way;
Tho’ often rough the road leads home,
To heav’n’s eternal day,
Why should I roam, when He cries, “Come,”
And homeward leads the way? [Refrain]

Source: Great Gospel Songs #127

Author: Julia H. Johnston

Julia Harriet Johnston, who was born on Jan. 21, 1849, at Salineville, OH, in Columbiana County. Her father was a minister and he mother was a poet. She began writing when she was nine years old but really started writing verse in high school. She lived in Peoria, Ill. Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: My pilgrim staff I take with joy
Title: The Homeward Way
Author: Julia H. Johnston
Language: English
Refrain First Line: The homeward way, I'm on my homeward way
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 8 of 8)

Full Gospel Songs #128

Glorious Gospel Hymns #d358

Page Scan

Glory Songs #112

TextAudioPage Scan

Great Gospel Songs #127

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New Songs of the Old Faith #12

Songs of Perfect Love #226

Standardbearer Hymns #d69

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Waves of Glory No. 2 #78

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