Along with remembrance of the anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy forty years ago last Saturday, a goodly number of the folk whose blogs are listed to the right noted the death on the same day in 1963 of the great Christian writer and apologist C.S. Lewis. So deep is the debt owed to him across our denominational markers, and in light of our common confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that he might be considered one of the patrons of blogs4God. And it's another source of fellowship that he is given honored and grateful remembrance by so many of that body.



On November 22 also died, but in 1900 and just before the second birthday of C.S. Lewis, Sir Arthur Sullivan, celebrated and successful as a composer of light opera and alive still in their performances. He had been created Knight by Queen Victoria in 1883, according to the citation, in recognition of your distinguished talents as a composer and of the services which you have rendered to the promotion of the art of music generally in this country.



Sullivan's many and distinguished musical services included the composition of several fine and well-known hymn tunes. And among them is the noble and stirring anthem of encouragement in the spiritual warfare that Lewis so often described and illustrated.



Onward Christian Soldiers



Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus going on before.

Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;

Forward into battle see His banners go!



Refrain



Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus going on before.



At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;

On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!

Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;

Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.



Like a mighty army moves the church of God;

Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.

We are not divided, all one body we,

One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.



What the saints established that I hold for true.

What the saints believèd, that I believe too.

Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,

Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.



Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,

But the church of Jesus constant will remain.

Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;

We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.



Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,

Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.

Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,

This through countless ages men and angels sing.