~Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus

       On March 40, 1858, over 5,000 men gathered for a mass meeting sponsored by the YMCA.  Young Dudley Atkins Tyng, bold, fearless and uncompromising, preached from Exodus 10:11, “Ye that are men, go and serve the Lord.” 

       Over 1,000 of the men were converted; the sermon was called “one of the most successful of the time”; the entire city was being aroused; a religious awakening was gaining force.

       The next week Tyng returned to his family in the country 

       On Tuesday, April 13,1858, he was witnessing the operation of a corn-thrasher in his barn.  Raising his arm to place his hand on the head of a mule which was walking up the inclined lane of the machine, the loose sleeve of his morning gown was caught between the cogs.

       Tyng’s arm was lacerated severely, the main artery severed and the median nerve injured.  Six days later, he died.

       His last words: “Stand up for Jesus, father; stand up for Jesus; and tell my brethren of the ministry, wherever you meet them, to stand up for Jesus.”

       The Rev. George Duffield, Jr., pastor of Temple Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, heard the account of his friend’s passing at a memorial service, and wrote this hymn.

       Thus, the dying words of an Episcopal clergyman inspired a Presbyterian minister to write a poem.

—Ernest K. Emurian

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Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus[1]

1           Stand up, stand up for Jesus!

Ye soldiers of the cross;

Lift high His royal banner,

It must not suffer loss;

From vict’ry unto vict’ry

His army shall He lead,

Till ev’ry foe is vanquished,

For Christ is Lord indeed.

2           Stand up!—stand up for Jesus!

The solemn watchword hear;

If while ye sleep He suffers,

Away with shame and fear;

Where’er ye meet with evil,

Within you or without,

Charge for the God of battles,

And put the foe to rout.

3           Stand up, stand up for Jesus!

The trumpet call obey;

Forth to the mighty conflict

In this His glorious day;

Ye that are men now serve Him

Against unnumbered foes;

Let courage rise with danger,

And strength to strength oppose.

4           Stand up, stand up for Jesus!

Stand in His strength alone;

The arm of flesh will fail you,

Ye dare not trust your own;

Put on the gospel armor,

And watching unto prayer,

Where duty calls, or danger,

Be never wanting there.

5           Stand up, stand up for Jesus!

The strife will not be long;

The day the noise of battle,

The next the victor’s song;

To him that overcometh

A crown of life shall be;

He with the King of Glory

Shall reign eternally.