The golden light is fading

Representative Text

1 The golden light is fading
Upon the mountains gray,
And twilight's purple shading
Falls o'er the dying day
As to the fold for slumber
The weary flock draws near:
One hundred was the number,
Are there one hundred here?
One hundred was the number,
Are there one hundred here?

Refrain:
Are you within the fold to-night,
The fold of Christ, the fold of light?
Are you within the fold to-night?
Are you within the fold?
The gentle Shepherd calls you now,
With tearful eyes and saddened brow;
Wilt thou not come?
O come just now,
There's room in Jesus' fold.

2 I'll count the dear ones over,
The tender Shepherd said,
My own warm fold shall cover
Each lamb that I have led;
If one has wandered blindly
Or willfully away,
I'll seek it long and kindly,
Nor wait till break of day.
I'll seek it long and kindly,
Nor wait till break of day. [Refrain]

3 With tender, anxious glances,
He counts them o'er with care,
And vain his hopeful fancies,
But ninety nine are there.
Then forth into the shadows,
All else by him forgot,
He searches moor and meadows,
And searching findeth not.
He searches moore and meadows,
And searching, findeth not. [Refrain]

4 The midnight dews are falling,
Yet through the mountains wild
He seeks the lost one calling;
"Come back, come back, my child;"
His voice is sad with pleading,
His locks are damp and cold,
His feet are torn and bleeding,
There's one without the fold.
His feet are torn and bleeding.
There's one without the fold. [Refrain]


Source: The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book: for use in divine worship #1298

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 >

Text Information

First Line: The golden light is fading
Author: F. E. Belden
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Are you within the fold tonight
Copyright: Public Domain

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Hymns for Use in Divine Worship ... Seventh-Day Adventists #d1022

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The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book #1298

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