The Martyr of December 2, 1859

This poem was written by Ellen Murray, a co-founder of the Penn School on St. Helena Island in South Carolina. The poem was originally published in the National Anti-Slavery Standard on October 26, 1861.

I looked, and on the highest height
Of Zion’s radiant mount
The Lamb stood in his regal form,
Of life and light the fount;
And round him shone the multitude,
His signet on each brow;
From sin, from death, from earth redeemed
They walk with Jesus now.

And louder peals the trumpet’s voice,
And higher swells the strain,
Anthem on anthem rolling past, Like waves of some great main,
And harpers, with their golden lyres,
Give a new welcoming
To one ‘midst that lest company
Of martyrs triumphing.

On earth they give the traitor’s doom,
In heaven, the martyr’s crown -
On earth the badge of shame, but there
The conqueror’s renown.
And He who rendered up his life,
That man might ransomed be,
Has welcomed to his throne the one
Who died the slave to free.

Peal, thunder, peal, with fuller note
Of holy ecstasy;
Sing, ransomed, sing; another voice
Joins your pure melody,
And mid the light ineffable,
Unstained by guile or sin,
A new crowned Saint dwells evermore,
The Savior’s fold within.

Ellen