Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life

665 Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life

1 Where cross the crowded ways of life,
   Where sound the cries of race and clan,
   Above the noise of selfish strife,
   We hear Thy voice, O Son of man!

2 In haunts of wretchedness and need,
   On shadowed thresholds dark with fears,
   From paths where hide the lures of greed,
   We catch the vision of Thy tears.

3 The cup of water given for Thee
   Still holds the freshness of Thy grace;
   Yet long these multitudes to see
   The sweet compassion of Thy face.

4 O Master, from the mountainside,
   Make haste to heal these hearts of pain;
   Among these restless throngs abide,
   O tread the city's streets again,

5 Till sons of men shall learn Thy love
   And follow where Thy feet have trod;
   Till, glorious from Thy heaven above,
   Shall come the city of our God!
                         Frank M. North
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
Definitely a social gospel hymn! Take a minute to read the biography at the link above. Seems he was a pretty important person in his day. Hymnary.org inserts a sixth verse:

3 From tender childhood's helplessness,
   from human grief and burdened toil,
   from famished souls, from sorrow's stress,
   your heart has never known recoil.

</idle musing>