Hymn
Softly Fades the Twilight Ray
Softly fades the twilight ray,
Of the holy Sabbath day;
Gently as life’s setting sun,
When the Christian’s course is run,
When the Christian’s course is run.
Holy Sabbath, softly fading,
Gently as life’s setting sun.
Night her solemn mantle spreads
O’er the earth as daylight fades;
All things tell of calm repose,
At the holy Sabbath’s close,
At the holy Sabbath’s close.
Peace is on the world abroad;
‘Tis the holy peace of God,
Symbol of the peace within
When the spirit rests from sin,
When the spirit rests from sin.
Still the Spirit lingers near,
Where the evening worshiper
Seeks communion with the skies,
Pressing onward to the prize,
Pressing onward to the prize.
Saviour, may our Sabbaths be
Days of joy and peace in Thee,
Till in heav’n our souls repose,
Where the Sabbath ne’er shall close,
Where the Sabbath ne’er shall close.
Softly Fades the Twilight Ray — Text from Progressive Sunday School Songs, 1923. Public domain. https://yeshuanow.com/hymns/softly-fades-the-twilight-ray
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Questions about this hymn
Who wrote Softly Fades the Twilight Ray?
The words of Softly Fades the Twilight Ray were written by Samuel Francis Smith; the version here was published in 1923. The library holds 6 more hymns by Samuel Francis Smith, including Yes, My Native Land and Baptism.
Is Softly Fades the Twilight Ray public domain?
Yes. The words here are taken from Progressive Sunday School Songs, published in 1923. Works published before 1931 are out of copyright in the United States, so you can print, project, perform and record this hymn freely. How we source and check every hymn.