<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">General Booth</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">OUT of the slums</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Wild music comes,</p><p class="line">The pipe of flutes, the boom of drums,</p><p class="line">And down the street strange banners flare.</p><p class="line">What means this noise? What means this blare?</p><p class="line">This clash of song, this crash of prayer?</p><p class="line">What mean these mingled tears and flame?</p><p class="line">This glory on the face of shame?</p><p class="line">It is the Army of the Lord,</p><p class="line">It is the clashing of His sword,</p><p class="line">It is His axe's merry din,</p><p class="line">Upon the brazen casque of sin.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Out of the slums</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Sad music comes,</p><p class="line">Low mournful flutes, and muffled drums,</p><p class="line">God's greatest warrior is dead.</p><p class="line">The fearless fighting-man who led</p><p class="line">The Army 'gainst the hordes of Wrong</p><p class="line">With crash of prayer and clash of song,</p><p class="line">Lies silent in the fosse of Death,</p><p class="line">With stiffened limbs and frozen breath.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Out of the slums.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Glad music comes,</p><p class="line">Exultant flutes, triumphant drums.</p><p class="line">He is not dead; he layeth down</p><p class="line">His sword and cross to take his crown.</p><p class="line">He is not dead; his dauntless will</p><p class="line">Will lead his faithful army still.</p><p class="line">His drums will boom, his flags will flare,</p><p class="line">His flutes will pipe, his trumpets blare,</p><p class="line">Till in the shadow of the slums</p><p class="line">Love's banner flies, God's Kingdom comes.</p></div></body></html> · Great War