Chapter XV: Hymns on Patriotic Occasions

The impelling motives of patriotism are best expressed in the national anthems of the nations and in songs which breathe the spirit of loyalty to country. Devotion to the ideals and institutions of the land of one's birth or adoption is the indispensable qualification for the intelligent appreciation of what other peoples hold sacred among their national possessions. Such patriotism is neither of the hoot owl or spread eagle type. It faces all the facts without evasion and frankly acknowledges errors and omissions, with the determination to improve conditions. The patriot thus has no occasion to apologize or defend because he shows reason for his faith in the nation to which he has consecrated his best powers.

The greatness of any nation is evidenced in the quality of its citizenship. So judged, we have cause for gratitude because the hymns which voice our sentiment impressively advertise the idealism which has inspired our activities. The same test can be satisfactorily met by other nations. It is, therefore, quite fitting that reference should be made to their use of hymns on those special occasions when the heart is stirred with gratitude and thanksgiving.

Indeed, the incidents related in this volume are taken from the annals of different nations. The chief interest is their testimony from experience to what hymns have meant to them in the varied crises of life. Such a consideration disregards racial barriers and denominational differences. Hymns speak the universal language of the heart, which penetrates deeper and travels farther than the formalities of customs peculiar to various peoples.

In these days of international appreciation and co-operation it is well to remind ourselves that the higher unity of all peoples is practicable only through Jesus Christ. There is truly no stronger reminder than hymns of the unity of faith, the stability of hope, the harmony of love.

"For all are one in Thee
And all are Thine."

Since it was first published on July 4, 1895, in _The Congregationalist_,[30] multitudes of people have sung

America, the Beautiful

One hundred thousand persons, it has been estimated, each day sing the patriotic poem of Miss Katherine Lee Bates, who was a teacher of English literature in Wellesley College. Some schools make it a practice to have the children sing it daily. At the commencement of Syracuse University in 1930, a strange thrill swept the company of over one thousand young men and women who were assembled to receive their degrees, and the four thousand persons who were present to witness the graduation exercises, as they sang this hymn. Mighty was the volume of song as the words were reached:

"America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea."

The source of the inspiration of this poem was related by Beatrice York Houghton. In an interview Miss Bates said that she and some friends had gone up Pike's Peak and the vision from that great height exalted her soul into poetic fervor. The wide reaches of country--her country--the dizzy height which set her above it all, gave her a god-like inspiration, and the lines which came into her mind were remembered, afterwards to be set down.

The origin of a nation's life was strikingly evidenced in

A Praise Service

St. Paul's Cathedral, London, is "the Parish Church of the British Empire." When the repairs were completed after seventeen years in 1930, a memorable thanksgiving service was held under the renovated dome which was Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece. This famous architect was the son of a clergyman and such was his consuming devotion to his work that he could have said with Michael Angelo: "It is enough to have bread and to live in the faith of Christ."

The Thanksgiving service was attended by one hundred and sixty bishops of the Anglican Church, assembled from all parts of the Empire. It was broadcast to New York, Melbourne, Calcutta, Toronto and other cities. Dean Inge, of St. Paul's, standing on the chancel steps, exhorted everyone to "give praise to God that he hath called us to take part in the joy and adventure of his glorious Kingdom." The feelings of the occasion were voiced by seven thousand people through Henry Lyte's hymn:

"Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven!
To His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who, like me, His Praise should sing?
Praise Him! praise Him! praise Him! praise Him!
Praise the Everlasting King!"

In _The War Romance of the Salvation Army_, by Hill and Booth,[31] there is a reference to what was

Sung on Memorial Day in France

"The girls went down to decorate the two hundred American graves at Mandres, and even while they bent over the flaming blossoms and laid them on the mounds, an air battle was going on over their heads. Close at hand was the American artillery being moved to the front on a little narrow-gauge railroad that ran near to the graveyard, and the Germans were firing and trying to get them. But the girls went steadily on with their work, scattering flowers and setting flags until their service of love was over. Then they stood aside for the prayer and a song. One of the Salvation Army captains with a fine voice began to sing:

'For loved ones in the Homeland
Are waiting me to come
Where neither death nor sorrow
Invades their holy home:
O dear, dear native country!
O rest and peace above!
Christ, bring us all to the Homeland
Of His eternal love.'

"Into the midst of the song came the engine on the little narrow track straight toward where he stood, and he had to step aside on to a pile of dirt to finish his song. The same captain went on ahead to the Homeland not long after when the epidemic of influenza swept over the world; and he was given the honor of a military funeral."

Edward Marshall had an article in _Scribner's Magazine_ in 1898 which is here abbreviated, about the unique conditions under which the boys sang

"America" After the Battle

"There is one incident of the day which shines out in my memory above all others now as I lie in a New York hospital writing. It occurred at the field hospital. About a dozen of us were lying there. The surgeons, with hands and bared arms dripping, and clothes literally saturated with blood, were straining every nerve to prepare the wounded for the journey down to Siboney. It was a doleful group. Amputation and death stared its members in their gloomy faces. Suddenly a voice started softly,

'My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.'

"Other voices took it up:

'Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride--'

"The quivering, quavering chorus, punctuated by groans and made spasmodic by pain, trembled up from that little group of wounded Americans in the midst of the Cuban solitude--the pluckiest, most heartfelt song that human beings ever sang. There was one voice that did not quite keep up with the others. It was so weak that I did not hear it until all the rest had finished with the line, 'Let freedom ring.' Then halting, struggling, faint, it repeated slowly:

'Land--of--the--pilgrims'--pride,
Let--freedom--'

"The last word was a woeful cry. One more son had died as died the fathers."

Under different circumstances but in the same spirit of loyalty the tune of "America" was played in France as "our boys" promptly obeyed the order,

"Salute America!"

Exercises were held on Memorial Day at Menil-la-Tour when the World War was raging in France. Two regimental bands took up their positions in opposite corners of the cemetery. The commanding general placed a flag on each of the eighty-one graves. He and the soldiers then saluted the large flag, while battle was still being waged about a mile away.

The general then faced the west, and pointed in that direction as he addressed the soldiers. He said: "Out there are Washington and the President, and all the people of the United States, who are looking to you.... Over there are the mothers who bade you good-bye with tears and sent you forth, and are waiting at home and praying for you, trusting in you. Out there are the fathers and the sisters and the sweethearts you have left behind, all depending on you to do your best. Now," said he in a clear ringing voice, "turn and salute America!" All turned and saluted toward the west, while the flags fluttered on the breeze and the band played softly,

"My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing:
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountain side
Let freedom ring."

A distinction with a difference was clearly evidenced when Britishers sang a German's hymn,

"Now Thank We All Our God"

I quote from _The Christian Advocate_:

"At the dedication of the British War memorial at the Menin Gate of Ypres, where its arch spans the main street, three great hymns were sung: 'O God, Our Help in Ages Past,' by Isaac Watts; 'For All the Saints Who From Their Labors Rest,' by Bishop How, and 'Now Thank We All Our God,' which is a translation by Catherine Winkworth from the German of Martin Rinkart! Time heals wounds. Who would have believed it, had he been told soon after the Armistice that this hymn--noble and beautiful as it is--would be selected and sung by British soldiers at the dedication of a monument erected to the memory of those who fell in a war against Germans? Yet no one raised a word of protest or remarked upon any incongruity, for the instincts of the human heart are deeper than the traditional and conventional differences which separate nations."

_The New York Times_ for August 18, 1929, had an article, "Georgia Lower House Opens Day with Song."[32] It is interesting to note this reference to

A Singing Legislature

"The Rev. W. D. Hammack, 'Uncle Billie,' has been the chaplain of the Lower House for several years. He is a great believer in the power of song. He likes to 'raise a tune,' and he doesn't care whether the Governor of Georgia and the Legislature are at loggerheads or at peace; he thinks a legislator should be made to sing whether he can sing or not. So every morning for ten minutes he lines up the early arrivals just before the House opens for the day and starts on some of the old-time religious vocal numbers.

"Richard Russell Jr., Speaker of the House, gives Mr. Hammack carte blanche to lead his flock of lawmakers just as far in the harmony line as he can, and 'Uncle Billie' has made good. He pitches the tune every morning and the House sings. Sometimes it is 'Jesus, Lover of My Soul' and the next morning it is 'Nearer, My God, to Thee.' Another favorite is 'All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name.' Once or twice they have tackled 'Gimme the Old-Time Religion' with much success.

"Many years ago a philosopher said, 'Let me but write the songs of a nation and I care not who makes its laws.' And the Rev. Mr. Hammack, although he had written none of them, has done a lot with his songs during the dog days of the legislative session. Georgia has probably the only singing legislature in captivity."

No better song could have expressed the feelings of our nation, and so it was that we sang

The Doxology on Armistice Day

New York City, in common with other parts of the United States, was wild with excitement on Armistice Day, 1918. The fighting was over, and men, women and children gave expression to their happiness in various ways. City, village and hamlet alike had some kind of wild demonstration. Seeing the excited crowd, a young woman, an officer of the Salvation Army, as reported in the newspapers at that time, stood on the steps of the great Public Library in New York and began to sing the old Doxology. Instantly the crowd took up the strain, and in a moment, as though by magic, thousands of voices blended in the noble words of thanksgiving:

"Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."

Men reverently removed their hats, and the eyes of women filled with tears. The words of Thomas Ken that day expressed the gratitude of a great multitude. Among the many things done through that entire day, perhaps there was none more appropriate or beautiful than that which the Salvation Army lassie did.

And with this reference to the Doxology we conclude our story of the influence of hymns in the experience of "all peoples that on earth do dwell."

FOOTNOTES

[1]Published by the J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia.

[2]Published by The Dial Press, New York.

[3]Tate and Brady.

[4]Published by Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.

[5]Used by permission of John A. Davis.

[6]Published by the Methodist Book Concern, New York. Used by
permission.

[7]Used by permission of the author.

[8]Published by The Century Company, New York. Used by permission.

[9]Used by permission of The Methodist Book Concern, New York.

[10]Published by J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, Pa. Used by
permission.

[11]Used by permission of The Rodeheaver Company, Chicago.

[12]Published by Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. Used by permission.

[13]From _The Ladies' Home Journal_, Philadelphia.

[14]Used by permission of J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia.

[15]Used by permission of Hope Publishing Company, Chicago.

[16]From _My Life and the Story of the Gospel Hymns_, by Ira D. Sankey.
Published by Harper & Brothers, New York.

[17]By Mrs. Frank A. Breck. Used by permission of Grant Colfax Tullar,
New York.

[18]Used by permission of John A. Davis.

[19]Published by Fleming H. Revell Company, New York. Used by
permission.

[20]Used by permission of The Hope Publishing Company, Chicago.

[21]From _All's Well_, published by Doubleday, Doran and Company, New
York. Used by permission.

[22]From _The Christian Herald_, New York.

[23]Used by permission of The Fleming H. Revell Company, New York.

[24]This incident is found in _Hall Young of Alaska_, published by The
Fleming H. Revell Company, New York.

[25]With permission of J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia.

[26]Published by The Cosmopolitan Book Corporation, New York. Used by
permission.

[27]Published by Washburn and Thomas, Cambridge, Mass.

[28]Published in pamphlet form by The Commission on Courses of Study of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, New York.

[29]For further stories of the use of this hymn, which was one of Mr.
Sankey's favorites, see _My Life and the Story of the Gospel Hymns_,
by Ira D. Sankey.

[30]Boston.

[31]With permission of J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia.

[32]Printed with permission.

INDEX OF HYMNS

A
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, 38
Abide With Me, 18, 21, 58, 66, 136, 164, 192
Alas, and Did My Saviour Bleed, 130
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name, 186, 214
All People That on Earth Do Dwell, 137
Almighty Lord, with One Accord, 150
Angels Ever Bright and Fair, 196
Art Thou Weary, Art Thou Languid?, 133
At Even, Ere the Sun Was Set, 157

B
Be Not Dismayed Whate'er Betide, 19, 41, 46, 108
Beloved, Now Are We the Sons of God, 76
Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine, 92
Blest Be the Tie That Binds, 54, 183
Blow Ye the Trumpet, Blow, 172

C
Can the Lord Depend on You?, 145
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, 182
Come, Every Soul by Sin Oppressed, 55
Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs, 203
Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above, 184
Come On, My Partners in Distress, 85
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, 76, 108
Come, Ye That Love the Lord, 69, 108

D
Dare to be a Daniel, 141
Day by Day the Manna Fell, 74
Day Is Dying in the West, 191
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, 155

E
Eternal Father, Strong to Save, 10, 35

F
Face to Face with Christ My Saviour, 99, 106
Faith of Our Fathers, 150
For All the Saints, 203, 212

G
Give Me the Wings of Faith to Rise, 182
Gimme the Old Time Religion, 214
Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken, 150
Glory to Thee, My God, This Night, 144
God Be With You Till We Meet Again, 92
Goin' Home, 167
Great God of Nations, Now to Thee, 149
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah, 77, 84

H
Hark, Hark, My Soul, 51
Have You Had a Kindness Shown?, 111
He Leadeth Me, 36, 142
Holy Father, in Thy Mercy, 100
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, 136, 159
How Bright These Glorious Spirits Shine, 87
How Firm a Foundation, 60, 89

I
I Am So Glad That Our Father in Heaven, 140
I Grieved My Lord From Day to Day, 59
I Know That My Redeemer Liveth, 202
I Need Thee Every Hour, 48, 73
I Think When I Read That Sweet Story of Old, 140
I to the Hills Will Lift Mine Eyes, 93
I Will Sing the Wondrous Story, 17
I Would Not Live Alway, 183
If on a Quiet Sea, 8
I'll Praise My Maker, 6
I'm Not Ashamed to Own My Lord, 133
I'm the Child of a King, 107
In Heavenly Love Abiding, 60
In the Warfare That Is Raging, 145
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, 175
It May Not Be on the Mountain's Height, 71
I've Reached the Land of Corn and Wine, 22

J
Jerusalem the Golden, 203
Jesus Is Tenderly Calling, 100
Jesus, Lover of My Soul, 5, 11, 49, 53, 75, 82, 109, 136, 170, 214
Jesus Shall Reign, 5
Jesus, the Calm That Fills My Breast, 45
Jesus, the First and Last, 47
Joy to the World, 180
Just As I Am, 120, 137

L
Last Night I Lay A-sleeping, 101
Lead, Kindly Light, 40, 137, 139, 156, 182, 190
Leader of Faithful Souls, 56
Lord, I Want to Be a Christian, 166
Lord of All Being, Throned Afar, 3
Low in the Grave He Lay, 185

M
Mortals, Awake, with Angels Join, 174
My Country, 'Tis of Thee, 210, 212
My Faith Looks Up to Thee, 134, 154
My Father Is Rich, 107
My God, My Father, While I Stray, 34
My Gracious God, I Own Thy Right, 145
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less, 135
My Jesus, I Love Thee, 117

N
Nearer, My God, to Thee, 30, 54, 60, 136, 189, 190, 203, 214
Now Thank We All Our God, 212
Now the Day Is Over, 148, 159

O
O Beautiful for Spacious Skies, 206
O Day of Rest and Gladness, 14
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, 143
O God of Bethel, 138
O God, Our Help in Ages Past, 36, 151, 212
O Joyful Sound of Gospel Grace, 5
O Little Town of Bethlehem, 178
O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go, 42, 49, 137
O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee, 152, 201
O Thou in Whose Presence, 62
O Thou Who Camest from Above, 25
On a Hill Far Away, 129
One More Day's Work for Jesus, 70
One Sweetly Solemn Thought, 124
Onward, Christian Soldiers, 25, 186

P
Pardon the Debt and Make Me Free, 98
Peace, Perfect Peace, 63, 192
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow, 202, 214
Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven, 15, 208

R
Rejoice for a Brother Deceased, 57
Remember Now Thy Creator, 12
Rescue the Perishing, 115
Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me, 58, 132, 136

S
See That Band All Dressed in White, 168
Shall We Gather at the River?, 137, 198
Silent Night, 177, 180
Sowing the Seed by the Daylight Fair, 114
Stand Up, Stand Up, for Jesus, 104
Steal Away, 167
Still, Still with Thee, 162
Sun of My Soul, 9
Sunset and Evening Star, 194
Sweet Hour of Prayer, 136

T
Take My Life, and Let It Be, 24, 195
Take the Name of Jesus with You, 50
The Homeland, 209
The Light of the World Is Jesus, 16
The Lord Our God Alone Is Strong, 150
The Son of God Goes Forth to War, 105
There Is a Happy Land, 202
There Is a Land of Pure Delight, 4, 10, 68, 84
There Were Ninety and Nine, 122
There'll Be No Dark Valley, 186
There's a Church in the Valley by the Wildwood, 27
There's a Land That Is Fairer Than Day, 79, 202
There's Sunshine in My Soul, 88
Thou Hidden Love of God, 3
Thou, My Everlasting Portion, 155
Thou, Whose Unmeasured Temple, 151
Through All the Changing Scenes, 7
Throw Out the Life Line, 120, 137

W
Wade in De Water, 168
Were You There?, 166
What a Friend We Have in Jesus, 119, 160
What Means This Eager, Anxious Throng?, 123
When All My Labors and Trials Are O'er, 96
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, 64, 131, 136
While the Days Are Going By, 60

Transcriber's Notes

--Retained copyright information from the printed edition: this eBook is
public-domain in the country of publication.

--Silently corrected a few palpable typos.

--In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by
_underscores_.

End of Project Gutenberg's Hymns in Human Experience, by William John Hart