“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
INDEX OF HYMNS
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
- 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
- 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_.