New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-25
HYMNS IN WAR AND Pc ACE
CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH HAVE GIVEN
RISE TO THE GREATEST SONGS.
SHALL LOVE OF COUNTRY NOT Re DEMONSTRATED
IN RELIGIOUS woRsHIP9-M NAY NOT THE

IN RELIGIOUS woRsfIPr-MAY NOT THE
TWO SENTIMENTS co-EXIsT?
The TRADE OF The Male Cynic' against the
frivolous estimation In which many people hold
the flag at this present time. and the Inappropriate
and undignifcd OF National colors In all sorts
of absurd devices. has served 10 bring into notice
many opinions. Other issues. too. have been
touched upon In less close connection,
arising Of points made ny the correspondents.
One OF these the question started by n reference
in the letter of John c. Havemcyer to the sing
ing of National hymns in houses o! worship.
In the June number OF The Homiletic Review"
which is a periodical edited by the Rev D. s. Greg
DRY and published by Funk & WaSnalls, Is an ar
ticle on "War and Peace in Hymnology." by the
Rev James II. Ross Congrega tional House. Bos
ton Mass The writer now sends his views to The
Tribune and again tells OF the stirring aid martial
hymns have been to and TO the causes for
which they have fought. beginning with the bat
tie hymn Of the Reformation. written BY Luther
in 1920 the translation OF which into English was
Carlyles only work Of hymnoogy. he briefly
touches on the spirit OF that war which. continu-
Ing through many years gave rise to some OF
the nobest Of the German hymns and anthems.
The reader Is reminded Of "Dr. Isaac Watts's
hymn published In 49, for In time OF war"
It was based on the XXth Psalm. and is called
Prayer and Hope Of Victory: also OF the Prayer
for Peace" written by the author OF Rock OF
Ages"
Various the texts which writer's have
rung the changes in their odcs and sonnets. their
peans OF victory and their walls OF sorrow. Mr..
Ross tells Of tie songs and hymns our Civil
War gave birth Some OF these ceased to be
heard when the over but others have
lived and still sung and loved. Says the writer:
"Oiver Wendell Holmes. poet and hymnist, was
quick TO respond to the sentiments and conditions
of war in 1861 he wrote a hymn which became
known The Army Hymn. It's first coupet was:
o Lord of Hosts, Almighty King!
Behold the sacrifice bring.
The next two stanzas were prayers and the
author inserted a because the President S
Proclamation OF Emancipation went into effect:
No moro It's flaming embens wave.
To bear from hope here trembling ,e,s slave;
To blast wi Of Thine.
THE last stanza was a prayer for guardianship
Of the flag until peace should reign. This hymn
WAS introduced into a few hymnals but dsap-
peared from them after the war over. Singu-
lnry enough It has appeared in the revised and en-
larged hymnals OF the Episcopal Church.
The Autocrat also wrote a Parting Hymn.
set TO the tune Of Dundee which has received
the additional title Of Prayer During War 1t
Is prayer throughout for protection Of the SOL
dIers from hurtful wind and and plaques and
dreaded woes. Its first line Is:
Father OF all merc.es. Heavenly Friend.
It's las, stanza is prayer for delverance from
All that hdrtenS the coming or dtatn.
Likewise Whittier wrote a hymn at the open
ing Of the Civil War 1861. His title for II was.
Thy VIII BE Done The hymnal title was 'Resig-
nation. It is the first poem in the collection Of
his poems classified written In war time Its
first coupet Is
We see not, know not: all way
Ia nght-with Thee alone Is day
II consisted Of seven hve-line stanzas. but was
published in full in the Primitive Methodist Hymn
nal as late 1851 The references TO the war are
abstract no, concrete. Hence, the hymn is ap,
propriate FOR any conditions including trial and
demanding patience and submssveness.
In the spring OF ls6l committee OF New; York
pied the condition OF the country as 1t then
was. There were twelve hundred competitors. but
not one deemed Of sufficient merit 70 deserve
prize. The result demonstrates many things that
do not appear on the surface Great things are
done quietly. unostentatousy, without ambition 10
do them or the consciousness Of doing them SO II
dent at Andove er" wrote Amerlca Whics remains
unsurpassed and for which no fee Of 500 was paid
and until another poetic seer and prophet is sent
from above 1t will hold undispu.ed first rank. the
great National hymn for National OCCASIONS
secular or sacred.
HYMN BY JULIA WARD HOWE
Likewise The Battle Hymn OF the Republic
by Mrs Julia Ward Howe. not written by re-
quest but because the authoress had vision OF
war and Of the God OF War. OF human slavery and
freedom. OF soldery courage. suffering and endur-
ance =, .
church. OF tho home and the Saooa,h- schooi, OF
tho battlefield and the hospital. may we'll be re-
vived FOR they Will do US good II is almos; i'm.
possible that they should DO US any harm. They
are not divislve. but unifying In the last analy-
STA they are the hymns OF eternal life they are
worthy expressions OF the love Of man to God and
20 his felow-man. They are the vehicles OF praise
and glory o. praise TO our Maker and Redeemer
and Of that glory which lies beyond death and
the grave for all those who commit Themselves as
Christ did 10 the Father
II would 10 interesting TO know how many peo-
pie agree with Mr.. Havemeyer. that TO personfy
and defy what is called country Is illogical and
irroliglous" The love OF the Fatherland has oeen
able TO move men when even rension mas .a iHa,
INK liz co-cxistent with the Unborn religious I'M
nuses When every breath and heartbeat OF a
ieope is I'm "A cause IN its issue and all It's bear
ings the separation OF II from religious sentiment
seems perous II not impossible. Shall the love
of country be relegated 10 lower place or shall
the worship 81 the Deity be second In considera-
lion II they cannot 20 hand In hand one must
take precedence In this end OF the nineteenth
century which shall II be-!
AIDING THEIR COUNTRY'S CAUSE.