The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-30
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 Sweet Land of Liberty,
 Of thee I sing;
 Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims pride, From every mountainside,
 Let Freedom ring.
 America" may not be the national anthem. but it is now on the lips of every patriotic man and woman and child in the country. Not to revive a controversy, but to fasten it on the minds of my readers use it today.
 
 My native country, thee,
 Land of the noble free,
 Thy name I love:
 I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills, My heart with rapture thrills,
 Like that above.
 It takes times like these to make us love our native land. Louis Pizitz said to me the other day, MT. Barnett, am a better American citizen than you arel" I was thunderstruck! Why what do you mean?" replied. Quick as flash. he answered: You were born free; you have always enjoyed your liberty, while I was borp in a land therefore I know the priceless treas- ure of American citizenship better than you do.'
 Let music swell the breeze,
 And ring from all the trees,
 Sweet Freedoms song Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that breathe partale; Let rocks their silence break,
 The sound prolong.
 Having lived abroad, can under stand the amazement of Miss Elinor Stafford Millar. the great Australian evangelist, at the indifference show by the public when America" is sung or played. On Sunday, just before preach ing at the Southside Baptist church. she arose and said: Friends, before speak, let's stand and sing. without the organ accompaniment, your great national anthem America
 
 As she led in the singing, thousand throats were filling the great building in triumphant song, as hearts beat wildly at the thought that soon America may be at war in defense of the nations rights and honor.
 
 Our. fathers God to thee,
 Author of liberty.
 To thee we sing.
 Long may our land be bright With Freedoms holy light, prnt nnt TIry1 ierht
 Great God, our king. This was sung as a prayer. Every one felt that they were cn the thres- hold of holy ground. It was marvel ous the way she took the great audience and, by the power of America knit them together in religious and patri- otic fervor. It shows that she was a postmaster in handling assemblies
 
 Miss Millar is very human (the Ger man omissions in her prayer showed it). She has also a sense of humor lishwoman. Anyone could see it by the inimitable way in which she told of her first hearing of America" It was al Honolulu. The band began to play what she thought was God Save the King" but the woman beside her was uttering strange words to the tune. What are you snging?" she asked. 'Tm singing America our national anthem" was the answer "No, you are not.' said Miss Millar, you are singing my national hymn and you've got our tune." The air, as is anthem of England, God Save the King" The author came upon it in book of German music.' and, it ap- pears, on the spur of the moment used it for the hymn. America"
 Our glorious land today,
 Meath education's sway
 Scars upward still.
 Its halls of learning fair, Whose bounties all may share, Behold them everywhere.
 On vale and hill.
 
 This verse had great setting as heard 1t sung recently at the Birming- ham High school by more than 1000 pu- pills. My, how they made the rafters ring! It was inspiring and yet as I looked into the faces of the strong young men got a twinge as I though that some of them might soon have to go to the front. Thy safeguard, Liberty,
 The school shall ever be-
 Our nations pride. No tyrant hand shall smite, While with encircling might