Hymn History - Once to Every Man and Nation

~The Present Crisis~

When a deed is done for Freedom, through the broad earth's aching breast
Runs a thrill of joy prophetic, trembling on from east to west,
And the slave, where'er he cowers, feels the soul within him climb
To the awful verge of manhood, as the energy sublime
Of a century bursts full-blossomed on the thorny stem of Time.

For mankind are one in spirit, and an instinct bears along,
Round the earth's electric circle, the swift flash of right or wrong;
Whether conscious or unconscious, yet Humanity's vast frame
Through its ocean-sundered fibres feels the gush of joy or shame;—
In the gain or loss of one race all the rest have equal claim.

Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, God's new Messiah, offering each the bloom or blight,
Parts the goats upon the left hand, and the sheep upon the right,
And the choice goes by forever 'twixt that darkness and that light.

For Humanity sweeps onward: where to-day the martyr stands,
On the morrow, crouches Judas with the silver in his hands;
Far in front the cross stands ready and the crackling fagots burn,
While the hooting mob of yesterday in silent awe return
To glean up the scattered ashes into History's golden urn.

Careless seems the great Avenger; history's pages but record
One death-grapple in the darkness 'twixt old systems and the Word;
Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne,—
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own.

The above poem is derived from the original eighteen stanzas of "The Present Crisis", a work by James Russell Lowell that addressed the national crisis over slavery leading up to the Mexican War.  The hymn "Once to Every Man and Nation" was later derived from four of these stirring lines, and set to the welsh tune of Ebenezer in 1890.

James Russell Lowell was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1819.  His father was the pastor of the West Congregational Church in Boston for 55 years. James graduated from Harvard in 1838 and, as a lawyer, poet, critic, and editor, became an ardent champion of abolition.  In 1876, President Hayes appointed him minister to the court of Spain and, in 1880, transferred him to Great Britain.  Over the years, he was in great demand as a public speaker.

The poem, The Present Crisis, first appeared in print on December 11, 1845, in the Boston Courier.  Eventually, when music was added, the poem of protest became a hymn of challenge: "Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, in the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side."

Written over 158 years ago, Once to Every Man and Nation is a poignant reminder of Who is in control of history and Who will ultimately write the last chapter.

ONCE TO EVERY MAN AND NATION
Written by James Russell Lowell

Once to every man and nation
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
For the good or evil side;
Some great cause,
God's new Messiah,
Offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever
'Twixt that darkness and that light.

Then to side with truth is noble,
When we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit,
And 'tis prosperous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses
While the coward stands aside,
Till the multitude make virtue
Of the faith they had denied.

By the light of burning martyrs,
Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,
Toiling up new Calvaries ever
With the cross that turns not back;
New occasions teach new duties,
Time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still and onward,
Who would keep abreast of truth.

Though the cause of evil prosper,
Yet 'tis truth alone is strong;
Though her portion be the scaffold,
And upon the throne be wrong;
Yet that scaffold sways the future,
And, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow
Keeping watch above His own..

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

(II Corinthians 3:17)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

(II Chronicles 7:14)

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

(Joshua 24:15)

Hymn History - For the Beauty of the Earth

I've been writing a hymn study once or twice a month for a home-published christian newsletter I and some friends of mine are the editors of.  I thought I'd share (or rather, re-commence sharing) the articles here.

Enjoy!

Folliott Piermont (1835-1917) was born in Bath, England and was a lay member of the Anglican Church. Following his graduation from Queen's College, Cambridge, he taught the classics for a time at Somerset College, later becoming a freelance writer. During his 82 years of life, Pierpoint published seven volumes of poems and hymn texts, many of them showing his love for nature. He is most remembered for this beautiful hymn, For the Beauty of the Earth.

Piermont was about 29 years old when he wrote the text for this joyful hymn.  It was a lovely day in late spring.  While enjoying the surrounding area of his native city of Bath, in England, he was inspired by the beautiful countryside with its winding cool and peaceful river, Avon, in the distance. The tuneful songbirds, the wind wispering over a vibrantly colored hillside, all seemed to be praising the Creator with their unrestrianed gladness and peace.  Overwhelmed with emotion, he expressed his feelings of gratitude in the penning of this sacred song.

For the Beauty of the Earth was set to the beautiful tune of "Dix."  Its composer, Conrad Kocher (1786-1872), born in Wurttëmberg, was an important musician and reformer of German church music.  The tune name "Dix" came from the association of this melody with William Dix's hymn, "As With Gladness Men of Old," which was often sung in Protestant services on Christmas to celebrate Christ's birth.

This hymn, which made it's first appearance in 1864 under the name "The Sacrifice of Praise", was inspired by the Scripture in Hebrews 13:15.

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." -Hebrews 13:15.

"The Sacrifice of Praise" consisted of 8 four-line stanzas. A verse not included in most hymnals, even today, gives thanks for God Himself. It is He who has made all of the joys and beauties of life possible, and provides a hope for all eternity.

"For Thyself, best Gift Divine!

To our race so freely given;

For that great, great love of Thine,

peace on earth, and joy in heaven: 

Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise."

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:3) 

~For the Beauty of the Earth~

For the beauty of the earth

For the Glory of the skies, 

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies: 

Refrain: Lord of all, to Thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise.

Alternative (original) refrain:

Christ, our God, to Thee we raise 

This, our sacrifice of praise. 

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night, 

Hill and vale and tree and flow'r 

Sun and Moon and stars of light 

Refrain

For each perfect gift of Thine
Down to us so freely given.
Graces human and divine
Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n.

Refrain

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child.
Friends on earth and friends above
For all gentle thoughts and mild.

Refrain

"For Thyself, best Gift Divine! 

To our race so freely given;

For that great, great love of Thine, 

peace on earth, and joy in heaven!

Refrain

~*~*~*~*~*~

Vive Ut Vivas!

Love,

~Me~

Hymn History - Once to Every Man and Nation

~The Present Crisis~

When a deed is done for Freedom, through the broad earth's aching breast
Runs a thrill of joy prophetic, trembling on from east to west,
And the slave, where'er he cowers, feels the soul within him climb
To the awful verge of manhood, as the energy sublime
Of a century bursts full-blossomed on the thorny stem of Time.

For mankind are one in spirit, and an instinct bears along,
Round the earth's electric circle, the swift flash of right or wrong;
Whether conscious or unconscious, yet Humanity's vast frame
Through its ocean-sundered fibres feels the gush of joy or shame;—
In the gain or loss of one race all the rest have equal claim.

Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, God's new Messiah, offering each the bloom or blight,
Parts the goats upon the left hand, and the sheep upon the right,
And the choice goes by forever 'twixt that darkness and that light.

For Humanity sweeps onward: where to-day the martyr stands,
On the morrow, crouches Judas with the silver in his hands;
Far in front the cross stands ready and the crackling fagots burn,
While the hooting mob of yesterday in silent awe return
To glean up the scattered ashes into History's golden urn.

Careless seems the great Avenger; history's pages but record
One death-grapple in the darkness 'twixt old systems and the Word;
Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne,—
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own.

The above poem is derived from the original eighteen stanzas of "The Present Crisis", a work by James Russell Lowell that addressed the national crisis over slavery leading up to the Mexican War.  The hymn "Once to Every Man and Nation" was later derived from four of these stirring lines, and set to the welsh tune of Ebenezer in 1890.

James Russell Lowell was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1819.  His father was the pastor of the West Congregational Church in Boston for 55 years. James graduated from Harvard in 1838 and, as a lawyer, poet, critic, and editor, became an ardent champion of abolition.  In 1876, President Hayes appointed him minister to the court of Spain and, in 1880, transferred him to Great Britain.  Over the years, he was in great demand as a public speaker.

The poem, The Present Crisis, first appeared in print on December 11, 1845, in the Boston Courier.  Eventually, when music was added, the poem of protest became a hymn of challenge: "Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, in the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side."

Written over 158 years ago, Once to Every Man and Nation is a poignant reminder of Who is in control of history and Who will ultimately write the last chapter.

ONCE TO EVERY MAN AND NATION
Written by James Russell Lowell

Once to every man and nation
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
For the good or evil side;
Some great cause,
God's new Messiah,
Offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever
'Twixt that darkness and that light.

Then to side with truth is noble,
When we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit,
And 'tis prosperous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses
While the coward stands aside,
Till the multitude make virtue
Of the faith they had denied.

By the light of burning martyrs,
Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,
Toiling up new Calvaries ever
With the cross that turns not back;
New occasions teach new duties,
Time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still and onward,
Who would keep abreast of truth.

Though the cause of evil prosper,
Yet 'tis truth alone is strong;
Though her portion be the scaffold,
And upon the throne be wrong;
Yet that scaffold sways the future,
And, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow
Keeping watch above His own..

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

(II Corinthians 3:17)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

(II Chronicles 7:14)

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

(Joshua 24:15)

Sunday Hymn history ~ Be Thou My Vision

http://www.johnroachemusic.com/ragtime.html

I have been writing up some hymn stories that I was researching recently, and decided to share them here.

I am fascinated by the amazing histories behind many of the hymns we know and love.  It is inspiring to know that christians who have gone before have experienced the same trials and difficulties as we undergo today. . . and that God used those times to bring us some of the most uplifting and well-loved hymns in history.

 "Be Thou My Vision" is a hymn derived from an old folk song. It expresses a desire for God’s hand in our lives and a longing to be in His presence. The first words are credited to Dallan Forgaill in a work entitled, in gaelic, Rob tu mo bhoile, a Comdi cride. 

The folk song got its start in Ireland around 433 AD, when St. Patrick lit a fire in defiance of a royal decree. 

It was the eve of Easter and the Spring Equinox. St. Patrick knew that High King Logaire would be at Tara to celebrate  the pagan festival. In direct defiance to the law that no fire should be lit in the vicinity of the sacred festival fire at Tara, St. Patrick lit a bonfire on the Hill of Slane! King Logaire drove his chariot in a towering passion to the Hill of Slane to arrest the rebel, but St. Patrick was so eloquent in his preaching, the King was soon pacified and St. Patrick was allowed to preach Christianity to the entire pagan army. 

The traditional tune setting for this hymn is called Slane, after the hill on which St. Patrick preached.

Only in this century did the text find its English translation, when Mary Byrne rendered it into literal English prose in 1905.  It remained for Eleanor M. Hull, in her 1912 Poem Book of the Gael to offer a metrical, poetic version of Byrne's work in twelve rhymed couplets that have been used by editors since to arrive at versions of the four-stanza hymn so widely loved and treasured today.  

Here is the literal english translation from the original gaelic.

Be thou my vision,

O Lord of my heart.

None other is aught

but the King of the seven heavens.

Be thou my meditation

by day and night;

May it be thou that I behold 

even in my sleep.

Be thou my speech,

be thou my understanding,

Be thou with me, 

be I with thee.

Be thou my father,

be I thy son.

Mayst thou be mine,

may I be thine.

Be thou my battle-shield,

be thou my sword.

Be thou my dignity,

be thou my delight.

Be thou my shelter,

be thou my stronghold.

Mayst thou raise me up

to the company of the angels.

Be thou every good

to my body and soul.

Be thou my kingdom 

in heaven and on earth.

Be thou solely

chief love of my heart.

Let there be none other,

O high King of Heaven.

Till I am able

to pass into thy hands,

My treasure, my beloved,

through the greatness of thy love.

Be thou alone

my noble and wondrous estate.

I seek not men,

nor lifeless wealth.

Be thou the constant guardian

of every possession and every life.

For our corrupt desires are dead

at the mere sight of thee.

Thy love in my soul

and in my heart—

Grant this to me,

O King of the seven heavens.

O King of the seven heavens

grant me this—

Thy love to be in my heart

and in my soul.

With the King of all, with him

after victory won by piety

May I be in the kingdom of heaven

O brightness of the son.

Beloved Father,

hear, hear my lamentations;

Timely is the cry of woe 

of this miserable wretch.

O heart of my heart,

whate'er befall me,

O ruler of all,

be thou my vision.

Gute Nacht, meine Damen!