Today in 1828 – George Warren Born

Men from two churches with the same name contributed to the writing of the patriotic hymn God of Our Fathers. Rev. Daniel Roberts of St. Thomas Church, Brandon, Vermont, wrote the words–the only hymn text he ever produced. And George Warren, the organist at St. Thomas Church, New York City, composed the tune (called National Hymn) some years later.

When Roberts wrote the hymn for the 4th of July celebration in 1876, he set it to the majestic tune Russian Hymn. Either tune works well, though the stirring trumpet fanfare at the beginning of each stanza makes Warren’s unique. An American master of the pipe organ, though largely self-taught, George William Warren also wrote a number of choral anthems and other hymn tunes. When he died in 1902, no organ music was played at his funeral, as mourners believed they could find no organist to approach his abilities!

As with many national hymns, this one is cast as a prayer. “Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way,” is a worthy aspiration, even though America continues to fall far short of it (as do all nations). The Word of God reminds us, “Righteousness exalts [lifts up] a nation, but sin is a reproach [a shame and disgrace] to any people” (Prov. 14:34). We need to pray for our national leaders that they will lead us wisely and well.

God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendour through the skies,
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.

Thy love divine hath led us in the past;
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast;
Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay,
Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.

Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.

Ignorance… Blissful or Otherwise

It continues to trouble me that an increasing number of Christians know very few of the great hymns and gospel songs of the faith. Not only that, but they seem not to care to correct the deficit. They have bought into the propaganda of the contemporary religious marketplace that tells them ad nauseum that those songs are too old-fashioned and out-of-date. That we must have something fresh and new. That we need to get with it!

Well, I’m certainly not suggesting we reject good quality newer songs simply because they’re new. But neither do I believe we should abandon our traditional hymnody. It is simply too much of a devotional treasury to be missed. Centuries of church history have been poured into our hymns. Godly men and women have written out of a rich experience with the Lord. They have things to teach us yet. Hang onto the hymn book! And let’s determine to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem!

If you have not read my article Ignorance…Blissful or Otherwise, please click on the link and give it a look. There are a number of suggestions there for increasing our awareness and appreciation for these old songs. (You might also check out 77 Ideas for Promoting Hymn Singing.)

(2) When I See My Saviour (Data Missing)

Robert Harkness provided a tune for this song, with some lovely harmonies typical of his compositions. The words were written in 1911 by Maud Fraser Jackson, of whom we know nothing but her name. (It is a common name. But there is a Maud Fraser who was born around 1873 in Iowa that’s a possible match. She married a man named William Jackson in 1900.)

Many of our hymns and gospel songs call us to stand before the cross of Calvary, seeing with the eyes of faith the suffering Saviour. All the way from Watts’s exalted When I Survey the Wondrous Cross to Fanny Crosby’s Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross, these songs help us to keep Calvary in view. As we do so, we gain a fresh appreciation of what our salvation cost the Saviour, and a renewed desire to love and serve Him faithfully.

Maud Jackson’s song is not as well known, but it is worth a look and listen. You can hear the tune of When I See My Saviour played on the Cyber Hymnal.

When I see my Saviour, hanging on Calvary,
Bearing there for sinners bitterest agony.
Gratitude o’erwhelms me, makes mine eyes grow dim,
All my ransomed being captive is to Him.

I can see the blood drops, red ’neath His thorny crown,
From the cruel nail wounds now they are falling down;
Lord, when I would wander from Thy love away,
Let me see those blood drops shed for me that day.

“Why hast thou forsaken?” List to that sad, sad moan!
Oh, His heart was broken, suffering there alone;
Broken then that mortals ne’er need cry in vain
For God’s love and comfort, in the hour of pain.