Above:  Trinity Church and Church Yard, Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, 1890

Image Source = Library of Congress

Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-ppmsc-08870

Original Greek Text by St. Joseph the Hymnographer (d. 886)

English Translation (1862) by John Mason Neale (1818-1866)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal and Order of Service (1925), The Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Synod

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The things of earth in the earth let us lay;

The ashes with ashes, the dust with the clay;

But lift up the heart, and the eyes, and the love,

O lift up the soul to the regions above!

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Since He, the Immortal, hath entered the gate,

So shall we mortals, or sooner or late:

Then stand we with Christ; let us mark Him ascend,

For His is the glory and life without end.

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On earth with His own once the Giver of good,

Bestowing His blessing, a little while stood;

Now nothing can part us, nor distance, nor foes,

For lo! He is with us, and who can oppose?

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So Lord, we commit this our loved one to Thee,

Whose body is dead, but whose spirit is free:

We know that through grace, when our life her is o’er,

In bliss we shall be with the Lord evermore.

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Above:  Dawn, Crater Lake National Park

Image in the Public Domain

Original Greek Text by St. Joseph the Hymnographer (d. 886)

English Translation (1862) by John Mason Neale (1818-1866)

Hymn Source #1 = The Lutheran Hymnal (1941), The Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America

Hymn Source #2 = William Gustave Polack, The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal, 2d ed. (1942)

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Stars of the morning, so gloriously bright,

Filled with celestial virtue and light,

These that, where never followeth day,

Praise the Thrice Holy One ever and aye.

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These are Thy ministers, these dost Thou own,

Lord God of Sabaoth, nearest Thy throne;

These are Thy messengers, these dost Thou send,

Help of the helpless ones, man to defend.

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These keep the guard amid Salem’s dear bowers,

Thrones, principalities, virtues, and powers,

Where, with the living ones, mystical four,

Cherubim, seraphim, bow and adore.

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Then, when the earth was first poised in mid space,

Then, when the planets first sped on their race,

Then, when were ended the six days’ employ,

Then all the sons of God shouted for joy.

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Still let them succor us, still let them fight,

Lord of angelic hosts, battling for right,

Till, where their anthems they ceaselessly pour,

We with the angels may bow and adore.

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Above:  Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, May 7, 2017

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Text (1824) by James Montgomery (1771-1854)

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (1969), Moravian Church in America

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To Thy temple I repair,

Lord, I love to worship there,

When, within the veil,

I meet Christ before the mercy-seat.

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While Thy glorious praise is sung,

Touch my lips, unloose my tongue

That my joyful soul may bless

Thee, the Lord, my Righteousness.

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While the prayers of saints ascend,

God of love, to mine attend;

Hear me, for Thy Spirit pleads;

Hear, for Jesus intercedes.

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While Thy ministers proclaim

Peace and pardon in Thy Name,

Through their voice, by faith, may I

Hear Thee speaking from the sky.

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From Thy house, when I return,

May my heart within me burn;

And at evening let me say,

“I have walked with God today.”

Above:  World Map, 1847

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1823) by James Montgomery (1771-1854)

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923), Moravian Church in America

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O Spirit of the living God,

In all Thy plentitude of grace,

Where’er the foot of man hath trod,

Descend on our apostate race.

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Give tongues of fire and hearts of love,

To preach the reconciling word;

Give power and unction from above,

Where’er the joyful sound is heard.

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Be darkness, at Thy coming, light;

Confusion, order in Thy path;

Souls without strength inspire with might;

Bid mercy triumph over wrath.

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O Spirit of the Lord, prepare

All the round earth her God to meet;

Breather Thou abroad like morning air,

Till hearts of stone begin to heat.

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Baptize the nations; far and nigh

The triumphs of the Cross record;

The name of Jesus glorify,

Till every kindred call Him Lord.

Above:  The Church Triumphant and the Church Militant, by Andrea di Bonaiuto, at the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy

Image in the Public Domain

Text by Reginald Heber (1783-1826)

Text Source = The English Hymnal (1906), The Church of England

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Holy, Holy, Holy!  Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;

Holy, Holy Holy! Merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

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Holy Holy, Holy!  all the Saints adore thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and Seraphim falling down before thee,

Which, wert, and art, and evermore shall be.

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Holy, Holy, Holy!  though the darkness hide thee,

Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,

Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee

Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

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Holy, Holy, Holy!  Lord God Almighty!

All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, Holy, Holy!  Merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

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SOME UNITARIAN VERSIONS OF THE HYMN

(FOR THE SAKE OF CURIOSITY, IF NOTHING ELSE)

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Hymn Sources = Hymns of the Spirit (1937), American Unitarian Association and Universalist Church of America; and Hymns for the Celebration of Life (1964), Unitarian Universalist Association

Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;

Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and Mighty!

Who wert, and art, and evermore shall be.

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Holy, holy, holy!  Though the darkness hide thee,

Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,

Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee

Perfect in power, in love and purity!

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Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!

All thy works shall praise thy name in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and Mighty!

Who wert, and art, and evermore shall be.

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Hymn Source = Singing the Living Tradition (1993), Unitarian Universalist Association

Holy, holy, holy!  author of creation!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;

holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty;

who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

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Holy, holy, holy, though the darkness hide thee,

hindered by our vanities we have not eyes to see.

Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee,

perfect in power, in love, and purity.

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Holy, holy, holy!  author of creation!

All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;

holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty;

who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

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Might I state the obvious?  First, the irony of a staunchly Trinitarian hymn appearing in altered forms in Unitarian hymnals is rich.  Furthermore, “hindered by our vanities we have not eyes to see ” is substantially different from “though the sinful eye of man thy glory may not see.”

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

FEBRUARY 23, 2017 COMMON ERA

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Above:  Augustus Nelson

Image Source = The Escanaba Daily Press, Escanaba, Michigan, June 27, 1924, Page 4

Accessed via newspapers.com

Hymn Source = The Hymnal and Order of Service (1925), The Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod

Original Text (1571) by Martin Mikael Schalling (1532-1608)

Swedish Text (1818) by Johann Olaf Wallin (1779-1839)

English Translation by Augustus Nelson (1863-1949)

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O Lord, devoutly love I Thee;

Come, Jesus, and abide with me,

And grant me e’er Thy favor.

In this wide world of anxious care

Vain glory find I everywhere,

But peace with Thee, my Saviour.

E’en though, in woeful agony,

My soul and body pine away,

Thou art my Comfort, ever blest,

I safely on Thy bosom rest.

Lord Jesus Christ, my Saviour dear,

Thy saving hand is ever near.

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Almighty God, for what I own,

Receive, and am, to Thee alone

I ought my thanks to render.

Teach me to use Thy gifts, I pray,

To aid the poor, and never stay,

O Lord, Thy mercies tender.

Make known to me, O God, Thy will,

And purge my soul of every ill;

Yea, make my patient and content,

Nor let my soul to earth be bent.

Lord Jesus Christ, for Thy death’s sake

The bonds of my affliction break.

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Send, Lord, Thine angels forth at last

To bear my soul, when life is past,

Where heavenly joy aboundeth;

And let my weary body rest

In peace, where’er Thou seest best,

Until Thy voice resoundeth.

Then lo! in holy raiment clad,

I shall behold my Lord and God;

His grace and glory then shall be

My joy in all eternity,

Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer fulfill;

In life, in death, Thine am I still.

Above:  Calvary Cemetery, Queens, New York, New York, 2006

Image in the Public Domain

Danish Text (1645) by Elle Andersdotter (1600-1650?)

English Translation (Before 1899) by George Henry Trabert (1743-1931)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal and Order of Service (1925), The Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod

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In hope my soul, redeemed to bliss unending,

To heaven’s glorious height by faith ascending,

Is mindful ever

That Christ did sever

The bonds of death, that I might live forever.

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In Him I have salvation’s way discovered,

The heritage for me He hath recovered.

Though death o’ertakes me,

Christ ne’er forsakes me,

To everlasting life He surely wakes me.

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More radiant there than sun e’er shone in brightness,

My soul shall shine before God’s throne in whiteness,

My God, who knows me,

In glory clothes me,

As He declared when for His own He chose me.

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O may I come when strife and grief are ended,

Where all thy saints shall meet, with peace attended!

Lord, grant Thy favor

And mercy ever,

And turn my sorrow into joy forever.

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Lord Jesus Christ, keep me prepared and waking,

Till from the vale of tears Thy bride Thou’rt taking

To dwell in heaven,

Where joy is given,

And clouds of darkness are forever riven.

©Photo. R.M.N. / R.-G. OjŽda

Above:  Saint John on Patmos

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1895), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Text (November 22, 1868) by Thomas Hornblower Gill (1819-1906)

Gill worked on this text for most of St. Cecilia’s Day, 1868.  He reported that November 22, 1868 was “almost the most delightful day of my life.”

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We come unto our fathers’ God:

Their Rock is our salvation;

The eternal arms, their dear abode,

We make our habitation;

We bring Thee, Lord, the praise they brought,

We seek Thee as Thy saints have sought

In every generation.

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The fire Divine their steps that led

Still goeth bright before us,

The heavenly shield, around them spread,

Is still high holden o’er us;

The grace those sinners that subdued.

The strength those weaklings that renewed,

Doth vanquish, doth restore us.

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The cleaving sins that brought them low

Are still our souls oppressing,

The tears that from their eyes did flow

Fall fast, our shame confessing;

As with Thee, Lord, prevailed their cry,

So our strong prayer ascends on high,

And bringeth down Thy blessing.

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Their joy unto their Lord we bring,

Their song to us descendeth;

The Spirit who in them did sing

To us His music lendeth:

His song in them, in us, is one;

We raise it high, we send it on,–

The song that never endeth.

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Ye saints to come, take up the strain,

The same sweet theme endeavor;

Unbroken be the golden chain!

Keep on the song for ever!

Safe in the same dear dwelling-place,

Rich with the same eternal grace,

Bless the same boundless Giver.

Above:  World Map, 1570

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1829) by Harriet Auber (1773-1862)

Hymn Source = Church Psalmody:  A Collection of Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Public Worship; Selected from Dr. Watts and Other Authors (1831)

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Hasten, Lord, the glorious time,

When, beneath Messiah’s sway,

Every nation, every clime,

Shall the gospel call obey.

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Mightiest kings his power shall own,

Heathen tribes his name adore;

Satan and his host, o’erthrown,

Bound in chains, shall hunt no more.

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Then shall wars and tumults cease,

Then shall be banished grief and pain;

Righteousness, and joy, and peace,

Undisturbed shall ever reign.

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Bless us, then, our gracious Lord,

Ever praise his glorious name;

All his mighty acts record,

All his wondrous love proclaim.

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Above:  Funeral, 1926

Image Source = Library of Congress

Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-hec-34270

Text by Greville Phillimore (1821-1884)

Hymn Source = In Memoriam (1884)

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Peace be in the house of death!

When we lay us down to sleep,

Lord, receive the fleeting breath,

Dry the eyes of those that weep.

Thou hast made our grave a bed,

Thou that livest and wast dead.

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We will lay us down in peace,

And in safety take our rest,

Thou hast won the great release,

In Thy triumph we are blest;

Yet the human spirit quails;

Jesu! strengthen when it fails–

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Be the stronghold of that hour,

Be our solace, hope and stay.

Arm of might, and Rock of power,

Chase the doubt, and still dismay;

When we yield the dying breath,

Peace be in the house of death.

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