G. K. Chesterton in The Hymnal, 1940

Fr. Daniel announced on the APCK mailing list yesterday one of the hymns we will be singing Sunday. I do not think I know this one (nor that we had anything at all by Chesterton in the Hymnal)!

Fr Daniel's note included the following commentary:

Hymn 521, "O God of Earth and Altar", written in 1906 is very relevant to us in America in 2006, with references to "terror", inordinate wealth, the climate of cynicism, and also to the sophistry that is the trademark of our political life, in which the weaker arguments are made to appear strong by lies and manipulations by all political parties. Verse 2 of the hymn contains clear references to The Litany from the Book of Common Prayer. In the Hymnal 1940, Chesterton's hymn is sung to a lovely traditional English melody, called "King's Lynn", arranged by R. Vaughan Williams in 1906.

Hymn 521, O God of Earth and Altar, by G. K. Chesterton:

O God of earth and altar, Bow down and hear our cry,
Our earthly rulers falter, Our people drift and die;
The walls of gold entomb us, The swords of scorn divide,
Take not thy thunder from us, But take away our pride.

From all that terror teaches, From lies of tongue and pen,
From all the easy speeches That comfort cruel men,
From sale and profanation Of honor, and the sword,
From sleep and from damnation, Deliver us, good Lord!

Tie in a living tether The prince and priest and thrall,
Bind all our lives together, Smite us and save us all;
In ire and exultation Aflame with faith, and free,
Lift up a living nation, A single sword to thee. Amen.

Amen.