155th Anniversary of America’s Most God-Inspired Patriotic Song

The Christian Diarist ^ | April 9, 2017 | JP

[TexasKamaAina]

Yes - an outrageously inappropriate hymn that celebrates military aggression.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Great story. Thanks for posting it.

Mrs. Howe's lyrics are just incredible and work so perfectly with the tune. She had such wonderful mastery of the English language. Right from the first inspirational lines: "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the lightening of His terrible swift sword"

I'm watching "Heaven's Gate" for the first time and the song plays a key role in the opening scene, graduation at Harvard University in 1870, just five years after the war ended (aside: it IS a plodding film, but incredible cinematography, scenery, and a wonderful musical score with an amazing story behind it).

[jeffersondem]

“Would true Christians encourage and invoke carnage on their fellow man?”

I don't believe being a Christian requires universal pacifism, but the attack on the South by the Lincoln regime was wrong on many levels.

In simple terms, northern interests wanted to eliminate southern political and economic competition which had been an irritant since before the revolution. As in so many instances, follow the money.

[xone]

Would true Christians encourage and invoke carnage on their fellow man?

You mean like Nazis, Japs, Communists, those in rebellion? Obviously no true Christians in those engagements.

[xone]

Would true Christians encourage and invoke carnage on their fellow man?

Jihadis.

[NorthstarMom]

Sometimes our pastor takes hymn requests during the evening service. There was a time when our all of our elementary age kids raised their hands and requested this song. It didn’t matter if it were Easter or Christmas or which child he called on. They all picked this one every time.

[Lee N. Field]

Chillingly eschtological. But, don’t equate the Union Army with the hand of God.

[huldah1776]

Like the book of Ecclesiates. I can imagine this hymn being sung when the Warrior King returns to rule and maybe 2/3 of the world’s population is killed. Truth is a sword.

[the OlLine Rebel]

OK, yeah, it WAS based on a tune stating “John Brown’s body lies a molderin’ in the grave”.

It was NOT about THE jackass nut John Brown. It was a general name used in “fun”.

[pigsmith]

Bfl

[BroJoeK]

jeffersondem: "Reminds me of the comment made by the ranch hand in the movie Red River: 'Why is it when you kill a man, you want to read the Lord into it?'
Or in this case, 600,000 men."

The Confederacy had its own long list of battle songs, including this one, their version of "Battle Cry of Freedom"

Here's a pretty good list of Dixie songs.
Note that many call on the Lord for His support.

Here's a Confederate song celebrating the Confederate Irish Brigade

"Didn't those cowardly Linconites tremble when they met with the Irish Brigade!"

[BroJoeK]

jeffersondem: "I don't believe being a Christian requires universal pacifism..."

Correct, from earliest times soldiers were welcomed into Christian communities.

jeffersondem: "...but the attack on the South by the Lincoln regime was wrong on many levels."

Incorrect, because the attack by the Confederacy on the Union was wrong on many levels.
Every nation has a right to defend itself and defeat military forces which provoke, start, declare and wage war on it, as Confederates did against the Union.

jeffersondem: "In simple terms, northern interests wanted to eliminate southern political and economic competition which had been an irritant since before the revolution.
As in so many instances, follow the money."

In simple terms, what you just posted is a stinking pile of excrement, mythology unrelated to real historical facts, FRiend.

[pax_et_bonum]

“Was Christ born in the beauty of the lilies overseas?

I was always taught he was born in a feeding trough amid the squalor of a cow byre.”

---

The lily is a symbol of purity and innocence.