Most Interesting Sentences in Hymndom
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,368
    The final stanza of C F Alexander's 'Once in Royal David's City':

    Not in that poor lowly stable,
    With the oxen standing by
    We shall see him; but in heaven,
    Set at God's right hand on high;
    When like stars his children crowned,
    All in white shall wait around.
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,160
    Thank you; it is a wonderful text.

    And it refers to a much happier kind of "waiting around" than we usually do! :-)
  • Daniel Bennett PageDaniel Bennett Page
    Posts: 833
    'For dogs with friendly faces'

    'Their chantries in the trees'

    context:

    For swift and gallant horses,
    For lambs in pastures springing,
    For dogs with friendly faces,
    For birgs with music thronging
    Their chantries in the trees;
    For herbs to cool our fever,
    For flowers of field and garden,
    For bees among the clover
    With stolen sweetnes laden--
    We thank you, Lord, for these.

    by "Jan Struther", pseudonym of Joyce Maxtone Graham, 1901-1953, author of Mrs Miniver

    Sung many times in Episcopal elementary school (daily) chapel, late ' 60s, early '70s
  • Donnaswan
    Posts: 585
    Any poem by George Herbert and/or John Donne particularly 'King of Glory, King of peace', esp 2nd verse to wit:
    "Wherefore with my utmost art, I will sing thee,
    and the cream of all my heart I will bring thee.
    Though my sins against me cried, thou didst clear me,
    and alone, when they replied, thou didst hear me."

    Donna Swan
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,500
    When this dry soul those eyes shall see,
    And drink the unsealed source of Thee,
    When glory’s sun faith’s shades shall chase,
    And for Thy veil give me Thy FACE. Amen.

    From Richard Crashaw's free translation of Adoro Te Devote, WIth All the Powers. Find in the St. Michael Hymnal, http://www.usfamily.net/web/ccprocession/hymns.html
  • Charles in CenCA
    Posts: 2,416
    The Revival

    UNFOLD, unfold! take in His light,
    Who makes thy Cares more short than night.
    The Joys, which with His Day-star rise,
    He deals to all, but drowsy eyes;
    And what the men of this world miss,
    Some drops and dews of future bliss.
    Hark! how His winds have chang'd their note,
    And with warm whispers call thee out;
    The frosts are past, the storms are gone,
    And backward life at last comes on.
    The lofty groves in express joys
    Reply unto the turtle's* voice, [a turtle dove]
    And here in dust and dirt, O here
    The lilies of His love appear!

    Henry Vaughan
  • Donnaswan
    Posts: 585
    OOO! The Revival reminds me of that great poem (Can't remember author-it'll come to me............set to music by Charles Ives- General Booth enters into Heaven!!
    Booth led boldly with his big bass drum "Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? (NOt sure I am quoting this exactly. It's been years!} Have any of you men ever sung this?

    Donna Swan
  • Donnaswan
    Posts: 585
    OK- I cheated- googled it Vachel Lindsay
    Donna
  • francis
    Posts: 10,668
    To be near you
    Makes my heart sing
    And the bells
    Within my soul
    Ring
    Out the wonder
    Of your glory!
  • Donnaswan
    Posts: 585
    I commented on this at NEW HYMN, Francis, but how about this instead from Christina Rossetti

    Tune me, O Lord, into one harmony with Thee
    One full responsive vibrant chord;
    Unto Thy praise all love and melody,tune me O Lord.
    Thus need I flee nor death, nor fire, nor sword.
    A little while these be, then cease to be,
    And sent by Thee not, these should be abhorred.
    Devil and world, gird me with strength flee the flesh,
    and arm me with Thy word:
    As Thy Heart is to my heart,
    Unto Thee Tune me, O Lord.

    Donna
  • Daniel Bennett PageDaniel Bennett Page
    Posts: 833
    What's that phrase--tune in, tune out, turn on, to everything turn turn turn?
    Makes me dizzy.
  • Donnaswan
    Posts: 585
    I think the operative word in the Rosetti poem is TUNE, not turn,Daniel. We could all do with a bit more tuning, I think. I don't see the word 'turn' in there anywhere. Anyway, it's been set to music by Joel Martinson.OUP 2001. And both composer and poet are/were Catholic.
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