Julia Howe (yes that's her in the photo) wrote this hymn in 1861 while viewing the movement of soldiers. It's an abolitionist hymn and Julia was a Northerner. Are there problems with relating the victory of Jesus to the victory of the Union? What does this suggest in terms of manifest destiny of the United States and the mythologies and realities of Christianity in marriage with the country?
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 fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on...
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
. They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His day is marching on.
I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
“As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal”;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Since God is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally …let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.
He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave;
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of wrong His slave,
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I see no conflict with relating the victory of Jesus to the victory of the union. The underlying sentiments are very similar, the freeing of oppressed humanity. However, to link Christianity as the sole religion of the union would be a grave and dangerous error.Such a notion would undermine our foundational principle of freedom of religion and erode the wall of separation between church and state.
ReplyDeleteAubrey Duncan
I think it gives God the praise for their victory. Many comparisions to Christiany or how someone expresses their faith should not be judged or concerned right or wrong. I do believe this is how many other denominations came into existence.
ReplyDeleteAngela Webb
The victory of the Union was a reflection of the victory for Jesus. They are both related to the celebration of victory. There is no conflict when we celebrate the victory of Jesus and the freedom of religion.
ReplyDeleteThis song gives praise and honor to whom honor is due; when you stand for right for right you will come out victorious every time.
ReplyDeleteJordan 456