A Hymn's Long Journey Home

The Opinion Journal (Wall Street Journal) ^ | 11-22-05 | Melanie Kirkpatrick

[afraidfortherepublic]

The surprising origins of "We Gather Together," a Thanksgiving standard.

Its mention of God makes it verboten in schools today. But not too many years ago this was the season when teachers would lead their students in the great ecumenical Thanksgiving hymn, "We Gather Together to Ask the Lord's Blessing." It's a singable melody, and the stirring lyrics speak directly of the Pilgrims' experience in overcoming religious persecution.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Origins of a favorite hymn sung on Thanksgiving.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Please ping the music list.

[afraidfortherepublic]

You may be interested in this.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

[Kjobs]

I actually didn't know that there was a "Thanksgiving" song. Does it predate the 1970's?

[manwiththehands]

It's not Thanksgiving. It's "Turkey Day".

[afraidfortherepublic]

Did you read the article?

[andonte]

The simple, beautiful melody of "We Gather Together" always makes me weep.

Living under our precious U.S. Constitution, we indeed have much to be thankful for.

Be thankful tomorrow, and express gratitude to God for his bounteous blessings on America. Pray that we will repent of our sins and elicit God's blessings into the future.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Agreed to all points!

[NC28203]

>>>It's not Thanksgiving. It's "Turkey Day".

I thought we were supposed to be wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. 8^)

[andonte]

The thing that makes me most afraid for the future of the republic is abortion. In 2000, Gary Bauer said that until we get right on that, we will not be right on much else.

Abortion is reprehensible; it's murder pure and simple, an affront to God. How on earth can so many otherwise intelligent people support the practice?

Remember the reason we celebrate Thanksgiving.

[Captain Rhino]

Source: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/e/wegattog.htm (turn on your speakers to hear music)

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

O Lord make and keep us free!! Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to all Freepers and all the members of the Armed Forces.

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

"WE GATHER TOGETHER"


http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh131.sht
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/e/wegattog.htm
http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/w/w078.html
http://junior.apk.net/~bmames/ht0250_.htm
http://wilstar.com/holidays/wegather.htm

[IronJack]

You can't lose with the classics.

[nmh]

I'd bet the majority of people have never heard it.

Here's a site that lets you hear it in piano form, organ form or bells.

http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh131.sht

The "contemporary" songs don't cut it in my book - neither the words or the music - it's too repetitive and simplistically worded. Oh well ... . As people are dumbed down more and more ... they will gravitate more and more to the simplistic.

[nmh]

Ooops!

Didn't see all your great websites.

[July 4th]

I'd bet the majority of people have never heard it.

Count me in that number.

[ninenot]

Well, that takes care of THAT.

No Orange Calvinist hymn will be on my playlist--although you have to know about the Orange Dutch Reformed to know how much they (still) absolutely detest Catholics....

[NewYorker]

Thanks for posting this. I tried to read it yesterday at WSJ.com but the link wasn't working.

[Tax-chick]

you have to know about the Orange Dutch Reformed to know how much they (still) absolutely detest Catholics....

He he! My Northern Irish grandparents were Orange Dutch Reformed - mixed with Germans when they got to Philadelphia, I guess. I grew up making Orange decor on St. Patrick's Day!