Our Secret Weapon Of War

For the 1876 centennial celebration of the Fourth of July, Daniel C. Roberts wrote a special hymn. He could never have known how applicable it would be 125 years hence.

In 1887, Robert's hymn was chosen as the official hymn of the national centennial observance commemorating the adoption of our Constitution. Along with the original tune ("National Hymn") written for this occasion, the hymn later appeared in the official hymnal of the Episcopal Church in 1892.

Daniel Roberts' brief hymn, "God of Our Fathers Whose Almighty Hand," provided comfort and inspiration for a nation beset by numerous wars since its inception:

"God of Our Fathers, whose almighty hand leads forth in beauty all the starry band of shiny worlds in splendor thru the skies, our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.

"Thy love divine hath led us in the past, in this free land by Thee our lot is cast; be Thou our ruler, guardian, guide and stay, Thy word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.

"From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence, be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense; Thy true religion in our hearts increase, Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

"Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way, lead us from night to never-ending day; fill all our lives with love and grace divine, and glory, laud, and praise be ever thine."

Something else significant occurred in 1892. On September 8, "The Youth's Companion" magazine published a few words for students to recite on Columbus Day. Written by either (or possibly both) Francis Bellamy or James Upham, the words were also sent to public schools across the country. Then on October 12, the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America, more than 12 million children first recited the Pledge of Allegiance, thus beginning a required school-day ritual.

Patriotism soared during World War II, and in 1942 Congress officially made the Pledge of Allegiance part of its code for the use of the flag. Then in 1954, immediately after the Korean War, Congress added two words: "under God."

A man intimately familiar with war and its weapons, then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower explained. "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

Today we find ourselves in a new and frightening conflict, one bristling with war's alarms and even deadly pestilence--as mentioned in the third verse of Robert's hymn. Where are the weapons and resources to fight?

Eisenhower knew: "under God." In a day when only half our states have laws that encourage the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom, we must turn where past wars have led us. We must again unite as "one nation under God" whose strong arm, as Daniel Roberts noted in the wars of his day, "is our only ever sure defense." That's our secret weapon.


Copyright 2001 James McAlister

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