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Lyr Req: Navy Hymn / Eternal Father Strong to Save

24 May 02 - 08:44 PM (#717071)
Subject: Navy Hymn Eternial father strong to save
From: Allan S

Are there new verses to the navy hymn Eternial father strong to save? If so what are they?? I went to a funeral for a lady who was a navy nurse in WW2 and Korea. THere were 2 sailors who did the military honors. A singer sang what I remember as the Navy Hymn however the 2nd. and 3rd. verses had to do with "Those in peril on the land,. and the last verse "in the air" It would appear that this is now used for all branches of the armed forces. Where can I find these other verses???? Help please Allan

24 May 02 - 09:02 PM (#717078)
Subject: Lyr Add: ETERNAL FATHER STRONG TO SAVE (Navy Hymn)
From: catspaw49

Here's a few additional ones I found as well as the airmen's verse:

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who biddest the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy Word,
Who walked on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our family shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect us wheresoever we go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

Alternate verses:

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Though the great spaces in the sky.
Be with them always in the air,
In darkening storms or sunlight fair;
Oh, hear us when we lift our prayer,
For those in peril in the air!

Aloft in solitudes of space,
Uphold them with Thy saving grace.
Thou Who supports with tender might
The balanced birds in all their flight.
Lord, if the tempered winds be near,
That, having Thee, they know no fear.

Mary C. D. Hamilton (1915)

Eternal Father, Lord of hosts,
Watch over the men who guard our coasts.
Protect them from the raging seas
And give them light and life and peace.
Grant them from Thy great throne above
The shield and shelter of Thy love.

Author unknown

God, Who dost still the restless foam,
Protect the ones we love at home.
Provide that they should always be
By Thine own grace both safe and free.
O Father, hear us when we pray
For those we love so far away.

Hugh Taylor (date unknown)

O Father, King of earth and sea,
We dedicate this ship to Thee.
In faith we send her on her way;
In faith to Thee we humbly pray:
O hear from heaven our sailor's cry
And watch and guard her from on high!

Author/date unknown

And when at length her course is run,
Her work for home and country done,
Of all the souls that in her sailed
Let not one life in Thee have failed;
But hear from heaven our sailor's cry,
And grant eternal life on high!

Author/date unknown

AND EVEN MORE WITH SOME VARIANT TO THE ABOVE PLUS MORE VERSES:

The original words are:


Verse 1: Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!


Verse 2: O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!


Verse 3: Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!


Verse 4: O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.


There are have been alternate verses. These and their authors are:


Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces in the sky.
Be with them always in the air,
In darkening storms or sunlight fair;
Oh, hear us when we lift our prayer,
For those in peril in the air!
Mary C. D. Hamilton (1915)


Eternal Father, grant, we pray,
To all Marines, both night and day,
The courage, honor, strength, and skill
Their land to serve, thy law fulfill;
Be thou the shield forevermore
From every peril to the Corps.
J. E. Seim (1966)


Lord, stand beside the men who build,
And give them courage, strength, and skill.
O grant them peace of heart and mind,
And comfort loved ones left behind.
Lord, hear our prayers for all Seabees,
Where'er they be on land or sea.
R. J. Dietrich (1960)


Lord God, our power evermore,
Whose arm doth reach the ocean floor,
Dive with our men beneath the sea;
Traverse the depths protectively.
O hear us when we pray, and keep
Them safe from peril in the deep.
David B. Miller (1965)


O God, protect the women who,
In service, faith in thee renew;
O guide devoted hands of skill
And bless their work within thy will;
Inspire their lives that they may be
Examples fair on land and sea.
Lines 1-4, Merle E. Strickland (1972) and
adapted by James D. Shannon (1973)
Lines 5-6, Beatrice M. Truitt (1948)


Creator, Father, who dost show
Thy splendor in the ice and snow,
Bless those who toil in summer light
And through the cold antarctic night,
As they thy frozen wonders learn;
Bless those who wait for their return.
L. E. Vogel (1965)


Eternal Father, Lord of hosts,
Watch o'er the men who guard our coasts.
Protect them from the raging seas
And give them light and life and peace.
Grant them from thy great throne above
The shield and shelter of thy love.
Author unknown


Eternal Father, King of birth,
Who didst create the heaven and earth,
And bid the planets and the sun
Their own appointed orbits run;
O hear us when we seek thy grace
From those who soar through outer space.
J. E. Volonte (1961)


Creator, Father, who first breathed
In us the life that we received,
By power of thy breath restore
The ill, and men with wounds of war.
Bless those who give their healing care,
That life and laughter all may share
. Galen H. Meyer (1969)
Adapted by James D. Shannon (1970)


God, Who dost still the restless foam,
Protect the ones we love at home.
Provide that they should always be
By thine own grace both safe and free.
O Father, hear us when we pray
For those we love so far away.
Hugh Taylor (date Unk)

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
And those who on the ocean ply;
Be with our troops upon the land,
And all who for their country stand:
Be with these guardians day and night
And may their trust be in thy might.
Author Unknown (1955)


O Father, King of earth and sea,
We dedicate this ship to thee.
In faith we send her on her way;
In faith to thee we humbly pray:
O hear from heaven our sailor's cry
And watch and guard her from on high!
Author/date Unknown


And when at length her course is run,
Her work for home and country done,
Of all the souls that in her sailed
Let not one life in thee have failed;
But hear from heaven our sailor's cry,
And grant eternal life on high!
Author/date Unknown


William Whiting (1825-1878) was born in Kensington, England, and educated at Chapham and Winchester. Because of his musical ability, he became master of Winchester College Choristers' School. While best known for Eternal Father, Whiting also published two poetry collections: Rural Thoughts (1851) and Edgar Thorpe, or the Warfare of Life (1867). He died at Winchester.


John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876) was born in Hull, England, and by age 10 was the assistant organist at St. John's Church, Hull, where his grandfather was vicar. He studied at Wakefield and St. Catherine's College, earning a B.A. in Classics in 1847. He cofounded the Cambridge University Musical Society. He was ordained as curate of Malton in 1847. For a short time, he was canon of Durham Cathedral, then precentor (1849-1862). In 1862 he became vicar of St. Oswald's, Durham. He published sermons and articles on religion but is best known for over 300 hymn tunes he composed. He died in Sussex at age 53.


Spaw

24 May 02 - 09:56 PM (#717101)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternial father strong to save
From: Allan S

WOW 17 minutes THank you very much. I will have to go to the church and ask the nun who sang it if her 2nd. verse is among the ones she sung. I was a bit choked up to remember her exact words. THanks again Allan

25 May 02 - 07:15 PM (#717371)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternial father strong to save
From: Amos

Eternal Mother, Source of Song,
Who gaves men rights to be quite Wrong,
And bid the souls of Earth and Time
Come forth in Tempo, Tune and Rhyme;
Smile on poor Folkies, old and fat
Who browse forever through the 'Cat.

Regards,

A

25 May 02 - 07:17 PM (#717373)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternial father strong to save
From: catspaw49

LOL.......Good one Amos!!!

Spaw

25 May 02 - 07:27 PM (#717378)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternial father strong to save
From: Gareth

I just want it sung at my funeral, or memorial service if I go over the wall.

Gareth

26 May 02 - 01:18 AM (#717479)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: wysiwyg

(In a lil croony voice, actually sincerely adoring) Aw, looka the apostates helping Allan. So cute! (yeah I am counting Amos' verse.) Love you both! *G*

I'll sleep easier tonight knowing the Hymn Patrol is on the job!

~Susan

26 May 02 - 03:48 AM (#717496)
Subject: Lyr Add: ALMIGHTY FATHER STRONG TO SAVE
From: Haruo

Actually, Allan, the "new verses" you refer to might possibly be those given as vv. 2&3 in Hope Publishing Co.'s Hymns for the Living Church, no. 2 "Almighty Father, Strong to Save", which also appear as no. 579 in the Episcopal Hymnal 1982. Hope gives Hymnal 1940 as a source, but also A Missionary Service Book, 1937, and they add in a footnote "By permission of the Church Pension Fund", which is the publisher of the Episcopal Church's hymnals). However, in Hymnal 1982 there is no indication that the text is still under copyright. And Hymnal 1982 does attribute the second and third stanzas to Robert Nelson Spencer (1877-1961). Anyhow, here is the text in Hymns for the Living Church:
  1. Almighty Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
    Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep:
    O hear us when we cry to Thee For those in peril on the sea.

  2. O Christ, the Lord of hill and plain O'er which our traffic runs amain
    By mountain pass or valley low; Wherever, Lord, Thy brethren go,
    Protect them by Thy guarding hand From every peril on the land.

  3. O Spirit, whom the Father sent To spread abroad the firmament;
    O Wind of heaven, by Thy might Save all who dare the eagle's flight,
    And keep them by Thy watchful care From every peril in the air.

  4. O Trinity of love and power, Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
    From rock and tempest, fire and foe, Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
    Thus evermore shall rise to Thee Glad prise from air and land and sea.
Maybe Susan has a Hymnal 1940 around and can check whether this version appears there, as Hope implies. Also, FWIW, Hymnal 1980 also includes the traditional Navy Hymn stanzas, at no. 608.

The Esperanto version (tr. Leonard I. Gentle), of the original Whiting stanzas, is not yet in my online hymnal (which I suppose I shall have to move off of Geocities sometime soon; they's messin' wid me) but is #119 in Gentle's Esperanta Himnaro (Londono, 1985):
  1. Eterna Patro, vivdonant', De la marondoj la regant',
    La profundaĵojn regas vi Kaj la marlimojn vidas ni;
    Ho aŭdu krion sur la ter' Pro surmaruloj en danĝer'.

  2. Ho Kristo per la Dia far' Kalmiĝis ventoj kaj la mar'.
    Vi marŝis sur la ondoŝvel', Kaj dormis eĉ dum ŝtormopel';
    Ho aŭdu krion sur la ter' Pro surmaruloj en danĝer'.

  3. Ho Di-Spirito, ŝvebis vi Kaj praĥaoson ŝanĝis Di',
    Tumultoj ĉesis, eĥis spac', Fariĝis lumo, vivo, pac';
    Ho aŭdu krion sur la ter' Pro surmaruloj en danĝer'.

  4. Ho Triunuo, via far' Protektu homojn sur la mar',
    La amo ŝirmu kaj potenc' En cirkonstanco aŭ atenc'
    Aŭdiĝu daŭre ĉe homar' Dankpsalmoj sur kaj land' kaj mar'.
The fact that I haven't put it in my hymnal reflects my lack of high regard for the translation. It is not one of Mr. Gentle's better pieces. However, if for some reason one needed to sing a bit of doggerel on basically the same theme to the same tune and with rhymes appropriately placed, it would serve. De mortuis and all that, but still...

Liland

26 May 02 - 03:49 AM (#717497)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Haruo

26 May 02 - 03:51 AM (#717498)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Haruo

"Hymnal 1980" should read "Hymnal 1982" and should be followed by an italics-closing tag. Sorry.

Liland

26 May 02 - 01:50 PM (#717589)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Amos

Apostate

NOUN: One who has abandoned one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause.

ETYMOLOGY: Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin apostata, from Greek apostats, from aphistanai, to revolt.

Hey Sooze!! Watch who yer calling an apostate dere!! :>) I ain't abandoning nuffin! :>)

A

26 May 02 - 02:23 PM (#717606)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: wysiwyg

Oh pfui, BG, ya knows Ah jes' funnin' onya. *G*

~S~

26 May 02 - 03:18 PM (#717622)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Haruo

Hey Susan, can ya check Hymnal 1940 while you're around?

Liland

26 May 02 - 04:30 PM (#717640)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: wysiwyg

OREMUS HYMNAL has this in its 1940 section, including a link from that page to the original version.

~S~

27 May 02 - 11:59 PM (#718543)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: rich-joy

When I first heard this hymn sung (as "For Those in Peril on the Sea") at an annual Seafarers' Service in Bristol, UK in the 70's, the tune was given out as "Melita" and I've always wondered : is that the tune name or the author or what???

I LOVE that tune - it was what Rudyard Kipling's "Recessional" was sung to every year on ANZAC DAY, at school in Western Australia (the ONLY time we got to sing it unfortunately) in the 50's/60's ... Now of course, folkies will also associate that poem with Bellamy's folk tune (name escapes me, but it's a good tune too) ...

So can anyone enlarge upon "Melita"???

Cheers! R-J

28 May 02 - 01:21 AM (#718566)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Haruo

Melita is Latin (and transliterated Koiné Greek) for Malta. From The Cyberhymnal:
Music: "Melita," John B. Dykes, 1860 ... fit­ting­ly named the tune af­ter a lo­cale as­so­ci­at­ed with a Bib­li­cal ship­wreck. Mel­i­ta was the isl­and the Apos­tle Paul reached af­ter his ship went down (Acts 28:1); to­day we know it as the isle of Mal­ta.
Liland

28 May 02 - 02:25 AM (#718582)
Subject: Lyr Add: ARISE YE PEOPLE TAKE YOUR STAND
From: Haruo

I suppose shifting from the text to the tune constitutes thread drift, but oh well, ...

In addition to Eternal Father, Strong to Save, the "Navy Hymn" with which the tune is widely associated, and Kipling's Recessional which rich-joy just mentioned, and the various "extra or modified stanzas" farther up the thread, The Cyberhymnal tune index lists the following under M:

God of the living, in whose eyes by John Ellerton;
Lord, I deserve thy deepest wrath by Basil Manly, Jr.;
O Master of the waking world by Frank M. North;
Surrounded by a host of foes from an early Wesley brothers collection; and
When gathering clouds around I view by Robert Grant.

I just looked through the 20 or so hymnals I've got here at home and found that three of them (Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978; Service Book and Hymnal [Lutheran], 1958; and Hymnal for Worship and Celebration [Word], 1986) set My hope is built on nothing less to MELITA. A couple also give the Kipling text. And I found three more texts set to it that I don't think have been mentioned above. First, from the Christian Science Hymnal © 1932 (this is the copyright date of the hymnal; not sure if this was the first publication of the text or not; it may be in the public domain):

12 : Arise, ye people, take your stand

by Violet Hay

  1. Arise, ye people, take your stand,
    Cast out your idols from the land,
    Above all doctrine, form or creed
    Is found the Truth that meets your need.
    Christ's promis stands: they that believe
    His works shall do, his power receive.

  2. Go forward then, and as ye preach
    So let your works confirm your speech,
    And prove to all with following sign
    The Word of God is power divine.
    In love and healing ministry
    Show forth the Truth that makes men free.

  3. O Father-Mother God, whose plan
    Hath given dominion unto man,
    In Thine own image we may see
    Man pure and upright, whole and free,
    And ever through our work shall shine
    That light whose glory, Lord, is Thine.
Interesting text, doctrinally as well as theosociolinguistically.

Then, in the 1958 Lutheran Service Book and Hymnal, I found ...

124b : Creator Spirit, by whose aid

by John Dryden

which I won't bother to type out in full because it's in The Cyberhymnal here, albeit to a different tune.

And finally, in the 1975 Baptist Hymnal (Southern Baptist, not my kind), I found

101 : Strong, righteous Man of Galilee

by Harry Webb Farrington

which is also in The Cyberhymnal, hereto MELITA yet (though not listed under the tune).

Liland

28 May 02 - 03:28 AM (#718595)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: rich-joy

"I suppose shifting from the text to the tune constitutes thread drift, but oh well, ..."

Not at all - not if some of the threads I've read here are anything to go by!!! Many thanks for that info, Liland. Cheers! R-J

28 May 02 - 03:32 AM (#718598)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: masato sakurai

The tune to "For Those At Sea" (= "Eternal Fahther") is LODSWORTH (English traditional melody) in Songs of Praise (Oxford UP, 1931, no. 336), ed. by Percy Dearmer, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Martin Shaw, with this note: "This hymn may also be sung to VATER UNSER, 566." LODSWORTH is the tune to "Sweet Saviour, bless us ere we go" in The English Hymnal (Oxford UP, 1906, 1933, no. 275) [Genral editor is Dearmer, music editor is Vaughan Williams]. MELITA is also a tune to "O God in heaven, whose loving plan" (words by Hugh Martin) in Hymns Ancient and Modern (New Standard) (1983, no. 407).

~Masato

28 May 02 - 03:55 AM (#718603)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Haruo

I left out a ">" so where it says "The Cyberhymnal tune index lists the following under M:" it should say "The Cyberhymnal tune index lists the following under MELITA:". One other little note: The Worshiping Church, Hope Publishing, 1990, gives the same "sea, land and air" version as in their earlier Hymns for the Living Church, with the copyright attribution to the Episcopalians as noted earlier in this thread, but with the incipit "Eternal Father" rather than "Almighty Father". Now if that ain't nitpicky of me. ;-)

Thanks for the British dope, Masato. A MIDI of LODSWORTHY is available (*.NWC score, too) from The Cyberhymnal at their Sweet Savior, bless us ere we go page. And VATER UNSER is here. While we're looking at British hymnals, anybody happen to have the tune called BELFRY PRAISE where they could scan it and send it to me? I know it's in the 1950 edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern. There. Now that's thread creep.

Liland

26 Feb 07 - 03:07 PM (#1980082)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Service Wives' Stanza Query
From: Haruo

A dear member of our church is dying; she was preceded in death more than a decade since by her husband, a WW2 naval veteran. Mrs Haruo would like to sing the Navy Hymn at her memorial, but with a stanza tailored to the "they also serve who stand and wait" of military spousehood. Can anyone point us to such a verse or must we write our own?

Haruo

26 Feb 07 - 04:13 PM (#1980152)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Marion

What exactly does it mean to call this the "Navy Hymn"? Has it been adopted as a sort of "official hymn" by a particular navy, or is it more of an unofficial traditional association? Is the song also traditionally linked to prayers for fishing, sealing, or other commercial ships?

Thanks, Marion

26 Feb 07 - 04:42 PM (#1980189)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Haruo

This hymn has a longstanding semiofficial status in both the Royal Navy (UK) and the US Navy, and is regarded also as the official hymn (in what sense of "official" I don't know, in this secular land and time) of the US Naval Academy (Annapolis, Maryland). It is played/sung at the close of chapel services at Annapolis, and is de rigueur at the funerals of Navy veterans, at least hereabouts.

Haruo

26 Feb 07 - 09:47 PM (#1980459)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Joe_F

In particular, it was played for the funeral processions of Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.

In Robert A. Heinlein's charming sentimental story "Ordeal in Space" (1948), the spaceman is softened up for his cure of acrophobia by hearing

Almighty Ruler of us all
Whose power extends to great and small,
Who guides the stars with steadfast laws,
Whose least creation fills with awe;
Oh grant Thy mercy and Thy grace
To those who venture into space.

I dare say the actual astronauts know about that.

27 Feb 07 - 10:06 AM (#1980763)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Marion

Thanks Haruo. So it your knowledge, it would not be common to use this song for the funerals of fishermen or sealers?

Marion

27 Feb 07 - 03:00 PM (#1981038)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Haruo

I don't see any reason it couldn't be, and it can be and is also sung in non-funereal contexts. The text doesn't specify the navy. And versions of it exist for use with the other branches of the military, too (see e.g. the text I posted above beginning "Almighty Father..."). The tune name alludes to Paul's shipwreck on Malta in Acts, and Paul wasn't a navy man.

Haruo

28 Feb 07 - 01:26 PM (#1981967)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: GUEST, landlocked

According to Cyberhymnal, William Whiting "wrote the lyrics as a poem for a student about to sail for America." No military or vocational context need be considered necessary for use of the hymn.

12 Mar 07 - 01:21 AM (#1993971)
Subject: Lyr Add: BLESS THOU THE ASTRONAUTS WHO FACE
From: Haruo

The following is from a photocopy which VastaVido (my wife) says she made from a US Armed Services hymnal (not sure of the precise title or date); it was clearly written in connection with the first manned lunar landing.
Bless Thou the Astronauts Who Face
© 1969 Ernest K. Emurian (1912- ?)

  1. Bless Thou the astronauts who face
    The vast immensities of space;
    And may they know, in air, on land,
    Thou holdest them within thy hand.
    O may the small step each doth take
    Aid others giant leaps to make.

  2. How excellent in all the earth
    Thy name, O God, who gave it birth;
    When first upon the moon man trod,
    How excellent thy name, O God.
    The heav'ns thy glory doth declare;
    Where'er we are, Lo! thou art there.

  3. We still upon thy laws depend
    As our dominions thus extend,
    While from the nations triumph rings
    When we mount up with eagles' wings.
    Grant on each planet, far and near,
    To all thy glory may appear.

  4. Give all men, for all time to be,
    The blessing of tranquility,
    As galaxies and quasars share
    The knowledge that our God is there!
    May future aeons call to mind,
    "We came in peace for all mankind."

I think that's actually a pretty good Apollo-era hymn. I would suggest a couple of emendations, as follows:
1:3 in air, on land => "where'er they land"
2:5 doth => "do"

(further modifications would be necessary to make the text modern and gender-neutral enough for many present-day congregations, but I think both could be accomplished without violence to the hymn; personally, I'm happy with the text as it stands)

Haruo

10 Dec 07 - 05:04 PM (#2212691)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: GUEST,Sam

Does anyone know of a recording of this song?

samuellis@yahoo.com

10 Dec 07 - 11:11 PM (#2212848)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Ron Davies

Admittedly I'm not an unbiased observer. But while I was in the Washington Men's Camerata, we did a CD of "Patriotic Songs and Service Hymns"--including this one.

Our version only had 3 verses of the original 4--left out the second verse. It was TTBB, with organ and trumpet (though I think the first verse, a cappella, is the best.)

Guest Sam, if you're interested in this, I can give you more details. It's on the Gothic label--G 49103.

Our CD also included Chester and 10 verses of Yankee Doodle, among other things--23 cuts.

11 Dec 07 - 09:35 PM (#2213535)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Joe_F

Sam: It's on _Holy, Holy, Holy_ (The Soloists and Choir of Salisbury Cathedral), Saga Records Ltd., London, 1964, XID 5225, FWIW.

26 Apr 10 - 09:09 AM (#2894540)
Subject: Lyr Add: ETERNAL FATHER STRONG TO SAVE
From: cetmst

Our church service yesterday was in honor of the local police, firemen, EMT's and other first responders. The fire truck, ambulance and police cars in the parking lot did not discourage attendance; indeed the service was better attended than some.
The Moderator wrote some new verses which we sang to Rev. Dykes'traditional tune:

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm doth bind the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep,
O hear us when we pray to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea.

Eternal Father, Lord of all
Protect each one who hears the call.
They ask not what a danger waits,
It's just to answer is their fate.
O bless them as they speed along,
They fear naught ill for they are strong.

When sirens echo from the Moats*
The Valley** hears those eerie notes.
The EMT's are on the way with
All who serve both night and day.
We thank Thee for them as they heed
Our cry to them when we're in need.

And so today we all admire
The ones who battle crime and fire.
They keep our families safe from harm,
Professionals when there's alarm.
We honor them as we do Thee
Who watch o'er our Community.

O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest,
Fire and foe, Protect them where-s-e'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise frm land and sea. Amen.

First and last verses, modifications hymnists have made in Rev. Whiting's text.
Verses 2,3,4, Carl Lindblade.

*The Moats are a nine mile range of mountains stretching down from the White Mountains on the west side of Bartlett, North Conway and Conway villages in New Hampshire.
**Mt. Washington Valley

26 Apr 10 - 09:17 AM (#2894546)
Subject: RE: Naval Hymn song Mass: Lakehaurst NAS 60's
From: cetmst

Meant to post this to the Lyrics added: Eternal Father Strong to Save/Naval Hymn thread which I thought was more appropriate. How can I get it there?
    I moved you here, Charles. I hope this is the thread you wanted.
    -Joe Offer-

27 Apr 10 - 06:55 AM (#2895158)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: cetmst

Yes, thank you Joe. Inspiring to watch the evolution of this work from esssentially a prayer for the safety of seafarers to a hymn of praise and gratitude, first for the Navy, then other branches of the military, aviators, astronauts and to all who give themselves in service in time of need. Perhaps someone can write verses specifically honoring those who respond to earthquakes, volcanoes, weather disasters and human conflicts.
Also would add that Carl's verses could be adapted to other locales.

27 Apr 10 - 07:26 AM (#2895174)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: GUEST

Interesting. I've always known "Eternal Father ..." as The Seamens Hymn. To my mind it doesn't particularly relate to The Navy but is for all sailors. If there's a particular association, it would be with the lifeboatmen. Anyone else share this perception?

27 Apr 10 - 07:37 AM (#2895181)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Ron Davies

Based on what Haruo said in 2007, it seems clear it could be used for anybody who made a living on the sea or otherwise had a strong connection to the sea--especially for the funeral of such a person.   As was also pointed out, at this point it has been adopted by both the Royal Navy and the US Navy.

27 Apr 10 - 10:18 AM (#2895251)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Sailor Ron

Eternal Father has traditionaly been sung in Fleetwood [England] at the 'Blessing of the sea' at Rogationtide, and has in the last few years been sung at the local cenataph on Rememberance day. It is also sung frequently at funerals of former trawlermen

27 Apr 10 - 10:41 AM (#2895264)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: Dave MacKenzie

We always used to sing it on Lifeboat Sunday in Edinburgh, with the collection going to the RNLI.

27 Apr 10 - 11:11 AM (#2895276)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego

This song, obviously, crosses generational barriers and resonates with people on both sides of the Atlantic. For my generation, whose fathers, grandfathers, uncles and family friends fought in World War II, it seems to ring especially true. My wife's grandfather was a retired Rear Admiral who commanded two carriers, in both the U-Boat wars in the Atlantic and the latter stages of the Pacific war. Her dad was a PBY pilot who flew during the battle of Midway and later commanded two carriers of his own during Korea and later.

At both their funerals, "Eternal Father" brought tears to many of us. I looked across the pews in church and saw so many old white heads who were, themselves, soon to depart. We lose hundreds of them every day, on both sides of the "pond," in Australia and New Zealand; wherever the war drew men and women to serve, many to die. I hope we never forget what they purchased so dearly. That is what this song, most of all, means for me.

14 Jan 11 - 02:42 PM (#3074633)
Subject: RE: Navy Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save
From: GUEST,mary Hull

Eternal Father is to us in Hull us a Seafarers Hymn, and will be sung on Lost Trawlermens Day St Andrews Dock Feb., 13th where families waved off the trawlermen. We sang this hymn at school many many years ago as Hull was a thriving fishing port. Many Trawlers went down,so Lost Trawlermens Day is to remember those lost at sea.