In some of their sermons, our pastors have enlightened us about a number of popular hymns. Here is a brief comment on another old favorite. Lyrics for the English hymn, Onward, Christian Soldiers, were written in 1865 by Sabine Baring-Gould for children. The final music for it was written in 1871 by Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan of Gilbert and Sullivan fame. Baring-Gould did not write " ...marching on to war..." but wrote in simile "... marching as to war...". Nevertheless, in 1990, yielding to political correctness, the Presbyterian Church USA omitted Onward, Christian Soldiers from their hymnal. The Methodist Church attempted to do so with the United Methodist Hymnal in 1986, but relented in the face of outraged protest by its members. One of my favorite scenes of the annual Tournament of Roses Parade is the Salvation Army Band marching down Colorado Boulevard playing their favorite, Onward, Christian Soldiers. May the Salvation Army never become the Salvation Committee.
Click the following to hear a rendition:
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