And the Band Played On

The Ship That Would Not Die is Back

2012-01-25T13:31:00.000-08:00

The USS Laffey is back!

Read all about it!

Years ago, I read a book about the heroic action the crew of the Laffey performed. The book can still be found at Amazon, and I highly recommend it.

Drone on O Sermon Eternal

2011-11-20T10:00:00.001-08:00

My pal the Undergroundpewster called yesterday and updated me on how things were going on Sunday mornings. This inspired the following parody.

1. Drone on Sermon eternal
the time for sleep has come;
henceforth on Sunday mornings
our eyelids are our home.
We pray for preparation
and strength from heaven above;
but thou Sermon eternal
has made our faces long.

2. Drone on Sermon eternal
till thoughts and cares cease,
and holiness shall whisper
the sweet amen of peace.
Despite the pulpit's creaking,
and patience put to test,
the Word of God shall enter
our souls in quiet rest.

3. Drone on Sermons eternal
forgotten through the years;
Our eyes awake to the morning
when your words disappear.
We see the cross before us,
We follow its Holy Light;
T'were not for sermons eternal,
we'd miss its precious sight.

Apologies to Ernest W. Shurtleff, 1862-1917

(ref ) Hymn 580. Lead On, O King Eternal

Text: Ernest W. Shurtleff, 1862-1917
Music: Henry T. Smart, 1813-1879
Tune: LANCASHIRE, Meter: 76.76 D

Look What They've Done to Your Psalm

2011-09-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

My old friend the Undergroundpewster is griping again about the lectionary committee cutting up the scriptures. This time the Psalm for last Sunday was sliced and diced. This inspired me to do the same to an old song.

(Apologies to Melanie)

Look what they've done to your Psalm, Lord
Look what they've done to your Psalm
Well it's the only thing we could get half right
And they've gutted it till its wrong, Lord
Look what they've done to your Psalm

Look what they've done to my faith, Lord
Look what they've done to my faith
Well they picked it like a chicken bone
And they think I'm half gone, Lord
Look what they've done to my faith.

Wish I could find a good church to live in
Wish I could find a good church
Well, if I could find a real good church
I'd never have to come and hear Lord
just what they do to your Psalms.

La la la...
Look what they've done to your Psalm

But maybe it'll all be all right, Lord
Maybe it'll all be OK
Well, if the people start buying tears
I'll be rich some day, Lord
Look what they've done to your Psalm.

Ils ont changé ton Psaume, Père
Ils ont changé ton Psaume
C'est la seule chose que je peux faire
Et çe n'est pas bon, Père
Ils ont changé ton Psaume

Look what they've done to your Psalm, Lord
Look what they've done to your Psalm, Lord
Well they cut it up in a p.c. fit
And turned it upside down, Lord
Look what they've done to your Psalm.

Ils ont changé ton Psaume, Père...

Look what they've done to your Psalm, Lord
Look what they've done to your Psalm
Well it's the only thing we could get half right
And they've gutted it till its wrong, Lord
Look what they've done to your Psalm.

The Present Paradigm of a Perfect Presiding Priestess

2011-06-17T00:03:00.000-07:00

As the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church has been very much in the news recently because of accusations of errors in her resume and changes in her Wikipages, I had to put the finishing touches on this little ditty this week and post it for the pleasure of the passengers and crew of the SS TEC.

With apologies to G+S.

I am the present paradigm of a perfect Presiding Priestess,
My training was short, suspect, and dubious,
I know the AoC in England, and I quote the fights historical
From Bithynia to Niceae, in order categorical;

Breathe

I'm very well acquainted, too, with all aquatic elements,
I understand oceans, the Atlantics and Pacifics,
About bivalvian habits I'm teeming with statistics,
With many cheerful smiles though I'm unsure of specifics.

Breathe

I'm very good revising Numbers and verses from Leviticus;
I know the canon laws for clergy gone schismaticus:
In short, in matters aquatical, heretical, litiginous,
I am the present paradigm of a perfect Presiding Priestess.

Breathe

I know our mythic history, of gardens, arks and Noah's sons;
I've heard of Paul, but I'd rather study Bishop Robinson,
I read in Ecclesiasticus of the son of Onias,
In canons I can read peculiarities parabolous;

Breathe

I know the croaking chorus from the House of Bishops listserv,
And I can hum a fugue for you if your ear has the nerve,
I can separate the Spong from the Borg and the Crossan,
And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense GAFCON.

Breathe

I can write a pleasant note in unintelligible Episcospeak,
While telling you the details of bovine emmisions that'll really reek:
In short, in matters aquatical, heretical, litiginous,
I am the present paradigm of a perfect Presiding Priestess.

Breathe

When I explain away what is meant by "pornea" and its penalties,
When I can tell at sight a homophobe and a Pharisee,
When I can smell the departure of a parish or a diocese,
And when I know precisely what is meant by "Androgynes",

Breathe

When I have learnt what progress has been made in sexuality,
I quote the sexual alphabet better than a novice in a nunnery—
In short, since I'm on tops in sexual Theology,
You'll wonder when the Presiding Priestess will ever sit upon the See.

Gasp!

For my theologic knowledge, though I speak it quite authentically,
Has only been spoken since the beginning of the century;
But still, of things aquatical, heretical, litiginous,
I am the present paradigm of a perfect Presiding Priestess!

(I was reluctant to add the breath marks because I know that someone out there can sing it all in one breath, and I just can't wait to see the YouTube clip of them doing it.)

Where Have All the Baptisms Gone?

2011-04-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

The Undergroundpewster's report of a 31% drop in baptisms of children in the Episcopal church posed that question which made an old Pete Seeger song come to mind. Once again, I had to change a few of the words.

Where have all the baptisms gone, long time passing?
Where have all the baptisms gone, long time ago?
Where have all the baptisms gone?
Other Churches elsewhere.
Oh, when will we ever learn?
Oh, when will we ever learn?

Where have all the children gone, long time passing?
Where have all the children gone, long time ago?
Where have all the children gone?
Gone for churches elsewhere.
Oh, when will we ever learn?
Oh, when will we ever learn?

Where have all the parents gone, long time passing?
Where have all the parents gone, long time ago?
Where have all the parents gone?
Gone for Jesus elsewhere
Oh, when will we ever learn?
Oh, when will we ever learn?

Where have all the conservatives gone, long time passing?
Where have all the conservatives, long time ago?
Where have all the conservatives gone?
Gone to graveyards, everyone.
Oh, when will we ever learn?
Oh, when will we ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing?
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers, everyone.
Oh, when will we ever learn?
Oh, when will we ever learn?

The Covenantal, from the fictional film "The Gay Blessee"

2011-03-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

It appears that "covenant" is the latest word to be Shanghaied by those in command of the process to normalize and make sacred same sex relationships. These relationships are being called "covenantal" if they pledge to be life long and monogamous and thus worthy to be considered blessed by the Church.

Here is a little parody based on "The Continental" (1934-lyrics by Herb Magidson) from that appropriately named film "The Gay Divorcee" starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Funny thing, I only had to change three words.

I call it, "The Covenantal."

Beautiful feelin,
Dangerous doctrine

It's something daring, the Covenantal
A way of dancing that's really ultra new
It's very subtle, the Covenantal
Because it does what you want it to do

It has a passion, the Covenantal
An invitation to moonlight and romance
It's quite the fashion, the Covenantal
Because you tell of your love while you dance

Your lips whisper so tenderly
His eyes answer your song

Two bodies swaying, the Covenantal,
And you are saying just what you're thinking of
So, keep on dancing the Covenantal
For it's a song of romance and of love

You kiss while you're dancing
It's covenantal, oh oh oh, it's covenantal
You sing while you're dancing
Your voice is gentle, oh oh oh, and sentimental

You'll know before the dance is through
That you're in love with him and he's in love with you

You'll find while you're dancing
That there's a rhythm in your heart and soul,
A certain rhythm that you can't control
And you will do the Covenantal all the time

Beautiful feelin
Dangerous doctrine
Beautiful feelin
Dangerous doctrine

They Call The Blog Pariah

2011-02-07T09:28:00.000-08:00

Pity the Undergroundpewster who signals all rejected hateful comments over to my flagship for analysis. It seems that there exist some deeply disturbed individuals who see the Undergroundpewster as a Pariah.

Pariah: (from Encarta)

1. outcast: somebody who is despised and avoided

2. somebody rejected from caste: in South Asia, somebody who has defied a social law and has therefore been rejected by a caste

[Early 17th century. < Tamil paṟaiyan "drummer" < paṟai "festival drum"; because hereditary drummers were outside the caste system]

With apologies to Lerner and Loewe

Pariah
Pariah
They call the blog Pariah

Away out here they got a name
For rain and wind and fire
The rain is Tess, the fire Joe,
And they call the blog Pariah

Pariah blows the sermons around
And sends the priests a’flyin’
Pariah makes the pulpit sound
Like folks were up there dying

Pariah
Pariah
They call the blog Pariah

Before I knew Pariah’s name
And heard her wail and whinin’
I had a pew and it had me
And the sun was always shinin’

But then one day I left my pew
I left it far behind me
And now I’m sound, and get around
Where God can better find me

Pariah
Pariah
They call the blog Pariah

Out here they got a name for rain
For wind and fire only
But you’re never lost nor all alone
But there ain’t no word folks can use
To make you feel lonely

He's always there
That brilliant star to guide me
Pariah's not the love I need
I have my Lord beside me

Pariah
Pariah
They call the blog Pariah

Pariah
Pariah!
blog your love to me

My Bonnie

2010-07-23T06:34:00.000-07:00

My Bonnie lies over the ocean
My Bonnie lies over the sea
My Bonnie lies over the ocean
Oh bring back my Bonnie to me

REFRAIN:
Bring back, bring back
Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me
Bring back, bring back
Bring back my Bonnie to me

Last night as I lay on my pillow
Last night as I lay on my bed
Last night as I lay on my pillow
I dreamed that my Bonnie was dead

REFRAIN

Oh blow the winds o'er the ocean
And blow the winds o'er the sea
Oh blow the winds o'er the ocean
And bring back my Bonnie to me

REFRAIN

The winds have blown over the ocean
The winds have blown over the sea
The winds have blown over the ocean
And brought back my Bonnie to me

REFRAIN

Naval Vessel Hijacked Crossing the Line

2010-07-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

Aboard the Battleship Louisiana in 1907 the following incident occurred and was recorded in,

WITH THE BATTLE FLEET: CRUISE OF THE SIXTEEN BATTLESHIPS OF THE UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET FROM HAMPTON ROADS TO THE GOLDEN GATE DECEMBER, 1907 - MAY, 1908 by Franklin Matthews (Courtesy of Collier's Weekly) 1909

The Commander-in-Chief U. S. Atlantic Fleet received the following signal:
"By virtue of the authority invested in me by his Majesty, Neptunus Rex, ruler of the Royal Domain, I have to inform you that I have this night boarded the good ship Louisiana for the purpose of informing the commanding officer that he has entered the domain ruled by his Majesty and that he has a cargo of landlubbers, polly-wogs and sea lawyers on board whom it will be necessary to initiate into the royal realm before he can pass through, and as such his Most Gracious Majesty will tomorrow morning board the good ship Louisiana and carry out the ceremonies as prescribed by the regulations of the royal realm. His Majesty wishes me to convey his compliments to you and to state that he is pleased to have you with him once more in his royal domain, although it has been some time since he has been able to greet you personally."

MAIN TOP BOWLINE, Secretary of His Most Gracious Majesty,

NEPTUNE REX,

Ruler of the Royal Domain.

Admiral Evans signalled back his thanks for the greeting, sent his compliments to Neptune and expressed the hope that Neptune and his party would have a "royal good time on the Louisiana."

The next morning ...his Majesty and consort and their court of fifty-two persons in stately step trod the deck to greet Capt. Wainwright. Neptune swung his trident proudly, and as he came to a full stop he said:
" Sir : I have come to-day to your ship to exercise the full command that pertains to the rule of my domain. I have come to initiate the landlubbers and pollywogs on this vessel. You will relinquish command to me and I expect that full honors will be paid to my rank. I am honoring this ship of the fleet especially because my distinguished friend and colleague, the President of the country from which you come, once used this ship on a near approach to my dominions. I am informed that he would be here today in person if the cares of State did not prevent. I am told he is here in spirit. I shall order, therefore, a special honorary certificate of membership for him. [Aside, "Can't some of you keep that damned monkey from screeching so much?"] I shall now proceed to your cabin, after which the ceremonies of the royal initiations will proceed."

... Neptune himself wore a scarlet robe with sea serpents em- broidered on it and with a golden hemp fringe all around the edges. His face and legs and arms were stained a beautiful mahogany color. A great beard of yellow rope hung down over his fat belly. Amphitrite was in white. She wore a sea green flat hat and carried a black cat done up in baby's clothes. That cat stayed with her for two hours without moving. "My!" said one of the ordinary seamen who had cruised many a time along the Bowery, "don't she look just as if she came straight from the Bowery and Hester street? How are ye, Amph?" A clout on the head by a mate made him "shorten his chin sail."

The lawyers opened their books to certain paragraphs of the "Revised Statutes," chiefly paragraph 4-11-44; the barbers sharpened their enormous razors, "made in Yarmany" ; the policemen drew up in line, the orderlies rolled up the barrel of lather, made of oatmeal and water, and another barrel of "tonic," to be used in enormous squirt guns. It was Neptune's "dope" for the unruly. Then Neptune, with a flourish of his trident and settling his gilt crown well back on his head, as Amphitrite nestled to his side, asked if all prep- arations had been completed. "Yes, your Majesty," replied Main Top Bowline. "Then let the initiations proceed. Bring forward as the first victim that newspaper man. He shall have special attention," was the command. The Sun man mounted the steps to the howls of 800 persons. Dr. Flip sounded his lungs, examined his teeth, felt his arms and legs, made him wiggle his fingers and then said: "Your Majesty, a very bad case. 'E's got a ingrowin' brain!" "What do you prescribe?" "Well, your Majesty, we have here medicines for the cure of spavin, sore throat, consumption, chilblains, diphtheria, eczema, measles, neuralgia, heartburn "Never mind the rest," said the King. "What is the treatment?" "The same for all, sire," was the response. "A good shave, an injection in the arm of my 'dope' [composed of molasses and water] some powder on his head and a ducking in the briny seas." "Very good!" replied his Majesty. Then the trouble began.

... While the initiations were going on Neptune ordered this message semaphored to Admiral Evans, the Commander in Chief: Admiral R. D. Evans, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
I am happy to inform you that your son and the son of the captain of your noble flagship have this day declared their allegiance as my loyal subjects.
Lieuts. F. T. Evans and H. W. Osterhaus are attached to the Louisiana and occasionally they have to take a good deal of chaffing and no favors when an "unofficial message" from "father " comes over the signals. This was the reply that Neptune received from the flagship:
Neptune Rex: We are delighted that our sons are at last real sailors. They have Served a long time. Soak 'em, boys !
... Occasionally a sea lawyer, one with an established reputation as such among the crew, would come up. He was asked if he wanted to argue his case. Not one of them did. "Give it to him good," Neptune would shout. And they did. The rest of the crew understood the significance of the extra ducking and howls of glee resulted. The sea lawyers usually had to be helped out of the tank.

...So hour after hour the initiation went on until the last man had been rounded up and Neptune pronounced the day's work well done. He sent this signal to Admiral Evans : The Commander-in-Chief, U. S. Atlantic Fleet.
I have to inform the Commander-in-Chief that I have completed the ceremonies on board the good ship Louisiana, will haul down my standard and take my departure. The Commander-in-Chief will accept my best wishes for himself, officers and men of the United States Atlantic fleet for a most pleasant voyage, and may all the royal subjects meet again.

NEPTUNUS REX, Ruler of the Royal Domain.

Neptune then retreated into the fo'c'sle for refreshment and remained there until darkness came. Then a barrel filled with oakum and oil and tar was set on fire and put afloat. It sailed away in the night. It was "Neptune's boat," and he was going back to his royal domains. After he had gone certificates duly signed and embellished with mermaids and sea urchins and starfish and ropes, with an octopus for a background and a picture of Neptune rising from the sea at the top and with the ship's seal affixed to bits of red, white and blue ribbon, were presented to all hands. Never again will a man who can show one of them have to take a dousing and barbering with suitable medical treatment on crossing the line.

Rumored as Being Heard as the S.S. T.E.C. Goes Down

2010-05-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today, Mary Glasspool, a non celibate homosexual, is being ordained as a suffragan bishop in the Episcopal church in Los Angeles. I submitted this hymn as a suggestion for their liturgy,

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God to Thee.

Refrain

There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain

Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain

There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer my God to Thee.

Refrain

Words: Sarah Adams, 1841

From Hymnary.org,

Adams, Sarah, nee Flower. b. at Harlow, Essex, Feb. 22nd, 1805; d. in London, Aug. 14, 1848, and was buried at Harlow, Aug. 21,1848. She was the younger daughter of Mr. Benjamin Flower, editor and proprietor, of The Cambridge Intelligencer; and was married, in 1834, to William B. Adams, a civil engineer. In 1841 she pub. Vivia Perpetua, a dramatic poem dealing with the conflict of heathenism and Christianity, in which Vivia Perpetua suffered martyrdom; and in 1845, The Flock at the Fountain; a catechism and hymns for children. As a member of the congregation of the Rev. W. J. Fox, an Unitarian minister in London, she contributed 13 hymns to the Hys. and Anthems, pub. by C. Fox, Lond., in 1841, for use in his chapel. Of these hymns the most widely known are— u Nearer,my God,to Thee," and "He sendeth sun, He sendeth shower." The remaining eleven, most of which have come into common use, more especially in America, are :—

1. Creator Spirit! Thou the first. Holy Spirit.
2. Darkness shrouded Calvary. Good Friday.
3. Gently fall the dews of eve. Evening.
4. Go, and watch the Autumn leaves. Autumn.
5. O hallowed memories of the past. Memories.
6. O human heart! tbou hast a song. Praise.
7. O I would sing a song of praise. Praise.
8. O Love ! thou makest all things even. Love.
9. Part in Peace ! is day before us ? Close of Service.
10. Sing to the Lord ! for His mercies are sure. Praise.
11. The mourners came at break of day. Easter.

Mrs. Adams also contributed to Novello's musical edition of Songs for the Months, n. d. Nearly all of the above hymns are found in the Unitarian collections of G. Brit, and America. In Martineau's Hymns of P. and P., 1873, No. 389, there is a rendering by her from Fenelon: —" Living or dying, Lord, I would be Thine." It appeared in the Hys. and Anthems, 1841.
-John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Bon Voyage, Last Survivor

2009-06-01T06:57:00.000-07:00

Milvinia Dean 1912-2009

You Should Love This One

2009-04-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

My friend the UndergroundPewster did an interesting posting on "Christian Maintenance" in which the subject of losing, finding, and maintaining our first love, that love for God, was the primary theme. Our love can never match His, nor can our words ever hope to express this love. Of all the hymns that might relate to this notion, this is the first that came to mind.

"The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
And he is mine for ever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul he leadeth,
And, where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me,
And on his shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread'st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never:
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
Within thy house for ever."

Sir Henry Williams Baker 1821-1877

"Baker was the son of Vice Admiral Henry Loraine Baker. He attended Trinity College at Cambridge, was ordained in 1844, and became assistant curate at Great Hockesley, near Colchester, Essex. In 1851, he became Vicar of Monkland Priory Church in Herefordshire, England, where he served most of his life. Upon his father’s death in 1859, Baker assumed the family baronetcy. From 1860 to 1877, he was editor-in-chief of the Anglican Hymns Ancient and Modern, and contributed hymns, tunes, and translations. This historic hymnal sold 60 million copies."

(From Cyberhymnal posted at Hymnary).

St. Patrick's Breastplate (unexpurgated)

2009-03-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

Please listen to the organ music as you read the text below.

From Satucket.com's lectionary pages for today (please note the verses in brackets are not to be found in your Hymnal.

THE LORICA, OR, ST PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE

I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever,
by power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
his baptism in the Jordan river;
his death on cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spiced tomb;
his riding up he heavenly way;
his coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
of the great love of cherubim;
the sweet "Well done" in judgement hour;
the service of the seraphim;
confessors' faith, apostles' word,
the patriarchs' prayers, the prophets' scrolls;
all good deeds done unto the Lord,
and purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven,
the glorious sun's life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay,
his ear to hearken to my need;
the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.

[Against the demon snares of sin,
the vice that gives temptation force,
the natural lusts that war within,
the hostile men that mar my course;
of few or many, far or nigh,
in every place, and in all hours
against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
against false words of heresy,
against the knowledge that defiles
against the heart's idolatry,
against the wizard's evil craft,
against the death-wound and the burning
the choking wave and poisoned shaft,
protect me, Christ, till thy returning.]

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.

A more literal translation, by Kuno Meyer, is the following:

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgement of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of the Cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of the resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In prediction of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendour of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak to me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me,

[From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From every one who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in a multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body
and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poising, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So there come to me abundance of reward.]

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye of every one who sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

There'll Always Be An Episcopalian

2008-12-26T06:38:00.000-08:00

There'll Always Be An Episcopalian

I give you a toast, ladies and gentlemen.
I give you a toast, ladies and gentlemen.
May this fair dear Church we love so well
In dignity and freedom dwell.
Though Bishops may change and go awry
While there is still one orthodox voice to cry - - -

There'll always be an Episcopalian
While there's a dispute,
Wherever there's an orthodox small
'Gainst a Bishop of ill repute.

There'll always be an Episcopalian
While there's a labyrinth,
We'll voice our loud displeasure,
Until our dying breath.

Father, Spirit, and Jesus; what does it mean to us?
Surely you're proud, shout it aloud,
"Episcopalians, awake!"
The Anglicans too, we can depend on you.
Freedom remains. These are the chains
Nothing can break.

There'll always be an Episcopalian,
Who someday shall be free
From apostate priests, Bishops, and heresy,
If the Church means as much to you
As the Church means to me.

Adapted from Parker & Charles "There'll Always Be An England"

(Deanna Durbin) From "Nice Girl" (British Version)

Where Have All the Dioceses Gone?

2008-11-18T08:40:00.000-08:00

With apologies to Pete Seeger,

Where have all the Dioceses gone?
Long time leaving
Where have all the Dioceses gone?
Not so long ago
Where have all the Dioceses gone?
Christians have packed them up every one
When will we ever learn
When will we ever learn

Where have all the Christians gone?
Long time leaving
Where have all the Christians gone?
Not so long ago
Where have all the Christians gone?
To a new Province on the run
When will we ever learn
When will we ever learn

Where has the Episcopal Church gone?
Long time passing
Where has the Episcopal Church gone?
Not so long ago
Where has the Episcopal Church gone?
Gone to the courtroom every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the sinners gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the sinners gone?
Not so long ago
Where have all the sinners gone?
Cleansed by Christ's blood every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

Remember the McCain(e)

2008-11-05T05:39:00.000-08:00

There were several songs about the sinking of the ill fated Maine in Havana harbor in 1898. There may not be much interest in the ill fated battleship McCain. Further investigations will be made to determine if his sinking was due to external causes or self destruction. Now is the time for editorializing and rallying the troops. Therefore, it falls on me to try a little song re-writing.

The original can be found here.

Lend your ear to the whisper, it floats from afar,
It has traveled from where, underneath her lone star,
The fair isle of Cuba impatiently waits
The summons to enter our circle of states.
From the depths of her anguish the throes of her pain,
That whisper comes to us, "Remember the 'Maine'."

Lend your ear to the whisper, it tells of the brave,
Who with sword yet in sheath, know not even a grave;
Can we say had that sword but been wakened in time,
That back from the shot-riven air and the grime
Of the conflict, our sons might have reached us again,
While their foemen would ever "Remember the 'Maine'."

Lend your ear to the whisper, nay lend more your hand,
'Twill be needed, if men yet remain in this land,
That so proudly lays claim to the title of free,
And that now in its sorrow is summoned to be
A saviour, if not an avenger; how plain
Comes the message, O brothers "Remember the 'Maine'."

Lend your ear to the whisper, 'tis growing more strong,
'Tis a whisper no longer, 'tis sweeping along
Through the length and the breadth of this land of the free,
From city to mountain, from mountain to sea,
And the voice of America tells thee, O Spain,
That the men of our country "Remember the 'Maine'."

-Arthur H. MacOwen 1898

My adaptation follows,

He had traveled from where, underneath her lone star,
The fair state of Zona impatiently wants
The summons to enter our circle of Presidents.
From the depths of her anguish the throes of her pain,
That whisper comes to us, "Remember the 'McCain'."

Lend your ear to the whisper, it tells of the brave,
Who with votes not yet cast, knew of their grave;
Can we say had those voters but been wakened in time,
That back from the stumps and the grime
Of the campaign, our son might have reached us again,
While their foemen would ever "Remember the 'McCain'."

Lend your ear to the whisper, nay lend more your hand,
'Twill be needed, if men yet remain in this land,
That so proudly lays claim to the title of free,
And that now in its sorrow is summoned to be
A saviour, if not an avenger; how plain
Comes the message, O brothers "Remember the 'McCain'."

Lend your ear to the whisper, 'tis growing more strong,
'Tis a whisper no longer, 'tis sweeping along
Through the length and the breadth of this land of the free,
From city to mountain, from mountain to sea,
And the voice of America tells thee, O. Hussein,
That the men of our country "Remember the 'McCain'."

-Wallace H. Hartley

(Note that no changes were needed to the third verse)

Gentlemen-Rankers out on the Spree

2008-09-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

The Episcopal Church's Bishops may want to sing this song as they head to Mory's,

WHIFFENPOOF SONG
(words Meade Minnegerode; tune attributed to Tod Galloway)

From the tables down at Mory's, to the place where Louie dwells,
To the dear old Temple bar we love so well.
Sang the whiffenpoofs assembled with their glasses raised on high
And the magic of their singing cast its spell.

Yes, the magic of their singing of the songs we love so well,
``Shall I Wasting'' and ``Mavoureen'' and the rest.
We will serenade our Louie while life and voice shall last
Then we'll pass and be forgotten with the rest.

cho: We're poor little lambs who have lost our way
Bah, bah, bah.
We're little black sheep who have gone astray
Bah, bah, bah.
Gentlemen songsters off on a spree
Damned from here to eternity
Lord have mercy on such as we!
Bah, bah, bah.

The Bishops may prefer to sing Kipling's original poem,

Gentlemen-Rankers
By Rudyard Kipling

To the legion of the lost ones, to the cohort of the damned,
To my brethren in their sorrow overseas,
Sings a gentleman of England cleanly bred, machinely crammed,
And a trooper of the Empress, if you please.
Yea, a trooper of the forces who has run his own six horses,
And faith he went the pace and went it blind,
And the world was more than kin while he held the ready tin,
But to-day the Sergeant's something less than kind.
We're poor little lambs who've lost our way,
Baa! Baa! Baa!
We're little black sheep who've gone astray,
Baa--aa--aa!
Gentlemen-rankers out on the spree,
Damned from here to Eternity,
God ha' mercy on such as we,
Baa! Yah! Bah!

Oh, it's sweet to sweat through stables, sweet to empty kitchen slops,
And it's sweet to hear the tales the troopers tell,
To dance with blowzy housemaids at the regimental hops
And thrash the cad who says you waltz too well.
Yes, it makes you cock-a-hoop to be "Rider" to your troop,
And branded with a blasted worsted spur,
When you envy, O how keenly, one poor Tommy being cleanly
Who blacks your boots and sometimes calls you "Sir".

If the home we never write to, and the oaths we never keep,
And all we know most distant and most dear,
Across the snoring barrack-room return to break our sleep,
Can you blame us if we soak ourselves in beer?
When the drunken comrade mutters and the great guard-lantern gutters
And the horror of our fall is written plain,
Every secret, self-revealing on the aching white-washed ceiling,
Do you wonder that we drug ourselves from pain?

We have done with Hope and Honour, we are lost to Love and Truth,
We are dropping down the ladder rung by rung,
And the measure of our torment is the measure of our youth.
God help us, for we knew the worst too young!
Our shame is clean repentance for the crime that brought the sentence,
Our pride it is to know no spur of pride,
And the Curse of Reuben holds us till an alien turf enfolds us
And we die, and none can tell Them where we died.
We're poor little lambs who've lost our way,
Baa! Baa! Baa!
We're little black sheep who've gone astray,
Baa--aa--aa!
Gentlemen-rankers out on the spree,
Damned from here to Eternity,
God ha' mercy on such as we,
Baa! Yah! Bah!

This Church was Made for You and Me

2008-09-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

What is going on with the Bishop in Pittsburg? He is charged with "abandonment of communion or discipline of this church." Does "this church" mean the Episcopal Church USA or does it mean the Anglican Communion?

Apologies to Woody Guthrie,

This church is your church, this church is my church
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This church was made for you and me.

As I went walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
I saw below me that golden valley
This church was made for you and me.

I roamed and I rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
While All around me a voice was sounding
Saying this church was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
A voice was chanting, As the fog was lifting,
This church was made for you and me.

There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me;
Sign was painted, it said private property;
But on the back side it didn't say nothing;
That side was made for you and me.

This church is your church, this church is my church
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This church was made for you and me.

Will Divisions Ever Cease?

2008-09-03T05:52:00.000-07:00

Whenever there is a dispute, someone will pull out Matthew 12:25 (King James Version)

25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Today I could not help but remember that verse when reading about the divisions in our Church. The divisions seem to encompass all of the structures listed in the quotation:

Kingdom: One holy catholic and apostolic Church
City: Anglican
House: The Episcopal Church USA

Okay, this is taking a verse out of context. Recall that Jesus was responding to the Pharisees who were not happy with healing done on the Sabbath, and Jesus was referring to the house of Satan.

24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you

Despite being taken out of context, the truths in the quotation are timeless. And the notion that not even Satan would be divided against himself puts our modern religious issues in a pretty bad light.
(From Washington.edu)

Will there ever be an end to divisions? Perhaps that is one of those "Kingdom of God" things that we pray for but don't understand.

Hymn # 607 Words by: William Watkins Reid Jr.

O God of every nation, of every race and land,
Redeem the whole creation with your almighty hand;
Where hate and fear divide us and bitter threats are hurled,
In love and mercy guide us and heal our strife-torn world.

From search for wealth and power and scorn of truth and right,
From trust in bombs that shower destruction through the night,
From pride of race and nation and blindness to your way,
Deliver every nation, eternal God, we pray!

Lord, strengthen all who labor that we may find release
From fear of rattling saber, from dread of war’s increase;
When hope and courage falter, your still small voice be heard;
With faith that none can alter, your servants undergird.

Keep bright in us the vision of days when war shall cease,
When hatred and division give way to love and peace,
Till dawns the morning glorious when truth and justice reign
And Christ shall rule victorious o’er all the world’s domain.

(From Washington.edu)

The St. Lawrence Tear-Way

2008-08-12T05:27:00.000-07:00

The martyrdom of St. Lawrence is remembered this week. The story that caught my eye was in yahoo news with a faulty link to space.com. I think this is the source article.

"Laurentius, a Christian deacon, is said to have been martyred by the Romans in 258 AD on an iron outdoor stove. It was in the midst of this torture that Laurentius cried out: 'I am already roasted on one side and, if thou wouldst have me well cooked, it is time to turn me on the other.'

The saint's death was commemorated on his feast day, Aug. 10. And the abundance of shooting stars seen annually between approximately Aug. 8 and 14 have come to be known as St. Lawrence's 'fiery tears.'"

We call these the Perseid meteors. And if you were sailing in a spaceship, this might be your porthole view,
(I think these were Leonids)

This fanciful story of the Saint asking to be turned on the spit is not acknowledged in the Catholic Encyclopedia 1913.

Other versions are that as the late Saint's friends were carrying the body to be buried, they witnessed the meteor shower and opined that the heavens were crying firey tears.

I have another version that is not for those prone to mal de mer. In my version, as the Saint roasted, the fat dripping on the coals flamed and spat just like the meteor shower that was already known to occur at that time of year.

If this is the case, instead of the tears of St. Lawrence, the Pereids should be called the "flaming spittles of fat" of St. Lawrence.

Early this morning at 4:00 a.m., I arose and scanned the heavens. Despite the glow from city lights, I was able to count 12 meteors in 1 hour. 11 were Perseids, 1 came from another direction directly towards Perseus, perhaps that was a St. Lawrence tear.

Playing to the Audience

2008-08-07T07:02:00.000-07:00

I rather enjoyed reading some of this, I present to you selections from Sacred Music America

with emphasis added.

The Future by Charles Don Keyes,

"God is the audience of sacred music, and we are the "performers." That is the essence of sacred music. Human subjectivity is not its target. But, as stated above, music directed to God has, as a byproduct, the power to elevate the emotions of those who offer it or hear it."

Historical Development by Harold Chaney and Arnold Klukas

"The actual present situation of Anglican music today is difficult to describe. Ecumenical concerns of modern liturgists have led to the ICET (International Commission on English Texts) text common to the majority of Christians with liturgical rites. With the American Book of Common Prayer (1979) and its related Hymnal (1982), for example, composers from Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and even Orthodox traditions can be found in performance at Episcopal liturgies. Furthermore, the concern to include a variety of ethnic traditions into the "mainstream" of ecclesiastical practice has provided a somewhat uneven and inconsistent smorgasbord from which to choose individual compositions. As a result, music from diverse sources and disparate historical periods are often found co-mingled together. The customary "seamless robe" of parallel musical for public services of the church is no longer the common experience for the Episcopalian worshipper in most American parishes. Nevertheless, The Hymnal 1982 makes it possible to reconstruct significant parts of the traditonal music for the Holy Eucharist and for Morning and Evening Prayer."

"The secular priorities of today's social scene have brought about the demise of the traditional men and boys choir in most Anglican churches, including Episcopal parishes in the USA. Choral Mattins and Evensong have fallen into disuse, and some impatient pastors and people have often preferred shortened liturgies that rule out elaborate music. As About Sacred Music America explains, the demands of a "religious market" economy have also eroded high standards of musical competence. The fusion of music and text, which was the distinguishing quality of all Anglican choral music, is all too often replaced by univalent music that conveys simplistic and childish lyrics."

"In spite of this, Anglican musical practice, over the years, has been enriched by the resources of the wider Church. In many Episcopal churches today musicians and their congregations still strive to offer up music intended as a sacramental act of worship performed, not for the entertainment of the congregation. True to the essence of their tradition, they faithfully attempt to offer back to God the best product of the musical gifts with which they have been bestowed."

Lambeth Bridge is....

2008-07-28T10:33:00.001-07:00

Actually, it is still standing.

According to Wikipedia The earliest printed English version of "London Bridge" is in "Tommy Thumb´s Pretty Song Book" (1744) (link to the 1815 book is here)the verses from Wikipedia are as follows,

London Bridge Is Broken down
Dance over my Lady Lee
London Bridge Is Broken down
With a gay Lady

How shall we build It up again,
Dance over my Lady Lee, etc
Build it up with Gravel, and Stone,
Dance over my Lady Lee, etc
Gravel, and Stone Will wash away,
Dance over my Lady Lee, etc
Build it up with Iron, and Steel,
Dance over my Lady Lee, etc
Iron, and Steel, Will bend, and Bow,
Dance over my Lady Lee, etc
Build it up with Silver, and Gold,
Dance over my Lady Lee, etc
Silver, and Gold Will be stolen away,
Dance over my Lady Lee, etc

Then we’ll set A man to Watch,
Dance over my Lady Lee.
Then we’ll set A man to Watch
With a gay Lady

Just substitute "Lambeth bridge" for "London bridge" and you get the message.

Lambeth 2008 is about building bridges, but once it is built, be careful of the Man you've set to watch with the gay Lady.

Mr. Churchman, What's Your Heading?

2008-07-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

Many people ask where the Church is headed. This video (lyrics below) provides the answer to the where and how.

One Hundred years our church has stood
A pristine temple built of wood
Abandoned we fear losing it
To safety we are moving it

Refrain: Here it comes….

John Deere is helping us steer
Around tight corners in a higher gear
The heavy load of the church tower
Just won’t move without tractor power

Refrain

Climbing hills and crossing fields
Into town on sixty wheels
On it’s perch for all to see
Safe and sound for Eternity

Refrain

Amen

The analogy I would like to draw is one that applies to the Episcopal Church (of course, or should that be "off" course?). What if we substituted the Belarus Tractors currently pulling the Church for John Deeres?
This video and music might also be a helpful illustration for parishes setting sail from the Episcopal Church and settling into a new port, "safe and sound for Eternity."

Women Bishops in England!

2008-07-09T17:32:00.000-07:00

And I aways thought the English loved tradition. Of course the current steps that may pave the way for women Bishops in the CoE is a natural progression since the ordination of women priests in 1992. Where this next step will lead is a polarizing question. I agree with the Pewster (see below) that one need only look across the pond at TEC to see where CoE is headed. Perhaps the Pewster will be proven wrong, after all, there might be the equivalent of Margaret Thatcher coming along in the ranks of the English Clergy who could become the Archbishop some day.

Among the great comments at StandFirm on the Church of England's decision is this from Rudy+,

"As you can gather from my #30 above, I support the ordination of women. I got in my car and drove to seminary 2 days after the vote of General Convention in 1976.

Of course, as any and every priest who has been ordained for any length of time knows, you frequently get in trouble in ministry not for what you do but how you do it.
And what really bugs me now is how I thought we were making an accomodation to allow women to minister in TEC as it was in 1976. I never dreamed that we’d be faced with feminist theology, and I never dreamed that Integrity would become so strong. I never dreamed that what was liberal in 1976 is now conservative (forget being moderate—it’s gone!). I never dreamed that the majority of bishops of TEC would vote in the most liberal candidate to become the XXVI Presiding Bishop. (The most liberal candidate for PB was elected neither in 1985 nor in 1997.) So I think we should definitely look at the question of what those who support women’s ordination want to bring in with it if and when that door is opened. In other words, not just what we have seen through the portholes so far, but in which direction the ship is pointed." Rudy+

[48] Posted by Rudy on 07-07-2008 at 07:17 PM

I see ice bergs from my porthole view.

And this intriguing one from the Underground Pewster,

"At last! We can test the hypothesis that W.O. sinks churches. Every experiment needs corroberation by an independant investigator. All we needed for the experiment was the Church of England to try to reproduce the successful first test as performed in TEC. Too bad that the experiment takes 25 years of follow up to determine the results. The ethical problem with trying to duplicate a negative result and using humans as subjects should be apparant to most scientists, but of course, theology is not a science. What I am saying is the people of England should protest to their human rights commission as the Declaration of Helsinki is about to be tossed out the window. Perhaps we would be better off if the “wise and prudent” (Matthew 11:25) quit experimenting on us simple pew people."

[40] Posted by Undergroundpewster on 07-07-2008 at 07:02 PM

I hope and pray that the experiment fails to validate the hypothesis. Margaret Thatcher where are you?

A Scarred, Mangled Banner

2008-07-05T06:46:00.000-07:00

You call it our "National Anthem." My Church calls it a "National Song."

1. O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

2. On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

3. And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

4. O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

--Francis Scott Key (1779-1843)

The scarring and mangling began with the deletion of three fourths of the poem in becoming what most people outside of the Episcopal Church recognize as the National Anthem. Now what is so wrong with verses 2-3 that they are not included in the Episcopal Hymnal of 1982? When did all this begin? This week, I have seen where it will all end as a singer switched the words and used this in Denver Colorado.

Lift ev'ry voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring.
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise,
High as the list'ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast'ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet,
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might,
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee,
Shadowed beneath thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.

According to Wikipedia, usually only the first verse is sung which makes for another editorial question. Do you find anything offensive in verses 2 or 3?

My next question is this. When will "Lift Every Voice and Sing" make it into the Episcopal Hymnal, and where will it be placed in respect to the other National "Songs?"

Maybe we should just go back to the 1826 Hymnal and stop arguing.

Remember the Fourth of July 1865

2008-06-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

The picture above appeared in Harper's Weekly July 8,1865 and bears closer examination. Entitled "PEACE-FOURTH OF JULY, 1865", the image contrasts the dark and ominous skies on the left (over what appear to be the soldiers of the Confederacy) with the brighter right side from whose skies angels cast laurel wreaths down upon the heads of what we presume are the victorious Union troops. Notice in the skies of the left side of the image, the shadowy hooded figure carrying a torch. Could this be the angel of death? Or, is this an ominous prophetic vision of the K.K.K.? If you look closely at the smoke coming from the torch, you see that the smoke cloud has two projections that look suspiciously like devil's horns. Returning to the right hand side portraying what I believe represent the Union soldiers, look at the man in the foreground grasping the horns of the steer. This man appears to be stealing cattle, so the artist is displaying some historical accuracy in this small respect. After Union troops had passed through the South, and victory was lost, the people of the South were left with precious little livestock for food or for plowing because of such thievery. And what about the other soldier holding the thresher in one hand and the woman in the other? I get this uncomfortable feeling that more things were being taken than cattle and sheaves. Perhaps the artist was making comments that could not be said out loud. Perhaps the artist had Southern sympathies and he might be represented by the lone Confederate soldier leaving the scene in the lower left.

After seeing this picture, I think I shall never hear this song without thinking of "Peace-Fourth of July, 1865.",

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain:
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

1874 by Knowles Shaw, from Psalm 126:

1 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Verses 4-5 might have given comfort to the vicitms of Reconstruction, or am I off course?

Cruises are for Sissies

2008-06-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

I was asked to help out my old friend the Underground Pewster by filling in at Not Another Episcopal Church Blog this week.
The poor soul needed a vacation.

Vacations are for sissies. Back in the day when men of iron walked the decks, there was no such thing as a pleasure cruise. Entertainers were brought on board the great liners to sooth the souls of people as they voyaged from place to place. The purpose of the voyage was not pleasure. There is something bothersome about the notion of a pleasure cruise. I can't quite put my finger on it.

Another Titanic Band

2008-06-06T07:26:00.000-07:00

This is the sound of the song sung by those who opt to remain in the Episcopal Church. In his article at the Anglican Communion Institute the Rev. Russell Levenson, Jr. Rector, St. Martin's Houston, Texas sings,

"Every time a parish, or a group of Christians like you make the decision to leave, it certainly makes it more difficult to do the very thing you have asked me to do...nevertheless, we will try and do just that."

I urge those consdering departure, to consider the CPP(Communion Partners Plan), (whether Diocese, Bishop, Rector or Parish). It is not a perfect solution; far from it. But as one of my colleagues who has been in this battle for a very long time recently said to me, "This is my only viable option...I just don't have a 'plan B.'"

Not exactly a Siren's song. I want something more positive, more convincing.

Bless Em All

2008-03-03T12:16:00.001-08:00

In the spirit of inclusion, I humbly give you a musical blessing upon all of those troopers who have to follow the orders of the officers of the Episcopal church USA. (Click the control twice)

Wesley and Wesley

2008-03-03T07:36:00.000-08:00

Please read up on John and Charles Wesley. Today is the day that we remember them. Go to:

http://satucket.com/lectionary/Wesley.htm

On Anglicanism

2008-03-01T05:24:00.000-08:00

I was reading from another web site how much of tradition is man's doing and not necessary for salvation.

"Cranmer and the other founding fathers of the Anglican tradition understood that the teaching of Scripture is the means by which God rules his church. Here is the authoritative perspective on life in the world in the wake of the resurrection. Here is the challenge we must receive and the comfort we so desperately need. Here we have access to the mind of God, As Luther had written so memorably, ‘the soul can do without anything except the word of God’4 .
A similar perspective can be found in the Book of Homilies. The very first of these model sermons contains one of the most memorable pieces of Anglican prose.
'Let us diligently search for the well of life in the books of the New and Old Testament, and not run to the stinking puddles of men’s traditions, devised by man’s imaginations, for our justification and salvation. For in holy Scripture is fully contained what we ought to do, and what to eschew, what to believe, what to love, and what to look for at God’s hand at length. '
This homily is in fact a celebration of Scripture as a ‘precious gift of our heavenly father’ ‘the heavenly meat of our souls’ and ‘the words of everlasting life’. But it goes on to answer the suggestion that the Bible is too difficult to understand and that our ignorant reading may lead us into error rather than truth. In this context Cranmer provides us with the closest thing to an official Anglican statement on how to read and understand the Bible.
'And if you be afraid to fall into error by reading of holy Scripture, I shall shew you how you may read it without danger of error. Read it humbly with a meek and lowly heart, to the intent that you may glorify God, and not yourself, with the knowledge of it: and read it not without daily praying to God, that he would direct your reading to good effect; and take upon you to expound it no further than you can plainly understand it […] Presumption and arrogance is the mother of all error; and humility needeth to fear no error. For humility will only search to know the truth: it will search, and will bring together one place with another; and where it cannot find out the meaning, it will pray, it will ask of other that know, and will not presumptuously and rashly define any thing which it knoweth not. Therefore the humble man may search any truth boldly in the Scripture, and without any danger of error. And if he be ignorant, he ought the more to read and search holy Scripture, to bring him out of ignorance. '"

Why Should We Stay?

2008-02-29T06:31:00.000-08:00

Why persist in any endeavor when everything tells you to give up the ship?
1. To be a calming influence in the face of the storm.
2. By helping others to face disaster with courage.
3. To bring God into the equation for those who have lost sight of God and are focusing only on the scurrying struggle for survival.
4. Who knows, God might right the sinking ship.
5. And if He doesn't, what better way to go into His arms than by playing music in His name.