← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Ed Toner
Thread ID: 14701 | Posts: 2 | Started: 2004-08-13
2004-08-13 01:44 | User Profile
[url]http://channels.aolsvc.co.uk/news/article.adp?id=20040812022809990002[/url]
Bishop calls for hymn to be banned
An Anglican bishop has called on churches to ban the popular hymn, I Vow To Thee My Country saying it is "heretical" and has racist overtones.
The Bishop of Hulme, the Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, said the hymn, which was sung at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, was contributing to a rise in nationalism.
Writing in Cruz, the Manchester diocesan newsletter, Bishop Lowe said he would not sing the hymn despite "the good tune".
He said: "I think it is heretical because a Christian's ultimate responsibility and accountability is to God as revealed by Jesus and the Holy Spirit."
In the article the bishop said the rise of nationalism had been evident during the Euro 2004 football tournament and the D-Day anniversary celebrations.
The bishop said "any notion of national superiority or fierce independence while pouring scorn on our neighbours is profoundly un-Christian and wrong."
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the bishop urged the clergy to think "long and hard" before permitting singing of the hymn which was written by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice in 1918.
He said: "I quoted the hymn as one example of my concerns about growing nationalism."
According to the paper, the bishop said the hymn's popularity was a symptom of a "dangerous" increase in English nationalism which had parallels with the rise of Nazism.
Set to Gustav Holst's The Planets, it was a favourite song of Diana's from her schooldays and she requested it at her wedding. It was also used as an anthem for the Rugby World Cup.
2004-08-13 04:14 | User Profile
I hope some day these false Bishop can burned at the stake as heretics.
[QUOTE]I Vow To Thee My Country Words by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice
This hymn is suitable as the second hymn sung after the marriage ceremony, which is in praise and celebration of the union.This hymn was also sung at Princess Diana's wedding.
Play MIDI File
I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above, Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love: The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test, That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best; The love that never falters, the love that pays the price, The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
And there's another country, I've heard of long ago, Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know; We may not count her armies, we may not see her King; Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering; And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase, And her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.
[url]http://www.weddingguide.co.uk/articles/wordsmusic/hymns/Hymn-IVowToTheeMyCountry.asp[/url]
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