My friend Carl Jones shared this today in a Facebook thread:
“How many churches will play ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic’ tomorrow across the South, unaware that the song is un-Christian, rejects the salvation of Christ, and celebrates the murder of Southerners by the terrorist, John Brown?“
“’His terrible swift sword’ refers, not to the armor of God, but to the sword that Brown used in Kansas to hack a family to death in the middle of the night after he and his sons had dragged them from their homes. Their crime? They were Southern.“
“Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the song, was a Unitarian, not a Christian. Unitarianism rejects the Holy Trinity and regards Christ not as the Son of God, but as a prophet. The line in the song ‘as Christ died to make men Holy let us die to make men free’ is a celebration of war and likewise reflects the Unitarian belief that Christ’s work on the Cross was not complete, and that it was up to men to purify the world and free it from sin. I’m scratching the surface with regards to the message of this song, but suffice it to say it is not Patriotic and it certainly is not ‘Christian.‘”
A knowledgeable commenter noted, “The tune is ‘John Brown’s Body,’ John Brown, of course, being a hero of Mrs. Howe’s.” And John Brown, of course, being the original American terrorist. “That, in turn, was originally a hymn called, ‘Say, Brothers, Shall We Meet You on Canaan’s Happy Shore.'” Yep, glamorizing a murderous maniac, stealing, destroying, and then forcing a sinister progressive product down our throats: it’s the Yankee way!
I’ve written previously about the meaning of the reconstructed song and the evil of the New England crusader mindset which is craftily woven within it. Other Southerners have also described well that it’s “nothing more than a clever work of wartime abolitionist propaganda that has ever so slowly found its way into mainstream America.” Many smart Christians too don’t sing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” due to its anti-Christian theology and its blasphemous lyrics and intent.
But not all Americans agree. One dissenter within Jones’ thread remarked:
“I will sing this hymn in church tomorrow with great gusto and tremendous appreciation for all those who have fought and died and continue to do so – for our blessed freedom. No other place on earth is like this, warts and all.”
Jones replied:
“She seems to have an emotional attachment to this song and as a result is willing to discard facts in order to support her preferred beliefs. That’s her call, but it’s sorta like those who disregard the original intent of the law in order to shape it into what they prefer it to mean. There’s no logic to her position.”
I agree wholeheartedly. So, if you must sing any “Battle Hymn” this weekend or on Monday’s Fourth of July holiday, perhaps you should try out Mark Twain’s version. It’s way more logical regarding our current cultural crises and more factual historically. The grapes of wrath are indeed ripe in 2022, so let’s be astute, seize the moment to secede from the status quo this Independence Day, and cancel Howe’s bloodthirsty hymn once and for all.
Comments
This article was very appropriate. Just saw some post on social media about Gettysburg anniversary and Gettysburg Address and how Great Honest Abe was.. Have a safe Happy 4th DM
Author
Happy Secession Day!
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Cool pingback!
AMEN!!!
I refuse to sing it, just as I refuse to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, as I’m sure many of you all do!
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You are one wise man!
Ugh. This vile tripe. I don’t know which recitation has done more harm to America, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” or the “Pledge of Allegiance,” both written by Utopian socialists of violent and tyrannical proclivities.
Author
I’m with you and Daithi+Dubh: definitely NOT a fan of the pledge either.
https://www.dissidentmama.net/a-patriotic-perspective-against-the-pledge/
The cancel culture mob has even gone after “Honest Abe” even though they are a direct result of his tyrannical and transformative presidency. The revolution eats its own.
Author
Glory glory hallelujah! Now that’s what I call true justice.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/cornell-university-removes-gettysburg-address-lincoln-bust-from-library-alleged-complaint
DM-I was in bed with Covid at the writing of this article. Making a steady recovery now. I let my priest know I’d be absent from Saturday 9th Hours and Great Vespers as well as Sunday Orthros and Divine Liturgy. I really missed these services, and I really missed the gifts of the holy Eucharist.
Thinking way back to my former evangelical Protestant days when we’d carelessly joke about going to “bedside Baptist” or “layby Lutheran”. But missing worship and the Eucharist in Orthodoxy is no laughing matter. Having my spiritual father’s prayers, and saying the Jesus Prayer, gave comfort.
In my conservative Baptist early days we’d beller out the Battle Hymn of the Republic straight out of the hymnal. While I wasn’t fully cognizant of the story of this song, I always had a bad vibe about it, and found it sketchy and irreverent.
This article really opened my eyes to the truth.
Author
BB, somehow I’m just seeing this comment … sorry about the late reply. I hope you’re feeling better now I’m getting to “the hospital” regularly for your spiritual medicine. I’m glad to know that you found value in this essay. So many things we do as American habit, thus, knowing the roots of such rituals is essential. Stay well out there, brother!
were there northern ports still involved in the international slave trade brown began murdering people?
Author
The importation of slaves was made illegal by an 1807 act of Congress which took effect in 1808 when John Brown was 8, so no. His murderous subversion took place in the 1850s.