God of Grace and God of Glory – Text: Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969) / Music: John Hughes (1873-1932)
Click to watch video on Youtube.
This morning’s offertory hymn, God of Grace and God of Glory, is undoubtedly one of the more significant hymns to come out of the United States in the 20th century. It was written by Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969) in his home on the Maine coast in anticipation of the dedication of Riverside Church in New York City. It was sung at the opening service on October 5, 1930, and again at the dedication on February 5, 1931. Referring to the hymn in his autobiography, Fosdick writes, “That was more than a hymn to me when we sang it that day—it was a very urgent personal prayer.” Many hymnals amend the original final stanza, and several other minor alterations are to be found in the various appearances of the hymn. It is not easy to determine what is the authentic form.
The tune “Cwm Rhondda” was written by John Hughes (1873-1932) on a Sunday morning while he was worshipping in Salem chapel, a country church in Wales. It was printed in The Methodist Hymn Book and was one of the few Welsh tunes to be included in Hymns Ancient & Modern 1950. In spite of its popularity in Wales, the tune is rarely found in Welsh hymnals. However, every Welsh person knows it to ‘Guide me, O thou great Jehovah’ and sings it with gusto at football matches. The composer gave the tune its name; Rhondda is an urban district in South Wales, and Cwm means low valley.
God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power.
Crown Thine ancient church’s story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.
Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
Fears and doubts too long have bound us,
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.
Cure Thy children’s warring madness,
Bend our pride to Thy control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.
Set our feet on lofty places,
Gird our lives that they may be,
Armored with all Christ-like graces,
In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
That we fail not man nor Thee,
That we fail not man nor Thee.
Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Thy salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving Thee whom we adore,
Serving Thee whom we adore.
Gerald Harder