Eternal Father, Strong to Save: The Navy Hymn The song known to United States Navy men and women as the Navy Hymn, is a musical benediction that long has had a special appeal to seafaring men, particularly in the American Navy and the Royal Navies of the British Commonwealth and which, in more recent years, has become a part of French naval tradition. The original words were written as a hymn by a schoolmaster and clergyman of the Church of England, the Rev. William Whiting. Rev. Whiting (1825-1878) resided on the English coast near the sea and had once survived a furious storm in the Mediterranean. His experiences inspired him to pen the ode, Eternal Father, Strong to Save. In the following year, 1861, the words were adapted to music by another English clergyman, the Rev. John B. Dykes (1823-1876) , who had originally written the music as Melita (ancient name for the Mediterranean island of Malta). Rev. Dykes name may be recognized as that of the composer given credit for the music to many other well-known hymns, including Holy, Holy, Holy, Lead, Kindly Light, Jesus, Lover of My Soul, and Nearer, My God to Thee. In the United States, in 1879 the late Rear Adm. Charles Jackson Train, an 1865 graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis was a lieutenant commander stationed at the Academy in charge of the Midshipman Choir. In that year, Lt. Comdr. Train inaugurated the present practice of concluding each Sundays Divine Services at the Academy with the singing of the first verse of this hymn. The hymn, entitled Eternal Father, Strong to Save, is found in most Protestant Hymnals. It can be more easily located in these hymnals by consulting the Index to First Lines under Eternal Father, Strong to Save. The words have been changed several times since the original hymn by Rev. Whiting was first published in 1860-61. One will find that the verses as now published differ from the original primarily in the choice of one or two words in several lines of each verse. However, inasmuch as it is not known whether the original words are now available in a hymnal, those original words are given below: Eternal Father, Strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who bidst the mighty Ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; O hear us when we cry to thee, for those in peril on the sea. O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard And hushed their raging at Thy word, Who walkedst on the foaming deep, and calm amidst its rage didst sleep; Oh hear us when we cry to Thee For those in peril on the sea! Most Holy spirit! Who didst brood Upon the chaos dark and rude, And bid its angry tumult cease, And give, for wild confusion, peace; Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee For those in peril on the sea! O Trinity of love and power! Our brethren shield in dangers hour; From rock and tempest, fire and foe, Protect them wheresoeer they go; Thus evermore shall rise to Thee, Glad hymns of praise from land and sea. It will be noted that in the Hymnal (1940) of the Protestant Episcopal Church, the second and third verses of the hymn are different from those second and third verses published elsewhere. These substitutions give recognition to changing aspects of our culture, particularly the advent of additional modes of transportation -- the automobile and the airplane. The Episcopal second and third verses are: O Christ, the Lord of hill and plain Oer which our traffic runs amain, by mountain pass or valley low, Wherever Lord thy brethren go; Protect them by Thy guardian hand From every peril on the land. O Spirit, Whom the Father send To spread abroad the Firmament; O wind of heaven, by Thy Might, Save all who dare the eagles flight; And keep them by Thy watchful care From every peril in the air. The Presbyterian Church, USA, likewise has added a new verse which recognizes the advent of the field of aviation. The best information available indicates that this new verse to Eternal Father, Strong to Save appeared in 1943 in a little booklet then entitled, A book of Worship and Devotion for the Armed Forces, published by the Board of Christian Education of the Presbyterian Church, USA. All indications are that this new verse can be traced back to a completely separate hymn, Lord, Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly, written by Mary C.D. Hamilton in 1915, during the First World War. From this hymn, the first verse and the last two lines to the fourth verse were taken to form this new verse to Eternal Father, Strong to Save. This new verse, as appearing in the little Presbyterian booklet, is as follows: Lord, guard and guide the men who fly, Through the great spaces of the sky; Be with them traversing the air, In darkening storms or sunshine fair. O God, protect the men who fly, Through lonely ways beneath the sky. Apparently, during or shortly after World War II, someone in the Navy familiar with the words above adapted this verse for choral rendition. The adaptation changed a word or two here and there and substituted two new fifth and six lines. What some might call the Naval Aviation version is a follows: Lord, guard and guide the men who fly Through the great spaces in the sky, Be with them always in the air, In darkning storms or sunlight fair. O, Hear us when we lift our prayer, For those in peril in the air. This version, together with the original first verse are the verses sung by the men and women of the Navy, particularly those in Naval Aviation. The tune of Melita, to which Rev. Dykes adapted the words of Eternal Father, Strong to Save in 1861, is, of course, a very moving and inspiring melody. Research indicates that the above additions and alterations to Rev. Whitings original ode are not the only changes that have been or will be made to the hymn. From time to time, individuals have been and will be inspired to write verses other than those which are indicated in this brief background. Here are some current alternates: Eternal Father, grant, we pray To all Marines, both night and day, The courage, honor, strength, and skill Their land to serve, thy law fulfill; Be thou the shield forevermore From every peril to the Corps. --J.E. Seim, 1966 Lord, stand beside the men who build And give them courage, strength, and skill. O grant them peace of heart and mind, And comfort loved ones left behind. Lord, hear our prayer for all Seabees, Whereer they be on land or sea. --R.J. Dietrich, 1960 Lord God, our power evermore, Who arm doth reach the ocean floor, Dive with our men beneath the sea; Traverse the depths protectively. O hear us when we pray, and keep them safe from peril in the deep. --David B. Miller, 1965 O God, protect the women who, in service, faith in thee renew; O guide devoted hands of skill And bless their work within thy will; Inspire their lives that they may be Examples fair on land and sea. -- Lines 1-4, Merle E. Strickland, 1972, and adapted by James D. Shannon, 1973. Lines 5-6, Beatrice M. Truitt, 1948 Creator, Father, who dost show Thy splendor in the ice and snow, Bless those who toil in summer light And through the cold Antarctic night, As they thy frozen wonders learn; Bless those who wait for their return. -- L.E. Vogel, 1965 Eternal Father, Lord of hosts, Watch oer the men who guard our coasts. Protect them from the raging seas And give them light and life and peace. Grant them from thy great throne above The shield and shelter of thy love. -- Author and date unknown Eternal Father, King of birth, Who didst create the heaven and earth, And bid the planets and the sun Their own appointed orbits run; O hear us when we seek they grace For those who soar through outer space. -- J.E. Volonte, 1961 Creator, Father, who first breathed In us the life that we received, By power of they breath restore The ill, and men with wounds of war. Bless those who give their healing care, That life and laughter all may share -- Galen H. Meyer, 1969 Adapted by James D. Shannon, 1970 God, who dost still the restless foam, Protect the ones we love at home. Provide that they should always be By thine own grace both safe and free. O Father, hear us when we pray For those we love so far away. -- Hugh Taylor, date unknown Lord, guard and guide the men who fly And those who on the ocean ply; Be with our troops upon the land, And all who for their country stand: Be with these guardians day and night And may their trust be in they might. -- author unknown, about 1955 O Father, King of earth and sea, We dedicate this ship to thee. In faith we send her on her way; In faith to thee we humbly pray: O hear from heaven our sailors cry And watch and guard her from on high! -- Author and date unknown And when at length her course is run, Her work for home and country done, Of all the souls that in her sailed Let not one life in thee have failed; But hear from heaven our sailors cry, And grant eternal life on high! -- Author and date unknown Text extracted from a publication of the Bureau of Naval Personnel This hymn is often used at funerals for personnel who served in or were associated with the Navy. Eternal Father was the favorite hymn of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was sung at his funeral at Hyde Park, New York in April 1945. Roosevelt had served as Secretary of the Navy. This hymn was also played as President John F. Kennedys body was carried up the steps of the capitol to lie in state.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 23:12:07 +0000