Daniel, This wonderful hymn, written by an Anglo-Catholic in reference to a liturgical procession with banners was also, until recently,the official march of the British and Canadian Army Corps of Chaplains. Whilst we rarely marched on parade as a Corps, the march was played at official gatherings and Mess dinners. As it became increasingly unpopular with the post-war generation of liberal bishops and theologians in the Anglican Church (whose literalism betrays their classical education)the effect trickled down to that last bastion of tradition, the military. The complaint was that it was 'triumphalistic' and 'confrontational' toward those who are not Christian. One might suppose that, because these same delusional ecclesiastical elite no longer acknowledged 'Satan', the evil one who is the enemy of all Christian soldiers (the baptised), they filled that slot with 'non-Christians' who, of course, are not the enemy at all. Indeed, not only are the non-Christians not an enemy but they appear to require official deference from Christian societies and institutions (as Britain and Canada used to be). Solution? In the British Army, the hymn was replaced with Henry Purcell's all-inclusive instrumental, 'Trumpet Voluntary' and the Canadian Forces chose Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' as the sensitive, non-judgmental, inclusive choice. Both are wonderful pieces of music but they do not have roots in military chaplaincy that began with St. Martin of Tours (the man with the cape) and who was the inspiration for clergy to serve the soldiers of Christendom. Of course, the Salvation Army doesn't shy away from playing Onward Christian Soldiers, but then, they are not under the thumb of the politically correct and cowardly bureaucrats of state. Neither afraid, apparently, are the people of 'Libera' whose numbers are drawn from St. Philip's Church, London. Good for them. As Padres we could sing out this hymn with much gusto and a sense of pride. With the new chaplains tunes, the chaplains themselves are contrained to keep their mouths shut. Perhaps that is what the government, for whom the 'Cross of Jesus' is 'offensive', wanted all along.
2 comments:
Daniel,
This wonderful hymn, written by an Anglo-Catholic in reference to a liturgical procession with banners was also, until recently,the official march of the British and Canadian Army Corps of Chaplains. Whilst we rarely marched on parade as a Corps, the march was played at official gatherings and Mess dinners.
As it became increasingly unpopular with the post-war generation of liberal bishops and theologians in the Anglican Church (whose literalism betrays their classical education)the effect trickled down to that last bastion of tradition, the military.
The complaint was that it was 'triumphalistic' and 'confrontational' toward those who are not Christian. One might suppose that, because these same delusional ecclesiastical elite no longer acknowledged 'Satan', the evil one who is the enemy of all Christian soldiers (the baptised), they filled that slot with 'non-Christians' who, of course, are not the enemy at all.
Indeed, not only are the non-Christians not an enemy but they appear to require official deference from Christian societies and institutions (as Britain and Canada used to be).
Solution? In the British Army, the hymn was replaced with Henry Purcell's all-inclusive instrumental, 'Trumpet Voluntary' and the Canadian Forces chose Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' as the sensitive, non-judgmental, inclusive choice.
Both are wonderful pieces of music but they do not have roots in military chaplaincy that began with St. Martin of Tours (the man with the cape) and who was the inspiration for clergy to serve the soldiers of Christendom.
Of course, the Salvation Army doesn't shy away from playing Onward Christian Soldiers, but then, they are not under the thumb of the politically correct and cowardly bureaucrats of state. Neither afraid, apparently, are the people of 'Libera' whose numbers are drawn from St. Philip's Church, London. Good for them.
As Padres we could sing out this hymn with much gusto and a sense of pride. With the new chaplains tunes, the chaplains themselves are contrained to keep their mouths shut. Perhaps that is what the government, for whom the 'Cross of Jesus' is 'offensive', wanted all along.
Thanks, Greg, for that background, and thanks for Piddingworth, which is always a rich and thoughtful armoury for Christian soldiers.
Post a Comment