Praise to the Man

[Blackmarch]

Praise to the Man..

 

Not often we get to sing a rousing drinking song in Sacrament Meeting

 

 

many of the tunes for hymns are older than the hymns. Back in the day adopting known tunes and sticking words to or rewriting the words to them was a pretty common practice.

[dahlia]

 

Not the best choice for a hymn though...probably, because it's too Catholic. That's less of a deal now, but there was a time when the LDS church worked quite hard to separate themselves from anything that seemed too Catholic (and any other Christian denomination). 

Even now, after 3-ish years as a convert, I can feel the 'Protestant-ness' of LDS hymns. It didn't turn me off from the Church, but certainly made me know I wasn't in a Catholic church anymore. I used to talk to the missionaries about this - I don't know if I can put a finger on it - but it just feels and sounds different.  It's like the first time I watched a Conference video and 'How Firm a Foundation' was playing under the announcer's voice. Yep, we aren't in Rome anymore, Toto.

[Still_Small_Voice]

I have no problem with the Praise to the Man Hymn.  It is praising Heavenly Father for a good prophet.  I do have a problem with the Hymn "Sons of Michael, he approaches."  I have never heard the Hymn sung before in church but I would not sing it.  I think it should be removed from the Hymn book.  The verses are below:

 

1. Rise, the ancient father greet.
    Bow, ye thousands, low before him;
    Minister before his feet.
    Hail the patriarch's glad reign,
    Spreading over sea and main.

    2. Sons of Michael, 'tis his chariot
    Rolls its burning wheels along!
    Raise aloft your voices million
    In a torrent pow'r of song.
    Hail our head with music soft!
    Raise sweet melodies aloft!

    3. Mother of our generations,
    Glorious by great Michael's side,
    Take thy children's adoration;
    Endless with thy seed abide.
    Lo! to greet thee now advance
    Thousands in the glorious dance!

    4. Raise a chorus, sons of Michael,
    Like old ocean's roaring swell,
    Till the mighty acclamation
    Thru rebounding space doth tell
    That the ancient one doth reign
    In his Father's house again!

[carlimac]

 

I have no problem with the Praise to the Man Hymn.  It is praising Heavenly Father for a good prophet.  I do have a problem with the Hymn "Sons of Michael, he approaches."  I have never heard the Hymn sung before in church but I would not sing it.  I think it should be removed from the Hymn book.  The verses are below:

 

1. Rise, the ancient father greet.

    Bow, ye thousands, low before him;

    Minister before his feet.

    Hail the patriarch's glad reign,

    Spreading over sea and main.

    2. Sons of Michael, 'tis his chariot

    Rolls its burning wheels along!

    Raise aloft your voices million

    In a torrent pow'r of song.

    Hail our head with music soft!

    Raise sweet melodies aloft!

    3. Mother of our generations,

    Glorious by great Michael's side,

    Take thy children's adoration;

    Endless with thy seed abide.

    Lo! to greet thee now advance

    Thousands in the glorious dance!

    4. Raise a chorus, sons of Michael,

    Like old ocean's roaring swell,

    Till the mighty acclamation

    Thru rebounding space doth tell

    That the ancient one doth reign

    In his Father's house again!

 

 

That is strange. What does it mean? 

[Guest]

That is strange. What does it mean?

It's Praise to the Man equivalent for Adam. I don't find anything wrong with that hymn either...

[Still_Small_Voice]

I wish they would sing Hymn 166, Abide with Me.  It's been a while since I heard it in church.  The verses are below:

 

1. Abide with me! fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens. Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!

 

2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day.
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me!

 

3. I need thy presence ev’ry passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Thru cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me!

[Silhouette]

I wish they would sing Hymn 166, Abide with Me. It's been a while since I heard it in church. The verses are below:

1. Abide with me! fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens. Lord, with me abide!

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!

2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day.

Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away.

Change and decay in all around I see;

O thou who changest not, abide with me!

3. I need thy presence ev’ry passing hour.

What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?

Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Thru cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me!

We sang this not too long ago in Sacrament meeting. It's one of my favorites.

[gebaird]

I was in a conversation once with someone who was not LDS and was familiar with the hymn "Praise to the Man." He used it to mercilessly attack me and the faith I profess. I felt it was unfair for him to attack me at all (a true disciple of Jesus should love and invite and beckon others to his faith, not relentlessly denigrate those whose beliefs may differ from his own), and using one of my favorite hymns as his weapon of choice made it all the more deplorable. I am so grateful that Joseph Smith restored the gospel. I praise him for his willingness to always follow God, for his courage to endure adversity and for his ability to receive revelation. No, I do not worship him. But I honor him and his testimony of the Savior that he sealed with his blood. I love this song and I love that it testifies so boldly of the restoration that blesses every single member of this church (even those who are bothered by the words of the hymn).