THE BRITISH THREAD II

An entire SA gig consists of pieces that require a lot of brass , so yes, while I usually their "music" blend in with the background noise, its low frequency supplied by all this brasss, makes locating my car easier based upon wave propogation and how far I am from the soft pretzel stands. I triangulate.

If I may, I would like to ask if there are any veterans here. I hadn't realized these facts about this hymn.

In America, "Eter­nal Fa­ther" is oft­en called the "Na­vy Hymn," be­cause it is sung at the Na­val Acad­e­my in An­na­po­lis, Ma­ry­land. It is al­so sung on ships of the Brit­ish Roy­al Na­vy and has been trans­lat­ed in­to French. It was the fa­vor­ite hymn of U.S. Pres­i­dent Frank­lin Roo­se­velt and was sung at his fun­er­al in Hyde Park, New York, Ap­ril 1945. The Na­vy Band played it in 1963 as U.S. Pre­si­dent John Ken­ne­dy's bo­dy was car­ried up the steps of the U.S. Cap­i­tol to lie in state. Roo­se­velt served as Sec­re­ta­ry of the Na­vy, and Ken­ne­dy was a PT boat com­mand­er in World War II.

also reminds us of absent bretheren

Like The Holy Spirit, the Christ and The Lord.

are they absent?

Letty, give more details about the hymn and I'll see if it's in my book.

Although an atheist, I like church music.

McTag, I am NOT religious, but I still retain a child's faith. I wish I could imbed this link, but it doesn't work.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/e/t/eternalf.htm

I love the music, too.

Are you a born again atheist Mct?

Oh hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea!


I think perhaps those words go with the hymn ?


Evening Letty, nice to see you on the Brit thread, and you Farmer.

I don't like hymns.

Did I tell you my sister was down the other week?

We walked round the streets we were dragged up on. Then into the Catholic church (St Johns). It was open, very strange as there was no service, it was deserted. They had made the small annex where the Christening font used to be into a little shop! Apart from that, it was still the same; same smell, same pews, same reams of The Universe still on the back pew, with a little honesty box next to them. The same statues of Francis of Assisi and Our Lady. Except they had no pieces of paper crammed into the nook in Joseph's arm and under the ceramic folds of Our Ladies gown. We used to stay behind and read them when we were young... Pray for our Mam, pray for our Dad...

Many times we were in 'trouble' after services there, usually for having fits of the giggles for losing our pew on the way back from receiving the Body of Christ. Hands clasped in prayer, not wanting to raise our eyes to get our bearings, might risk losing the piety and the 'state of grace'. I remember the dread of having that wafer placed in my mouth, eight year olds have little understanding of transubstatiation. Trying to work it down from the roof of my mouth, knowing that I was forbidden to touch it. Used to make me gag - even though it was the only form of sustenance since confession the Saturday afternoon before.

Making up sins to please the leery priest, "bless me Father for I have sinned, it's been on week since my last confession, I accuse myself of adultery and coveting my neighbours goods". Those were my favourites, along with swearing, that always guaranteed at least six Hail Mary's and six Our Fathers by way of penance.

When I think of the hours I spent in there. Staring at Christ on the cross with the gaping wound in his side...

It's no wonder I'm bonkers.

Suffer the little children...

x

Smorgs likes hims.

This is an interesting answer, but not to the question I asked. Or maybe, in another dimension.
Fm, have you been on the sauce today?

Och yes, we've got that one all right.

Are you familiar with the psalms in the Scottish psalter? I like "By cool Siloam's shady rill", which reminds me of primary school days, and of several funerals since.

smorgsie-

Have you been at the adultery since you were eight?

Mac- fm doesn't understand English. He was challenged to do an acronym 3 hours ago (TRADUCED- which is an easy one even Mathos can manage)
in order to compare his senility with mine which he had asserted was at an advanced stage. He reckons they are child's play and thus beneath him.

He can manage The Last Thing You put In Your Mouth game though. It was a syrup butty. He can't yet understand the difference between a literary conceit and a conclusion based on facts.

Navy Hymn.




There are other versions.

Thank you, Mathos. Being from Virginia, I have a genetic link to you Brits.

McTag, I am not familiar with the Scottish psalter, but I will check it out shortly. Thank you as well.

spendius, if you look at the link that I gave to McTag, you will see that version, I think.

The rules imposed by the Catholic Church were best reinforced by fear, guilt, and an unnatural terror of being struck dead while in the presence of all of the faithful. Then all would be found out about how evil a person I always was.

I know the dread.

Ive nswered this specific question as asked. I merely embellished it with what I "Think" of Brass bands playing church music.

As for being "on the sauce" Im a recovered alcoholic so thanks for the gentle push back to drinking and lost weekends and familial abuse. Youre a real saint.

Yes Letty that is the hymn they sung so often at Annapolis. The verses I recall were softened and modernized a bit by the vanilla Epiccopalianism that pervaded the institution. I always liked it.

Niow I hear it mostly at funerals. In a few days I will go to the internment at Arlington for Capt, Dick ("Deke") Bordone - a well-known Naval Aviator, A-6 pilot and carrier skipper (USS FDR). A great guy, fun-loving and not at all taken with himself. Four silver stars and numerous DFCs & Air Medals - all earned the hard way over North Vietnam.

Poor Farmerman. Perhaps we grew up on different planets. I was raised on love, forgiveness and laughter. There was a bit of guilt to be sure, but that was mostly the sauce that made adolescent sex so wonderful. It was readily washed away and one could begin again...., and agian.

fm-

"Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you.
Leave the dead you left, they won't follow you."

"Don't look back."

Wake up tomorrow to a new day. Go from there remembering that you could have been a cave painter or a crusader or an earthquake victm. You must be in the top 0.1% of the luckiest people who ever lived. I know I am. That's what history teaches me. The old stuff through the breaking news.

Good luck though. I'm only pulling your leg you know. I wouldn't mind being a geologist and having a boat and a farm.

I am rather saintly, tho' I say it myself :wink: , and I hope you're jesting with the rest.