16. A volunteer song.
The choir of the Broadway Tabernacle church, wishing to sing the Marseillaise, called upon the pastor to prepare a patriotic hymn. The following attempt to adjust inflexible English syllables to the tortuous notes of the French Air of Liberty, was the response. The hymn, such as it is, was sung with good effect at the Tabernacle last Sabbath evening — the vast audience joining with great enthusiasm in the chorus. By request of many, it is given to the public: Arise! Arise! ye sons of patriot sires!A Nation calls! and Heaven speed your way.
Now Freedom lights anew her waning fires,
And spreads her banner to the day,
And spreads her banner to the day.
While to His Throne our hearts are swelling,
Freedom, and Law, and Truth, and Right,
May God defend by his own might,
By his right arm the treason quelling!
Ye loyal sons, and true,
Sons of the brave and free,
Join hearts, join hands, to strike anew
For God and Liberty.
With faith your all to Him confiding
Who crowned with victory our fathers' hand,
With courage in his strength abiding,
Go forth in Freedom's sacred band,
Go forth to save our native land.
Defend from faction's wild commotion,
Our homes, our laws, our schools and spires,
The names and graves of patriot sires,
Till Freedom reigns to farthest ocean.
Ye loyal sons and true,
Sons of the brave and free,
Join hearts, join hands, to strike anew
For God and Liberty.
--Independent.
