Author of the Poem Once to Every Man and Nation

Once to Every Man and Nation is a hymn from a poem that was written by James Russell Lowell in 1845 as a protest against America’s war with Mexico.  He was himself an American born in Massachusetts, February 22, 1819.  Lowell became a professor of Modern Languages and Literature at Harvard in 1855 and is said to be the most intellectual of American Poets.  The poem was set to the tune of Ebenezer in 1890 by Thomas J. William.  From reading and singing the verses, I always had the impression that it was written during the persecution of the Christians in the dark ages.  Was I ever wrong!  Let’s take a look at the verses.

Verse 1

Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide,

In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side;

Some great cause, some great decision, offering each the bloom or blight,

And the choice goes by forever, ’twixt that darkness and that light.

Comment on Verse 1

Verse 1 takes on a new perspective if you think about America and wonder if it was on the good or evil side.  Since the poem was written in protest, it would appear that he means for the Americans to be on the evil side and the Mexicans to be on the good side.  There needed to be a decision for our country to choose to walk in the light or to stumble in darkness.  Nations need to decide for peace and not for war.  Let’s look at verse 2.

Verse 2

Then to side with truth is noble, when we share her wretched crust,

Ere her cause bring fame and profit, and ’tis prosperous to be just;

Then it is the brave man chooses while the coward stands aside,

Till the multitude make virtue of the faith they had denied.

Comment on Verse 2

What does it mean to share the wretched crust of truth?  A crust is a hard outer layer as in a bread crust or the crust of the earth.  Perhaps a person needs to have tough skin to stand for truth and to not be a coward who looks the other way.  Standing up for the truth is often done before there is any reward for it.  Eventually, the majority will side with the faith that they denied and the one who stood against tyranny will be exalted.  This could be true for being against the American and Mexican war or any war or form of persecution.

Verse 3

By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,

Toiling up new Calvaries ever with the cross that turns not back;

New occasions teach new duties, time makes ancient good uncouth,

They must upward still and onward, who would keep abreast of truth.

Comment on Verse 3

Now, Professor Lowell turns our attention to the martyrs of the past who followed the bloody tracks left by Christ up the narrow way of truth.  New occasions, different from what the martyrs went through, will come up as truth progresses and teaches new duties.  What seemed good in ancient times will become awkward or unfamiliar as time passes.  Is he trying to help us to see that war is never good, but has somehow become accepted?

Verse 4

Though the cause of evil prosper, yet the truth alone is strong;

Though her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong;

Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown,

Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own.

Comments on Verse 4

What an amazing final verse!  I really love this song!  Even though in so many ages of time evil seems to prosper, yet the truth is stronger, and even amidst persecution and suffering and an unknown outcome, God is still there watching over His suffering children.  He is watching over us now in these last days of earth’s history.  You will have a moment to decide and I hope that you will choose the truth, because the truth will triumph and in the end, God wins!

Watch the Video

I hope you will watch the following video where I sing this song with Linda Haddad accompanied by Sharon Boyer.  Linda was visiting with her husband and sang special music with a group.  It was recorded early because no singing was allowed due to Covid precautions.  I was there to do two songs for the opening and closing songs.  She offered to sing with me and add some harmony.  We didn’t practice together.  So, please excuse this impromptu performance.  She did a better job at looking up than I did.  I was afraid to lose my place.  We ran out of time that day to play the closing song, but it was played a couple of weeks later.  It is such a beautiful song.  I hope you are blessed.  If you missed the first song in my last music post, you can find it here. https://healthyhomesteadingadventures.com/singing-lord-of-all-nations-for-a-covid-19-song-service/

Watch on YouTube 

You can click above to watch the video on YouTube where I would like to invite you to subscribe to my channel.  Also, this will allow you to like and comment there, but you can also comment on this blog.  Below is a button to click to subscribe to my blog for free if you haven’t already.  Thank you.