Glory, Laud and Honor

Many hymns have been written to celebrate great events in the life of our nation. The occasion for the writing of "God of our Fathers" was the centennial of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. Many other hymns were written for this event, but only this one has survived.Daniel C. Roberts (1841-1907), the rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, a small church in rural Vermont wrote this hymn for his congregation to celebrate the American Centennial in 1876. While it was originally sung to "Russian Hymn," "God of Our Fathers" had a melody specifically composed for it in 1882 by George William Warren (1828-1902). "Glory, Laud and Honor," a stately, festive, and joyful march is based on motivic material excerpted from "God of Our Fathers" and is specifically designed to enhance the spirit of this great text:God of our fathers, whose almighty handLeads forth in beauty all the starry bandOf shinning worlds in splendor through the skies,Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,Lead us from night to never-ending day.Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,And glory, laud and praise be ever Thine.