Don't change the words!

(This article was first published in the October 2017 edition of the church newsletter.)

In July of 2014, my study leave involved traveling to Columbus to attend the annual conference of the Hymn Society of the United States and Canada. (Yes, there is indeed such an organization...it exists to encourage the writing and the leading of congregational song.) One of the presenters happened to be David Eicher, editor-in-chief of our red Presbyterian hymnal, which had recently been released. Mr. Eicher's session introduced us to some of the hymnal's new material, as well as sharing insight into the compiling and editing process. Someone in the audience asked him what was the suggestion the editorial board most frequently received. Without even pausing to think, Mr. Eicher responded: “People kept telling us not to change the words of the hymns they knew!"

Even so, the red hymnal contains numerous alterations. I can't defend every decision made by its editorial board, nor is it my job to do so. But I do suspect that when words have been altered, it’s generally for the purpose of making the text theologically or poetically stronger…not simply to spite those who liked the old words better.

Case in point: the song Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart, which we frequently sing as our offering plates are brought forward. The original version, which most of us know by heart, contains the line "And now let the weak say 'I Am Strong'...". In the red hymnal, this line reads 'We are strong'. This may seem like a needless change, intended only to befuddle the congregation. Note, however, that this song is still under copyright; legally speaking, its lyrics could not have been altered without the permission of the author (Henry Smith). Perhaps he felt the song was a more effective corporate prayer when recast into the plural. There are other instances, too, where the editorial board approached authors with suggestions for rewording, which were readily accepted. I know this because David Eicher told us so. (Some of those suggestions were refused, as well.)

Finally, let's keep in mind that even the 'familiar' hymns may have begun their lives looking rather different. In 1739, Charles Wesley penned a Christmas ode which opens like this:

“HARK how all the Welkin rings
Glory to the King of Kings,
Peace on Earth, and Mercy mild,
GOD and Sinners reconcil'd!
Joyful all ye Nations rise,
Join the Triumph of the Skies,
Universal Nature say
CHRIST the LORD is born to Day!”

It wasn't until the mid-1800s that the hands of various wordsmiths transformed Wesley’s text into 'Hark, the Herald Angels Sing’ which we all know today. I don't think many people would dispute that the ‘new’ version is more elegant than the old...not to mention that the word welkin is so obscure one would need a dictionary to decipher it.

Tried & true versus new & improved: it’s a fine line to walk, indeed!