battles are to be fought in this twentieth century. If we catch the spirit which led Baring-Gould to declare "the Church of Jesus constant will remain" we will surely take up his battle cry, "On, then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!"

Whatever we may think of cruel war, the warfare of God's people for righteousness and for the triumph of the cross we all approve. In this spirit we take as our battle song the widely used and ever-popular hymn aptly called

THE MARCHING HYMN OF THE CHURCH

Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the Cross of Jesus

Going on before.

Christ, the Royal Master,

Leads against the foe:
Forward into battle,

See His banners go.

Refrain

Onward, Christian soldiers

Marching as to war,
With the Cross of Jesus
Going on before.

At the sign of triumph,
Satan's armies flee:

On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory.

Hell's foundations quiver,

At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise.

Like a mighty army,

Moves the Church of God: Brothers, we are treading

Where the saints have trod.

We are not divided,

All one body we,

One in hope and doctrine,

One in charity.

What our Lord established

That we hold for true: What the saints believed That believe we too. Long as earth endureth

Men that faith will holdKingdoms, nations, empires, In destruction rolled.

Crowns and thrones may perish,

Kingdoms rise and wane,

But the Church of Jesus

Constant will remain.

Gates of hell can never

'Gainst that Church prevail: We have Christ's own promise, And that cannot fail.

Onward, then, ye faithful,

Join our happy throng, Blend with ours your voices, In the triumph-song. Glory, laud, and honor,

Unto Christ the King:

This, through countless ages,
Men and angels sing.

HYMNS OF THANKSGIVING

NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD
OW thank we all our God,

With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom His earth rejoices;

Who from our mothers' arms
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.

"Oh, may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts

And blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace,

And guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills,

In this world and the next.

"All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son, and Him who reigns

With them in highest heaven;

The One eternal God,

Whom earth and heaven adore;

For thus it was, is now,

And shall be evermore!"

Praise and thanksgiving enter largely into the Christian's conception of worship. A hymn of thanksgiving for this reason is at once accorded a favorable hearing.

The Harvest Festival is an ancient custom which has

come down from the Old Testament Church.

It is held

in high favor and very generally observed. Our national Thanksgiving is the product of our American national life. Obedient to the command of Christ to "Render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's," the true Christian is necessarily a good citizen. He, therefore, finds both religious and patriotic reasons for the expression of thanks in respect to his spiritual and temporal blessings.

The note of praise and of thanksgiving sounds in harmony with the proper expression of a true evangelical faith. Hence the occasion is frequent when an evangelical Christian lifts heart and voice in thanksgiving to God. Logically, therefore, Martin Rinkart's hymn, "Nun danket alle Gott," is a hymn which is widely known and a general favorite. Perhaps this hymn is sung even more frequently than is Luther's famous "Battle Hymn." It finds an honored place in the service on all festival occasions. Any Lutheran gathering can be safely asked to sing this hymn, for if they are without books the words. and melody are both printed on every mind.

Luther's great "Battle Hymn" is a hymn of combat and of resolution to battle to the end. It inspires faith and courage, elements greatly needed in the Christian life of this day. This hymn of Martin Rinkart is rather an outburst of gratitude. The note of thanksgiving is so decided as to give confidence, and, through a realization of past achievements and blessings under God to undertake new efforts and engage in further conflicts with increased faith and renewed courage. Rightly understood, it is really a fruitage of and a supplement to Luther's famous hymn. How often we hear them in the same service!

This hymn, which has been popularly called the “German Te Deum," is a metrical version or paraphrase of two

verses of Sirach (Sirach 50: 24, 25), and of the "Gloria

Patri" in the third verse. It is generally believed to have been written in the year 1644 in the prospect of the reestablishment of peace. The regimental chaplains, when holding special services of thanksgiving for the conclusion of peace, were instructed to use this passage as their text. This, by some, is supposed to have been the suggestion to Rinkart of the writing of the hymn. A more recent claim is made by an eminent hymnologist that the hymn was written in 1630 as a hymn or prayer of thanksgiving after meals, and especially intended for Rinkart's children. The original manuscript of the hymn is still in the possession of the descendants of the author. Since 1648 it has been used as the German Te Deum at all national festivals of war and peace. It was sung by the army of Frederick the Great after the Prussians had won the battle of Leuthen. During the Franco-Prussian War it was sung constantly, and when the history of the present war has been written we may find that this hymn has played an important part in the religious experience of many brave soldiers.

When the great and beautiful Cologne Cathedral was consecrated this hymn had an important place in the service. This was in 1880. When the Reichstag in Berlin was begun Emperor William laid the corner-stone and the vast concourse of people sang "Nun danket alle Gott." It is today found in every German hymn book and has been translated and used in the hymn books of those worshiping in many other tongues. There are a number of English translations, that of Miss Winkworth being the most popular. The hymn has found its way into a number of hymnals of other churches, and is certain to grow in favor and use as the years pass.