Come Come Ye Saints

I was attending a Eagle Scout Court of Honor at a local Church of Christ in Chapel Hill, Tennessee last week. While I was waiting for things to get started, I picked up the hymal and began thumbing through it. I was curious because a friend of mine told me that if I ever got the chance to hear a Church of Christ congregation sing, that I should do so. The members of the Church of Christ, once known as Campbellites, learn to sing from a young age. Many learn to sing a cappella as some denominations do not allow accompaniment during services; a point of contention that led to at least one schism. As a result of this training they develop wonderful singing talents. I wasn't going to hear any singing that night but I was curious about the hymnal itself.

I opened it up and saw there were 999 hymns, far more than the 341 in ours, almost three times in fact. I wondered if I might recognize some of the hymns. My daughter sitting next to me followed suit and picked up a hymn book herself and started looking as well. In short order she found one: "Come Come Ye Saints"

What!? I expected to find "Go Tell it on a Mountain" or perhaps "Come Thou Fount". Not an LDS hymn.

The hymn was written in 1846 by William Clayton as his pioneer company crossed Iowa. But as I soon leanred it was latter picked up and included in other church hymn books; not just the Church of Christ - with altered verses- but also in a 1985 edition of the Seventh Day Adventist hymnal, and the Mennonite hymnal as well (h.t to Coffinberry)

I found it fascinating the hymn has found such a wide audience considering it's origin. I wondered if there are any other hymns that have an specific LDS origin that have spread beyond those limits.

A Song of Tennesse keeps back the Mob

[Marianne, an AMH reader, sent some missionary recolletions written by an ancestor of her's: Peter E. Johnson. Although Elder Johnson served his mission in Mississippi, it was a song of Tennessee that stilled a mob just long enough for them to escape. The mob, intent on preventing a mission conference from being held, had gathered at the meeting location: a farm belonging to a friend of the Elders, Mr. Martin, who lived about one mile outside the small village of Mechanicsburg, Mississippi. The mob followed them to the nearest railroad station which was at Bentonia, Mississippi, about 9 miles from Mechanicsburg.]

July 29, [1898]
took train for Bentonio where there was a mob for the purpose of not letting us get off the train but they stopped before reaching the depot and we get off our car out in the sticks. We walked to Mechanicsburg, going past the mob at the station and speaking kindly to them and out the road we went in peace. We rode in wagons 7 miles out to the place of conference (a cotton field) but didn't hold it. There were 32 Elders, President Ben E. Rich and a large number of saints and friends. There was also a mob of from 150-200 who swore they would open fire on us if we attempted to hold meeting and also we the Elders, must leave the county' immediately. There were quite a number of our friends carrying shoe boxes under their arms, I asked one, why the shoe box, he said he had just received them and hadn't taken time to change.



There were also a number of very choice bundles being carried about. This was all new to me and a question brought out that the shoe box and the choice bundles contained pistols and ammunition also that guns concealed close by. The mob was armed with shot guns and rifles and it looked as if things might happen. President Condie, Maycock and Flake together with a committee of three from the mob met between the two forces and tried to get a compromise. President Condie asked that in-as-much as we were there and all arrangements made to hold Meeting that we be allowed to hold conference and then we would leave the county. This the mob would not agree to, but that the Elders had to go right then. President Condie asked his counselors what they said, they each said to stay and take the consequences. All three agreed to this and said we would go and begin our conference.


Col. Bell, one of the mob committee, said his only object in coming here was to avert bloodshed and was very sorry at this decision for as sure as they undertook to hold a meeting the mob would fire upon them, but if they insisted, then he couldn't be responsible for the damage. It had been all he could do to keep the mob from firing until now. As they started to separate Pres. Condie turned and said; 'We are looking for Pres. Ben E. Rich about 11:00 and asked to not be molested until he got here. When he comes we will put the question up to him, if he says go, we'll go and if he says stay we'll stay. Col. Bell said we will grant that providing you will not try to hold a meeting until then. This agreed to, so we all waited. One of our friends a Mr. Martin met Pres. Rich at the station at Bentonio and of course had told him of the condition he would meet. It was necessary to drive through the mob in order to reach us. As the driver came up he called "Gentlemen the road please” As no heed was given to the request he repeated it and giving the horses the whip passed to the other side. Pres. Rich greeted them in his characteristic way, kind words and a smile.


The committee was still between the two forces although each had reported their decision to their group. After the introduction was over each committee told him their decision but stated that it was up to him to decide. President Rich turned about and with the toe of his shoe kicked in the sand a bit, then turned and said to the committee, “We’ll go”. Col. Bell expressed his appreciation at this decision. Pres. Rich said of course you’ll give us two hours but they still said no. Pres. Rich said now be fair and let the Elders gather up their belongings which are scattered around, for 25 Miles. They finally agreed to this, but we must be gone before 1:00 o’clock. This was agreed to. For 45 minutes Pres. Rich talked to those assembled the most powerful sermon I ever heard. He told them conference would be continued at Jackson, then asked if someone would loan him money to take the Elders there. He then asked for teams to gather up the Elders belongings and catch the company on the march to Bentonio. I was one of the ill so rode in the wagon. [Yellow fever was endemic among the missionaries at about this time] There were 25-29 Elders took the road led by Pres. Rich and Condie, two commands were given, 1st, not to break the ranks and 2nd, to smile and greet the mob pleasantly as they marched through. They still had 10 minutes. The wagons gathered the bundles and ill Elders then continued on. The weather was very hot and when they were within five miles of Bentonio we began to pick up the exhausted ones. The sick had to exchange places: walked the last four miles.


We were a sorry looking group that met at the rail road station. Thirteen miles isn't very far, but when it is to be done on the double quick and the temperature is 1000 that is something else.


The mob was on hand for a lynching and doing away with the Elders and they were fully prepared to carry out their threats. Pres. Rich bought the tickets then asked protection of the rail road agent who appealed to the sheriff, governor, marshal and mayor but each denied him. The agent sent a telegram on to the next station saying there were 33 U.S. Citizens lives that were in danger and that it depended on the trains' speed. They were becoming noisier, threatening and demanded the agent to turn the Elders over to them. In the midst of all this Pres. Rich told the boys to go outside get on a pile of logs and sing Tennessee. This is the Chorus:

We love the old plantation; we love the Lorrowe Tree,
We are going-we are going-many voices say to me.
We are going-we are going-from the land we thought was free,
We are going-~ are going-till we find our liberty.
Then farewell, O, farewell, old home and Tennessee.
O land of freedom grant us, a freemen’s right to be
By the rolling Mississippi and the rippling Tennessee.


After the singing the mob seemed to halt or at least quiet down. The announcement was made that train time was nearing. We could hear the wave of voices again calling for ropes and threats of doing away with the Mormons before the train came. I could feel the cold chills down my back as I listened to the howl of the mob. You bet we all prayed that the train would hurry for there was yet 15-20 minutes. It seemed that the fury of the mob would break upon us when the toot of an engine was heard. The last car passed the depot before the train stopped and while the agent was telling the conductor about the trouble we were getting aboard in the least possible time. Pres. Rich was the last one to get on. We all felt like singing "Praise God from whom all blessings flow,"


We reached Jackson in the night but reporters were there and we pointed out Pres. Rich and he gave the report. One of the reporters remarked, "Had it been me, I wouldn't of left" Pres. Rich replied, “Well, you see shot guns and rifles were trumps and as they held a full hand we passed it" Someone in the crowd yelled, ''Whoopee! That feller hasn't always been a preacher".


Our conference was continued July 31, August 1, which was well attended and enjoyed by all.

The Conference was noted by the President Rich in a telegram snet back to the mission office at Chattanooga dated at Bentonia, Miss., July 30th, 1898:

"Don't send mail here. We leave tonight to hold conference at Jackson. Have been driven out by one hundred and fifty men with rifles and shotguns."

President Rich then relates very much the same story as given by Elder Johnson, although without nearly the detail, and most importantly, without any mention of their singing about Tennessee. Too bad. President Rich also names two other members of the mob, Major Dill and Captain Lee, both were considered moderating influences on the mob's violent intent.

The LDS Southern Star does say that one Jackson, Mississippi newspaper printed a fair account of the event. The Daily Clarion Ledger on August 1st, 1898. I have not been able to track down the article. Nor have I been able to find the song from which the chorus above comes.

In search of a song

Last week I ran across a song about Tennessee. I'll post the context in a couple of days, but what I wanted to share was the process of trying to identify the song.

The song came with a probable title, "Tennessee", but no author/writer and no date of origin. All I have is a chorus. and that it was written before 1898.

Like any good child of the internet age I started by searching online. But regardless of which line I pasted into my search, I came up with nothing. Even partial line searches were unsucessfull. OK, so it isn't a song online. At least not one find by the spiders. Just to be sure, I tried google books, still nothing.

So I went down to the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) to see if I could get some help. I started in the reading room. The librarians keep a "vertical file" of State songs. The file contained newspaper articles and sheet music for the four official state songs since 1920. Copies of legislation passed to recognize the songs was in the file too. But the song I was looking for was not one of them.

Next I was directed to Rose Music Collection. Kenneth D. Rose, a faculty member at Ward-Belmont College (now Belmont University) in Nashville from 1918 to 1952, assembled a vast and diverse selection of sheet music during his career. His collection, includes Confederate sheet music, comic songs, minstrel songs, war songs, patriotic songs, and sports songs. After his death the collection was donated to the TSLA. The card catalogue (sorry, it isn't electronic) is huge, including close to 30 songs with Tennessee in the title. But none of them were the one I was looking for.

I didn't think it would be this hard.

Now the librarians start to pull out the stops. We called the Nashville Public Library, but their music section is primarily music business. One librarian said there was another music archive at a University in Memphis, but they don't take phone research requests. I'll need to go in person. Another librarian called his roommate who teaches music classes at a local university (even after "singing" it to him over the phone - no luck). We start calling the Country Music Hall of Fame, and other local music archives. No one seems to know where this song came from. Maybe someone who reads this might have a suggestion. Here is the chorus.

We love the old plantation; we love the Lorrowe Tree,

We are going-we are going-many voices say to me.

We are going-we are going-from the land we thought was free,

We are going-~ are going-till we find our liberty.

Then farewell, O, farewell, old home and Tennessee.

O land of freedom grant us, a freemen’s right to be

By the rolling Mississippi and the rippling Tennessee.

Alabama, Birmingham Mission Song

[A single county in Tennessee is part of the Alabama Birmingham Mission. Yet Tennessee was remembered in the song written below. Note that this time we have a tune to which we can sing this song.]

Sing to the tune "Called to Serve"

1st & 2nd verses (from Hymn book)
3rd verse (words by Elder Matthew Barrett)

Called to love our sisters and our brothers
Love of Christ has called us to the South
Blessed with life, we share it with another
Bringing souls to Israel's house
Onward, Alabama, we are called to spread the Word
Onward, Mississippi, share the truth that you have heard
Forward, Tennessee, hear the songs of souls set free
God our strength will be, press forward ever
Called to serve our King!

Alabama Birmingham Mission Website

Tennessee Mission Song

The last Mission Song was for a mission that no longer exists. This one is more current. Still no hint of the music it should be sung to, but why let that stop us.

THE HILLS OF TENNESSEE

I was called to labor in Tennessee
Chosen by the Lord
To teach to His people, the truths that He restored
Tennessee, my home where I labor
Called of God I serve
Preaching, teaching, searching for those, kind and loving souls
Green hill and valleys ever calling me
I have come to serve thee, the hills of Tennessee

I met people so kind and friendly
Cheerish will they be
The time spent together, will never come again
These precious memories of Tennessee
Now belong to me
Brother, sisters dear to me, helping others to see
Green hills and valleys ever calling me
I will not forget thee, the hills of Tennessee

by Elder Britt Farington Koevan
Tennessee Nashville Mission Website

Farewell Song

In the early months of 1840, a number of Elders met in New York where they were preparing to journey to England. Elders Turley, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Clark and two [unnamed] Elders had already left. The remaining Elders, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, George A. Smith, and R. Hedlock held a Conference, in the “Columbian Hall,” prior to leaving in which they sung the following song, composed by Parley P. Pratt just for the occasion. At the time it was titled “Farewell Song”


When shall we all meet again?
When shall we our rest obtain?
When our pilgrimage be o’er—
Parting sighs be known no more;
When Mount Zion we regain,
There may we all meet again,

We to foreign climes repair;
Truth, the message which we bear;
Truth, which angels oft have borne;
Truth to comfort those who morn.
Truth eternal will remain,
On its rock we’ll meet again.

Now the bright and morning star
Spreads its glorious light afar,
Kindles up the rising dawn
Of that bright Millennial morn;
When the Saints shall rise and reign,
Then may we all meet again. (In the clouds we'll meet again. 1891)

When the sons of Israel come,
When they build Jerusalem;
When the house of God is reared,
And Messiah’s way prepared;
When from Heaven he comes to reign,
In the clouds we’ll meet again. (Then we all may meet again. 1891)

When the earth is cleansed by fire;
When the wicked’s hopes expire;
When in cold oblivion’s shade,
Proud oppressors all are laid;
Long will Zion’s Mount remain,
There we all may meet again.

It didn't take long for the Hymn to find its way into print. By May 1840 the song was in Times and Seasons without any musical notation save the word "Hymenial" at the end.

That same year it was included in England in the Manchester Hymnal #220. Not surprizing since Parley was one of the publishers. It also did not have any musical notation except "6-7's" which I'm sure means something about meter, but not being even remotely gifted musically, I really have no idea.

The song made it into the Latter Day Saint Psalmody in 1889 No. 210 (page 247) With a title "Burton" and arranged by T. C. Griggs. Only three of the verses were included.

In 1909 it appears as No. 74 in an LDS hymnal called Songs of Zion under the names W. W. Phelps and J. C. Fones. This time full musical score is included, but only four verses.

I don't have access to the 1927 or 1948 Hymnals to see if it was included in either of those, but it did not make it into the 1985 Hymnal.

Of course all of this has little to do with why I bring it up. And why is that you ask? Well, in 1884, this song was the last sung at a small branch meeting in Lewis County, Tennessee, before the house in which the service was being held was attacked by a vigilante mob. The hymn inspired Elder John H. Gibbs, reminding him of a scripture about which he planned to center his message. While looking for the passage from the Bible he was shot and killed.

Kentucky-Tennessee Mission Song

Surfing around the web I happened upon this song. No real indication of the tune it was sung to, but I wondered if any of you had heard this before and if your mission had a song.

KENTUCKY-TENNESSEE MISSION SONG
(President George D. Durrant)

'Twas in Kentucky and Tennessee
My Heavenly Father called me to serve;
I met great people, the choicest ever
And formed new friendships so dear to me.
Kentucky and Tennessee was where I labored
To carry forward the Word of God.
Doors ever opened by kindly people,
Brothers and sisters so dear to me.
Those blessed memories of old Kentucky
And Tennessee thou art dear to me.
Green hills and valleys are ever calling
My mission home so dear to me.

(Source: Kentucky Louisville Mission Website)

Poems about the Cane Creek Massacre

I noticed a strong uptick in the number of people finding my site by searching for information on the Cane Creek Massacre. So much so that I began to suspect that something may have prompted them to look it up. Something in the news maybe. So I began to look to see what it could be.


I didn't find anything. But I did see something I had missed. In 1958 Olive Woolley Burt published a book of Murder ballads of the American West. One of her ballads was a poem written about the Cane Creek Massacre. Olive indicated thet the first part of the poem was missing. It was taken from a newspaper clipping in her "mother's scrapbook". Although Olive admits the clipping contains 18 stanzas, she only reproduced 6 of them.

The Cane Creek Massacre

The boys had lived in peace upon the farm,
A mother's care had shielded them from harm;
They had but recently obeyed the truth,
But loved it with the ardent love of youth.

They saw the brave and much loved elders fall,
Nor feared the mobbers nor the rifle ball;
The conflict was unequal, but they stood,
Unterrified among the scenes of blood.

So was their mother shot by coward hand,
And law dishonored in the cursed band.
And in defense of those so basely killed,
Their youthful blood was on the hearthstone spilled.

No small responsibility will rest
On so-called Christians, who have madly pressed
Their wicked schemes of special legislation
Alike disgraceful to the age and nation.

"Heroic measures" from their Upas tree,
Have thus with blood matured in Tennessee;
Whose martyrs rank with prophets, priests and sages,
Who died for God and Truth in former ages.

Then let us buckle on our armor bright,
Nor fear the enemy, but bravely fight
For human rights, 'til every soul shall be
Protected from the curse of Tennessee.

Regrettably, Olive says the newspaper in unidentifiable.

This was not the first poem about the Massacre I had run across. In the Millennial Star of September 22 1884, I find the following poem. Quoted from the Territorial Enquirer, it is titled:

Lines Inscribed to the Tennessee Martyrs

News flashed over the wires
Of Israels heroes slain!
And many a heart leaped quick with dread,
And ached with a dead dull pain
And Zion bowed her head and wept!
Oh father can it be
That the curse which rests on Illinois
Now darkens Tennessee

Could we but comfort the widow whose heart
Is crushed with its weight of woe;--
And the orphaned ones who never more
A fathers care will know.
And aged parents with whitened hair
Who long for the firm quick tread,
And strong brave arm of their noble boy
Now numbered with the dead

Columbia! Oh my country
Your brow is crowned with fame;
Your arm is strong and mighty,
But your head is bowed with shame:
Shame! for thy sons whose evil brows
Are stamped with the curse of Cain, --
God they defy, -- but their hollow laugh
Is worse than a shriek of pain!

Father of mercy, give us light,
More clearly Thy ways to see.
Let a ray sunshine break through the clouds
Of cruel destiny,
That the shadows of sorrow may brighten
The hope of eternity
Bringing peace to the stricken ones
Which alone can come from Thee
---------Infelice