'The Song of Freedom' and the 2013 NCHE Annual Conference

(Photo Credit: Library of Congress)

In March 2013 the National Council for History Education will be holding its annual conference in Richmond, Virginia. The theme is 'Emancipation & Human Rights in History.' We remind our Hawaii history teachers and historians that the deadline to submit proposals is September 24, 2012.

Recently we were perusing historical editions of Hawaii's newspapers. The July 23, 1863 edition of the Pacific Commercial Advertiser featured this poem, 'The Song of Freedom. It was penned just after the reading of President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation:

Thoughts suggested by hearing the President’s Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863.

1. Yes, swell the song of Freedom. For to-night

Our land was wakened to its sense of right; -

What were but things, have now become freemen;-

Sound forth the song through every vale and glen.

2. We love to sing to-night, and well we may;

For God has brought to us that happy day,-

The day we’ve hoped and wished so long to see,

When He should say-“BE FREE, Oh man. BE FREE!”

3. We’ll sing it here: but, in that Southern land

Where long has lived that suffering, bleeding band-

Let the grand song in fuller chorus rise,

Bearing, with praise, its burthen to the skies.

4. Yes, from those bleeding hearts, the song of Love

Will rise on wings and join the hymn above,

Of praise to Him whose loving hand has led

His people from the land where they have bled.

5. -“Happy New Year.” Has the sun shone on

A happier one? And ‘tis but just begun.

Oh! may we never see or never know

The days of gloom we saw in years ago.

6. ‘Tis true, our hearts are now with sorrow rent.

Fear not. The storm of war will soon be spent;

For He who guides our way in life, knows best

When we are pure-then God will give us rest.

7. And oh!  when next wee we the New Year’s light,

May all around be peaceful, happy, bright,

And may the time soon come when wars shall cease,

Nations be subject to the Prince of Peace.

8. Oh, God, we praise Thee! To the choirs on high,

These glorious tidings bear, -while Heaven’s broad arches ring

With hymns of praise to the Almighty King.

Oberlin, Jan. 2^nd, 1863                                    M.A.C.