O Hear Us When We Cry to Thee

I was looking at the leaflet for the memorial service for John McCain, which will be held tomorrow at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.  I was not at all surprised to see that Eternal Father, strong to save (#608 in our hymnal) is one of the hymns to be sung during the service. This hymn is also known as "The Navy Hymn" and has long been sung at the US Naval Academy.  McCain attended the Academy and served in the US Navy for over 20 years.  It is a hymn he would have heard and sung many times.

The lyrics were written as a poem by English choirmaster William Whiting in 1860.  Several sources I read say Whiting had survived a shipwreck and was moved to write the poem in thanks for his deliverance. In any case, it makes a good story.  The hymn's tune Melita was written by the Reverend John B. Dykes in 1861. Melita is the ancient name for Malta where the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked as reported in the Book of Acts. This hymn was sung at the funerals for John F. Kennedy and Franklin Roosevelt, and was said to have been one of the hymns played as the Titanic sank.

In 1940 three verses were added to the hymn to include travel on the land and in the air.  This hymn with the additions is listed separately as hymn #579. The 1982 Hymnal added a verse asking protection for those who travel in space--something probably not even dreamed of by Whiting. And even more verses have been written over the years honoring Marines, the Coast Guard, submariners and even loved ones left at home.

Eternal Father, strong to save, whose arm hath bound the 

restless wave, who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep its

own appointed limits keep:  O hear us when we 

cry to thee for those in peril on the sea.

O Christ, whose voice the waters heard and hushed their raging

at they word, who walkedst on the foaming deep, and

calm amid its rage didst sleep:  O hear us when we 

cry to thee for those in peril on the sea.

Most Holy Spirit, who didst brood upon the chaos

dark and rude, and bid its angry tumult cease, and

give, for wild confusion, peace: O hear us when we

cry to thee for those in peril on the sea.

O Trinity of love and power, thy children shield in

danger's hour, from rock and tempest, fire and foe, pro-

tect them where-so e'er they go; thus evermore shall

rise to thee glad hymns of praise from land and sea.  

--Amy Phillips Witzke