As Father’s Day is approaching, my mind drifts to this hymn, “Rise Up, O men of God” by William P. Merrill frequently sung at my childhood church during Father’s Day many years ago.
1. Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
to serve the King of kings.
2. Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
and end the night of wrong.
3. Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
her strength unequal to her task;
rise up, and make her great!
4. Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where his feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
rise up, O men of God!
While I don’t know if the men still sing this hymn, I remember that the men would organise week-long programs to celebrate the Fathers back then. On Sunday – the grand finale – the men’s choir, clad in white shirts and black trousers, would stand before the congregation, according to the parts they sang, with scripts in hand. The organist would play the intro and usher in the men. They would sing with deep voices, harmonising in tenor, alto, and bass, their Adam’s apples bobbing, heads thrown back in style.
Beautiful rendition, it used to be and I hope these men understood the deep message in that song. I have a lot more to say about this hymn and how it spurred me to compile these poems for the fathers. You can read my thoughts here
To celebrate the men, I have this collection of poems, “Rise! CAP able Men” dedicated to the capable, mighty men of valour, crowned with splendour. I hope this little collection will spur other men to awake, rise and take up their duty post.
