Article November 17, 1986 Issue

SECOND THOUGHT

Looking again at news and commentary

The Detroit News

From The Detroit News, May 25, 1986

"Last week a committee of the United Methodist Church, following a trend among 'mainline' church leaders, called for the elimination of Onward Christian Soldiers from its hymnals, together with a purging of the more 'militaristic' verses in Julia Ward Howe's stirring Battle Hymn of the Republic. Church leaders explained that in this nuclear age, we can no longer afford even the imagery of war, let alone armed conflict.

"It's not for a secular newspaper to instruct a religious denomination how to conduct its affairs. But this purging of two great Christian hymns reflects a preoccupation with peace at almost any price that is a troublesome sign of the times.

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November 17, 1986
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