Classic Poem

God of our fathers! Thou whose hand
Thine ancient people led,
Look down on our beloved land,
And bless our nation's head.
Oh give him wisdom, Lord, to guide
The hosts of freedom now, —
To meet the ills which may betide
With calm, unruffled brow!

We pray that he in peace may rule
O'er this broad, favored land,
No craven heart! no party's tool!
But with a righteous hand;
And o'er our land, from east to west,
From north to south, proclaim
(Obeying duty's high behest)
The Union's honored name.

Sustain him by thy might, O God!
In every trying scene,
In judgment hall, on fields of blood,
Or in his home serene.
Oh nerve his arm to strike each blow
At treason and at wrong,
And bid him triumph o'er each foe,
And sing the victor's song!

God of our fathers! bless this man,
The people's only choice,
And guide him with thine own right hand,
And by thy Spirit's voice.
And when on History's page his name
In future years is seen,
May unborn millions guard his fame,
And bless thee for his reign!

Hear thou our prayer, and in thy way,
And in thine own best time,
Deliver us from Slavery's sway,
And ring out Freedom's chime.
Bless him now at our nation's helm,
O Lord! we pray again;
And let no waves his bark o'erwhelm,
For Jesus' sake — Amen.