Once to every man and nation

Once to every man and nation. James Russell Lowell* (1819-1891) and William Garrett Horder* (1841-1922). This hymn is based on Lowell’s poem entitled ‘The Present Crisis’. In The Writings of James Russell Lowell (1890) it was dated ‘December 1844’ (a year earlier than is usually stated). It consists of 90 lines of 15 syllables each, beginning ‘When a deed is done for Freedom, through the broad earth’s aching breast/ Runs a thrill of joy prophetic…’. It was written to oppose the war of the southern States against Mexico, which Lowell and others saw as an attempt to extend the practice of slavery. In the poem Lowell describes slavery as Slavery, the earth-born Cyclops, fellest of the giant...