Hymns Sung at Celebrity Funerals -- #3 Quiz

Answer: Milhous

Richard Nixon's middle name was 'Milhous'. He was born January 9, 1913, in Yorba Linda, California, and died April 22, 1994, in New York City. Nixon served as president of the United States from 1969 to 1974. He was the first American president to resign from office.

Nixon is remembered for a number of quotes, but this one is my favorite: "Always remember others may hate you but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself."

In addition to being sung at the funeral of Nixon, 'Battle Hymn of the Republic', was sung at the funerals of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, U.S. Presidential candidate Robert Kennedy and British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.

'The Battle Hymn of the Republic' is often used as an American patriotic song, although it has a profound Christian message. It has been played many times at the national conventions of both the Republican Party and Democratic Party. It has been often sung at Presidential inaugurations.

Outside the United States, the hymn is often called 'Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory'.

Ju­lia W. Howe wrote 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' in 1861, during the U.S. Civil War. The Website Nethymnal.org reports Howe vis­it­ed a Un­ion Ar­my camp on the Po­to­mac Riv­er near Wash­ing­ton, D.C., when she heard the sol­diers sing­ing the song 'John Brown's Body', and was tak­en with the strong march­ing beat. She wrote the words the next day.

She is quoted by Nethymnal.org as saying: "I awoke in the grey of the morn­ing, and as I lay wait­ing for dawn, the long lines of the de­sired po­em be­gan to en­twine them­selves in my mind, and I said to my­self, 'I must get up and write these vers­es, lest I fall asleep and for­get them!' So I sprang out of bed and in the dim­ness found an old stump of a pen, which I re­mem­bered us­ing the day be­fore. I scrawled the vers­es al­most with­out look­ing at the p­aper."

Here are the words to 'Battle Hymn of the Republic':

"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
"As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal";
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally ...let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave;
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of wrong His slave,
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on."

Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served as assistant sec­re­ta­ry of the U.S. Na­vy, is the correct answer. Commonly known as FDR, Roosevelt served as president of the United States for twelve years, from 1933 to 1945. He is the only American president to win four national elections.

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson appointed him assistant secretary of the navy in 1913. Roosevelt had a life-long affinity for the navy and collected 10,000 naval books over the years. Roosevelt had said he read all the naval books in his collection, except one.

He and his wife Eleanor were fond of vacationing at Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada where they had a summer retreat.

His funeral procession in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1945, was watched by an estimated 300,000 people.

'Eternal Father, Strong to Save', a favorite of FDR, was written by Will­iam Whit­ing, in 1860. He wrote the lyr­ics as a po­em for a stu­dent about to sail for the United States.

"'Eter­nal Fa­ther' is oft­en called the 'Na­vy Hymn' be­cause it is sung at the Na­val Acad­e­my in An­na­po­lis, Ma­ry­land," Nethymnal.org reports. "It is al­so sung on ships of the Brit­ish Roy­al Na­vy and has been trans­lat­ed in­to French."

Here are the words to 'Eternal Father, Strong to Save':

"Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who biddest the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, 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 Thy Word,
Who walked on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, 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;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our family shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect us wheresoever we go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea."

Answer: 1924

Woodrow Wilson's funeral was in 1924, the same year France hosted both the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics. The Summer Games were held in Paris while Chamonix hosted the Winter Games.

Wilson served as president from 1913 to 1921. He was born December 28, 1856, in Staunton, Virginia and died February 3, 1924, in Washington, D.C..

Here are two notable quotes from Wilson: "If you want to make enemies, try to change something," and "the man who is swimming against the stream knows the strength of it."

Although 'How Firm a Foundation' is a popular hymn, no one seems to know who wrote it. It has been attributed to John and Richard Keene, Kirk­ham, and John Keith. It was first published in a publication in 1787 by John Rippon titled 'A Se­lect­ion of Hymns from the Best Au­thors'.

In addition to being sung at Wilson's funeral, 'How Firm a Foundation' was also sung at the fun­er­als of U.S. pres­i­dent The­o­dore Roo­se­velt and Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the U.S. Civil War.

Nethymnal.org reports the hymn was also a fa­vo­rite of Rachel Jack­­son, wife of U.S. president Andrew Jack­son.

Here are the words to 'How Firm a Foundation':

"How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake."

Answer: Paris

Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a horrific car crash in Paris, France on August 31, 1997. Her funeral was held six days later at West­min­ster Ab­bey, Lon­don, on Sep­tem­ber 6.

Also killed in the crash were Diana's friend Dodi Fayed and the driver of the Mercedes-Benz, Henri Paul. The only survivor was Trevor Rees-Jones, Diana's bodyguard. According to Wikipedia, an exhaustive investigation placed blame on Paul for causing the crash, pointing out he was intoxicated and lost control of the car. The investigation absolved the paparazzi as being a cause of the crash. Photographers were not near the car when it crashed, the investigation determined.

'The King of Love My Shepherd Is' was written by Henry W. Baker in 1868. Baker was born May 27, 1821, in Bel­mont House, Vaux­hall, Sur­rey, Eng­land and died Feb­ru­a­ry 12, 1877, in Monk­land, Her­e­ford­shire, Eng­land.

From 1860 to 1877, Baker was ed­it­or-in-chief of the 'An­gl­ican Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern', and con­tri­but­ed hymns, tunes, and trans­la­tions. According to Nethymnal.net, the his­tor­ic hym­nal sold 60 mil­lion co­pies.

Nethymnal.org also states Baker's friend John El­ler­ton re­port­ed Bak­er's dy­ing words were from his fa­mous hymn:
"Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me."

Here are the words to 'The King of Love My Shepherd Is':

"The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread'st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever."

Answer: Nearer, My God, To Thee

'Nearer, My God to Thee' was played as the bo­dy of as­sas­sin­at­ed United States Pre­sid­ent James Gar­field was in­terred at Lake­view Cem­e­te­ry in Cleve­land, Ohio.

Garfield was born November 19, 1831, in Moreland Hills, Ohio. He was the twentieth president of the United States, replacing Rutherford B. Hayes. Garfield was succeeded by Chester A. Arthur, who had served as vice president under Garfield.

Garfield is credited with a number of colorful quotes. Once while stressing the importance of staying young, he said, "If wrinkles must be written upon our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should not grow old."

He was also a big promoter of education with one his better known statements being: "Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without which neither freedom nor justice can be permanently maintained."

'Nearer, My God, To Thee' is often associated with the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 as some survivors told of the hymn being played while the ocean liner was sinking. Other survivors, however, disputed the claim. Wikipedia reports 'Nearer, My God, to Thee' was sung by the doomed crew and passengers of the SS Valencia as it sank off the Canadian coast in 1906 "and this event may be the source of the Titanic legend."

When Canadian-born James Cameron produced the Oscar-winning movie 'Titanic', a scene showed band members playing 'Nearer, My God, to Thee' as the luxury liner was slowly sinking in the North Atlantic. As a result, the legend about the hymn being played on the Titanic has become even more entrenched.

Here are the words to 'Nearer, My God, to Thee':

"Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain:
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God to Thee.

[Refrain]

There let the way appear, steps unto Heav'n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

[Refrain]

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

[Refrain]

Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I'll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

[Refrain]

There in my Father's home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior's love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer my God to Thee.

[Refrain]"

Answer: Illinois

Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, was born February 6, 1911, in Tampico, Illinois. He replaced Jimmy Carter as president and was succeeded by George H.W. Bush. Reagan served as president from 1981 to 1989.

He was known by various nicknames, including 'Dutch' and 'The Gipper'. But to many he was known as 'The Great Communicator'. Here are three notable quotes from Reagan:

"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."

"How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin."

'O Love of God, How Strong and True' was written by Ho­ra­ti­us Bo­nar in 1861. Born De­cem­ber 19, 1808, in Ed­in­burgh, Scot­land, Bonar is known as "the prince of Scot­tish hymn write­rs." He is credited with writing more than 600 hymns.

Here are the words to 'O Love of God, How Strong and True':

"O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.

O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man's deepest hate;
Self fed, self kindled, like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.

O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!

O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.

We read thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.

We read thy power to bless and save,
E'en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.

O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest."

Answer: 4

William Gladstone served as prime minister of Great Britain on four different occasions, giving him the record in this area. Gladstone served as prime minister from 1868 to 74, 1880 to 85, February to July of 1886 and 1892 to 94. He also served as Chancellor of the Exchequer four times. Gladstone is also the holder of another record in British politics. He was Britain's oldest prime minister, resigning for the final time when he was 84 years old, according to Wikipedia.

Gladstone, known as the the 'Grand Old Man', was born December 29, 1809, in Liverpool, England and died May 19, 1898, in Hawarden Castle, Flintshire.

One of his more famous quotes centered on love and peace: "We look forward to the time when the power of love will replace the love of power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace."

Augustus Toplady wrote 'Rock of Ages' in 1763 and more than 250 years later the hymn remains immensely popular. Toplady was born in Farnham, Surrey, England, in 1740 and his father Richard Toplady was a commissioned officer in the Royal Marines. His father died when Toplady was still an infant. According to Wikipedia, his father participated in the Battle of Cartagena de Indias in 1741, during the course of which he died, "most likely of yellow fever, leaving Augustus' mother to raise the boy alone."

Here are the words to 'Rock of Ages':

"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
[originally When my eye-strings break in death]
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee."

Answer: Andy Williams

Andy Williams, a close friend of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, sung 'Battle Hymn of the Republic', also known as 'Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory', at RFK's funeral in 1968.

Williams, who died in 2012, was an incredibly popular musician. He recorded forty-four albums in his career, seventeen of which were Gold-certified and three of which were Platinum-certified. From 1962 to 1971, he hosted 'The Andy Williams Show', a television variety show. 'Moon River', from the film 'Breakfast at Tiffany's', was his theme song.

Kennedy, a younger brother of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated June 5, 1968, by Palestinian Sirhan B. Sirhan. Kennedy was running to win the Democratic ticket in the U.S. presidential race and had just scored a major victory, winning the California primary.

In addition to being sung at the funeral of Kennedy, 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' was sung at the funerals of U.S. presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Ju­lia W. Howe wrote 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' in 1861, during the U.S. Civil War.

(For the words to the hymn, see the answer section of Question No. 1.)

Answer: Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson

John F. Kennedy replaced Dwight Eisenhower as president on January 20, 1961; after he was assassinated in Dallas on November 22, 1963, he was succeeded by Lyndon Johnson.

Here are three quotes from Kennedy:

"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."

"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names."

'O God of Loveliness' was written by Alfonso M. de Liguori, born in 1696 near Naples, Italy. His hymn was translated into English in 1863 by K.A. Coffin. According to Hymnary.org, de Liguori became Bishop of St. Agatha of the Goths in 1762, and died in 1787.

Here are the words to 'O God of Loveliness':

"O God of loveliness, O Lord of Heaven above,
How worthy to possess my heart's devoted love.
So sweet Thy countenance, so gracious to behold
That one, one only glance to me were bliss untold.

Thou art blest Three in One, yet undivided still,
Thou art the One alone, whose love my heart can fill.
The heav'ns and earth below were fashioned by Thy Word,
How amiable art Thou, my ever dearest Lord.

To think Thou art my God-O thought forever blest!
My heart has overflowed with joy within my breast.
My soul so full of bliss, is plunged as in a sea,
Deep in the sweet abyss of holy charity.

O Loveliness supreme, and Beauty infinite,
O ever flowing Stream and Ocean of delight,
O Life by which I live, my truest Life above,
To Thee alone I give my undivided love."

Answer: Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher, prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, is the correct answer. Her funeral took place in 2013 at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. In addition to being known as 'The Iron Lady', Thatcher was also known as 'Maggie', 'Attila the Hen', 'Madame Frit', 'Milk Snatcher', 'The Grocer's Daughter' and 'The Great She-Elephant', according to Wikipedia.

Among her many famous quotes is this one: "If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman."

Before she died, Thatcher requested that John 14:1-2 be read at her funeral. The verses, quoting Jesus, read in the NKJV: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

'I Vow to Thee, My Country' was written by Ce­cil A. Spring-Rice in 1918 and Gus­tav T. Holst composed the music.

Here are the words to 'I Vow to Thee, My Country':

"I vow to thee, my country -- all earthly things above --
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

And there's another country, I've heard of long ago --
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace."