September 07, 2012

What a Sweet Message It Is!

A wonderful Fanny Crosby hymn for your Protestant gratification and for the honor and memory of our ancestors :-)

A Message Sweet is Borne to Me

Fanny Crosby

A message sweet is borne to me

On wings of joy divine;

A wondrous message, glad and free,

That thrills this heart of mine;

I’m saved by grace, by grace alone,

Through Christ, whose love I claim,

No other could for sin atone,

Hosanna to His name!

Refrain

O glorious song that all day long

With tuneful note is ringing,

I’m saved by grace, amazing grace,

And that is why I’m singing!

I hear the message that I love

When morning dawns anew;

I read it in the sun above

That shines across the blue;

I hear it in the twilight still,

And at the sunset hour –

I’m saved by grace! what word can thrill

With such a magic power?

Refrain

O glorious song that all day long

With tuneful note is ringing,

I’m saved by grace, amazing grace,

And that is why I’m singing!

Oh, wondrous grace for all mankind,

That spreads from sea to sea!

It heals the sick and leads the blind,

And sets the prisoner free;

The soul that seeks it cannot fail

To see the Savior’s face,

And Satan’s power cannot prevail

If we are saved by grace.

Refrain

O glorious song that all day long

With tuneful note is ringing,

I’m saved by grace, amazing grace,

And that is why I’m singing!

(c) 2012 Joyously Saved

September 06, 2012

Antoine Marcourt and the Affair of the Placards

Was there one single first event that turned France’s Catholic majority against their Huguenot brethren for good? Probably not, but the Affair of the Placards came close. The day was October 17^th, 1534. Since Protestant thought had exploded into France there was no stopping it, and suddenly people who had never felt comfortable in the Catholic Church, people who wanted the ability to choose, ignored the danger so they might cry their liberty to the world. How much liberty they had, of course, was mostly in their imaginations. King Francis I took a rather unusual ecumenical approach at first. Yet when mysterious pro-Protestant bulletins cropped up all over Paris and in other venerable cities, many knew that such a thing had seldom if ever been done before.

The posters were not exactly delicate. They discussed certain practices of Catholicism with no sugarcoating and no regret, using the “power of the people,” the printing press, to do something new in the eyes of the world. The Catholics of Paris had already been wary of “allowing” so many Protestants in such close quarters, and now Protestant treatises could be found on every corner! The Huguenots wished that they might bring others to their faith and that the Catholic authorities would “wake up” and realize the errors with which 16^th century church hierarchy was filled.

No such luck.

Instead of being praised for their tenacity in a world of broadening horizons and bold declarations of faith, the Huguenots were censured. The “tip of the iceberg” came when King Francis discovered a placard on the door of his bedchamber, which doubtless led to some desperate scrambling to find more suitable bodyguards. Up until this point a good many Frenchmen, though disgusted by Protestants teachings, might have believed that the Huguenots were basically harmless. After the Affair of the Placards, public opinions plummeted, and suddenly the Protestants were seen as dangerous vessels of political and religious deviance. Even those uninvolved with the event felt the repercussions.

Many Huguenots were rounded up and burned. I am uncertain if only the people involved were treated thusly or if a few of them had the unfortunate distinction of being Protestants at a time when Huguenots were so utterly hated. The man most likely responsible for the placards was a minister named Antoine Marcourt. He could not have known that his escapades would urge King Francis to publish the Edict of Fontainebleau of 1540. This edict punished all French Protestants for the actions of a few. Gone were the Huguenots’ dreams that, full of new thought and personal courage, they could change the world. Interestingly enough, another Edict of Fontainebleau was published in 1685. This, too, shattered the Huguenots’ rights, reducing them as enemies of the state and opening them up to torture, imprisonment, and death.

It was a sad trend which would continue until 1787, two hundred and eighty-seven long years after the Affair of the Placards.

(c) 2012 Joyously Saved

September 05, 2012

Anabaptist Martyrs: Hans van Overdam

When one thinks of countries affected by the Protestant Reformation, Belgium does not readily come to mind. Yet there were many in that small nation who embraced new teachings of the Anabaptist flavor. One of these was Hans van Overdam or Overdamme. It is not known exactly when he was born, but as he was unmarried in an era when many people married in their teenage years, it is safe to say he was probably a fairly young man. It is also possible that he had been married before and thus widowed (being “unmarried”) at the time of his imprisonment. If there is a source that mentioned his age, it has sadly gone over my head.

At first Hans was lucky. He was only exiled for his Anabaptist faith, and this allowed him six years of relative freedom. But in 1551 his luck ran out. In July it was decreed he would be burned, but even then he had already taken the upper hand. He had previously written letters to those who had condemned him, striking out against them for treating a child of God in such a heinous manner. His efforts were in vain.  On July 09^th he was burned at the stake for the practice of Anabaptism, along with others who shared his views. Unlike others, he thought he might jab at his jailors’ consciences and, if that did not manage to save him, perhaps it would save others. Unfortunately that was not the case.

Hans van Overdam was a fighter against the establishment, but his eyes were fixed upon Christ and His promises. In the end that was all that mattered.

(c) 2012 Joyously Saved

September 04, 2012

The Beauty of the Genevan Psalter

Yesterday a good friend of mine showed an interest in the Huguenot Psalms and the Genevan Psalter. As I have always been interested in the French Protestant tradition of singing Psalms instead of hymns, I decided to do a little research. The Genevan Psalter dates back to 1539 and was the brainchild of John Calvin. There have, however, been various other editions, the last one in 1562.

 I soon wondered if there was a 21^st century way to hear the arrangements so loved by the Huguenots. Could I actually hear the Psalms sung the way countless Protestant martyrs sang them? It turned out that I could. The Genevan Psalter can be found online at www.genevanpsalter.com, and all 150 Psalms are included, with lyrics and a choice of arrangement. Each page says when the tune for that particular Psalm was constructed. For instance, the tune for the 68^th Psalm, the “Huguenot Battle Hymn,” came about in 1543.

Each Psalm page has translations and basic information. I immediately sought out Psalm 132, the one that the martyrs of Matanzas, forgotten along sixteenth century Florida’s bloodied shores, sang so proudly. To hear it sung with the same tune they would have used was amazing. There is also another website found at http://genevanpsalter.redeemer.ca/ that has arrangements for many, not all, Psalms. Granted, the Psalms are all in the English language (at least the ones that I checked), and those particularly interested in the Huguenots’ French translations will have to search elsewhere.

 During these studies, I was again reminded why I must keep the martyrs’ names alive. We must never forget the sacrifices and strengths of our Protestant forebears. It is a small thing to ask that their stories might be remembered.

(c) 2012 Joyously Saved

September 03, 2012

Oliver Cromwell: Puritan Rabble-rouser or Man of God?

While researching Protestantism in the 1500s and 1600s I have come upon many references to Oliver Cromwell, who abolished England’s monarchy and introduced many restrictive reforms. Few of the references have been flattering. Yet I began to wonder if he really deserved all those negative comments. So I studied with an open mind.

Oliver Cromwell first rose to fame as a skilled soldier. He quickly used his Puritan leanings to create the “New Model Army,” of the English Civil War, which pitted Anglican supporters of King Charles I against Puritan “roundheads” who wished to abolish the monarchy and set up their own leadership. (I did not include this war in yesterday’s post when I spoke of England having no religious wars, because religion was not the only cause in this engagement. The preference of parliament over royalty was the key element).

Can one blame Cromwell for doing things such as abolishing Christmas? It was not the remembrance itself that he found disturbing; rather, he was offended that Christmas had become very pagan in practice and had little to do with Christ’s birth. Also, I realize that he saw flaws in England’s Protestant identity and wished to take the country further away from Rome’s influence. If there are two things, though, that serve to condemn him, it would be the execution of King Charles I and the anti-Catholic rampages in Ireland. The 1649 Siege of Drogheda would forever become one of Cromwell’s black marks. During this time over 3,000 people lost their lives at the hands of Puritan soldiers. There was another bloodbath at Wexford. The seventeenth century was far from a pleasant era.

I think it is important to remember that “our side” is not always the “good guys.” Studying the Protestant Reformation does not mean that every single Protestant believer was admirable. We were and are humans with a penchant for sinning, and many of these sins were great. Oliver Cromwell is a great example of what happens when religious fanaticism takes hold in any faith.

Although he is condemned for his lack of mercy during the English Civil War and for his treatment of Catholic Irishmen and Royalist soldiers, he is still an immensely important figure in English history. In 1653 he set up the “Protectorate.” Under this authority he was able to do such things as abolish theater (which, in his defense, had become increasingly immoral) and forbid English citizens to celebrate Christian holidays in the old manner.

So, let us take a moment to rate Oliver Cromwell’s accomplishments, the good, the bad, and the ugly. The massacres enacted by men under his command are certainly categorized as ugly, for there is no way to justify such behavior. We as modern Protestants should study Cromwell with an open heart but must never attempt to explain away or applaud his darker actions. Any student of history will duly note that both sides in any conflict “gave as good as they got,” so to speak, and whether or not we would like to believe that our side played knights in shining armor and did no wrong, we must be honest in admitting the wrongness of their actions.

As for the “ugly” category, Cromwell’s self-imposed authority to oversee King Charles I’s execution must go under that same category. Yet his very strict Puritan abhorrence of anything and everything “fun,” as modern man seems to think, could go under either “good” or “bad” depending on how much we read into it. For instance, banning Christmas, as I said before. Most Protestants would say “bad.” Yet, considering that he was attempting to take what he thought were “pagan” customs out of Christmas, and considering that he was disgusted with the lack of praise toward Christ, it is rather admirable. Banning “theater” and “dancing” was actually beneficial in many ways. Both practices had become quite immoral and enticed many Anglican brothers and sisters to stumble. Naturally, as time passed and the monarchy rose again, partying Englishmen made the connection between fun times = good and Puritanism = bad.

Oliver Cromwell was not in the wrong because of his strong religious convictions, which angered many but were meant to promote Christian morality. Rather he was in the wrong because of the festering prejudices that encouraged him to commit acts of violence. His involvement in bloodshed cannot be justified, nor can it be tolerated simply because that era was marked by such actions and it was considered normal behavior. Protestants admiring his strong Puritan stance in matters of faith certainly need not condone his sins. In conclusion, he was a man of his time, driven by prejudice, desperate to do right in God’s eyes, believing the world could only thrive if such reforms were put into place.

He may be viewed controversially, but his influence in English history simply cannot be ignored.

(c) 2012 Joyously Saved

September 02, 2012

Huguenots in the St. Lawrence River

While talking with family about American history the other day, the St. Lawrence River came up. I thought of something I heard once about that place. In the late 1620s, Canada (“New France”) was almost completely Catholic, though there were still many Huguenots who had determined to carve out a living by becoming mariners. They understood it would be tricky at best to sing Psalms in the Protestant fashion. After a few such singing attempts, they were told in no uncertain terms that they could sing Psalms and hold worship services at sea, in international waters, but not in the St. Lawrence River, which was thought to belong to France. I always chuckle when I think of them belting out Psalms at the top of their voices, just within their rights, but with the purpose of “serenading” their Catholic countrymen :-) 

There is a book of which I have read only snatches, called “Champlain’s Dream” by David Hackett Fischer. It says that explorer and visionary Samuel de Champlain was once known for his unusual stance on religious equality. Many of the men under his command were Huguenots. In giving them work, he may very well have saved their lives. The fact that both he and his wife Helene supposedly came from Protestant backgrounds may have influenced his unusual degree of tolerance. However, by the late 1620s, he no longer found it fashionable to defend French Protestants. 

The turning point must have come when Champlain began using a new name for Protestantism. As Champlain’s Dream says: “Champlain’s views were complex. His own Catholicism was growing stronger, so much so that he began to refer to Protestantism as a ‘religion prétendue réformée,’ a religion that claims to be reformed.” When the Jesuits arrived around 1626, the fragile coexistence between Catholic and Protestant in ‘New France’ was shattered, and Huguenot merchants who previously had owned many ships and had encouraged their sailors to sing their faith, were robbed of business.

Many of the Huguenots under Champlain’s command refused to give in. They may have been resentful that Champlain broke ties with them but remained friendly with the Native Americans. The Jesuits believed that Champlain’s diplomacy with Indian neighbors greatly assisted France in the New World. As one priest said of him, “Would God that all the French, who were the first to come into these regions, had been like him!” Meanwhile, the Protestants pressed on. They sang their Psalms at sea and in harbor, which technically was not always forbidden. They certainly had their ways!

(c) 2012 Joyously Saved

September 01, 2012

Today I discovered a particularly beautiful poem by Martin Luther . . .

Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord!

Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord!
Be all Thy graces now outpoured
On each believer’s mind and heart;
Thy fervent love to them impart.
Lord, by the brightness of Thy light
Thou in the faith dost men unite
Of every land and every tongue;
This to Thy praise, O Lord, our God, be sung.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Thou holy Light, Guide divine,
Oh, cause the Word of Life to shine!
Teach us to know our God aright
And call Him Father with delight.
From every error keep us free;
Let none but Christ our Master be
That we in living faith abide,
In Him, our Lord, with all our might confide.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Thou holy Fire, Comfort true,
Grant us the will Thy work to do
And in Thy service to abide;
Let trials turn us not aside.
Lord, by Thy power prepare each heart
And to our weakness strength impart
That bravely here we may contend,
Through life and death to Thee, our Lord, ascend.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! 

Some lines hold eerie presentiments of the suffering that Protestant believers would undergo in the course of history. “. . . That bravely here we may contend, through life and death to Thee, our Lord, ascend” . . . this was a sentiment all-too-familiar to reformers and their flocks in the 16^th century and beyond. Martin Luther may have been a little rough around the edges, but he was truly a man of God and had a talent for crafting beautiful poetry and songs.

(c) 2012 Joyously Saved