|
I would like to point out that your article praising the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and its author does not exactly fit your magazine's position in the Christian community. Howe was a Unitarian—these folks deny Christ and cannot be considered Christian. Also, this song is not a "sacred song"—it was a military march song to encourage Federal soldiers. Yes, she put some words in there about the Almighty but you cannot consider this a Christian song. Jews have songs with lyrics about God but they are not Christian either. Show me a lyric that speaks of Jesus Christ as the Son of God in this song!
In fact, this article is something I would expect to see on a race-related site and not on yours. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion but this is opinion and not even something that advances the Gospel. I personally believe Lincoln was a racist and started the biggest bloodbath in our nation's history but I'm not going to write an article about that and post it on a Christian website. Please keep your articles true to Christianity's main focus—spreading the true Word of God to all people. Yours in Christ.
—Doug Atkinson, Colorado Springs, CO
As a Southern Christian, who is proud of his Southern heritage, it is with great sadness that I write to you concerning your recent article about the so-called "Battle Hymn of the Republic". This song, and that's all it is, is an affront to all who hold their Southern traditions and their Southern heroes sacred. The author was NOT a Christian, but a Unitarian. They espouse a false doctrine that Jesus Christ was not Divinity, but ordinary humanity, just like you and me. This song also does a grave disservice to all the brave Southerners, civilian or military, of that time who sacrificed everything for something they believed in! Not slavery, but the right to choose what they wanted to do, not be dictated to by an all-powerful government.
Finally, their was a time when this song would have NEVER been played nor sang anywhere in the South, especially in true Christian churches. To this day, I do not stand and will not recognize this so called "hymn" even when it is sung in church. Please reconsider your article and print the correct version of Howe and her so called "hymn." Thanks.
—Teddy Lambert, Covington, LA
Regarding Julia Howe and that horrendous production of hers, I am completely offended by that horrible song.
As a young boy in a Methodist church, I learned early on in my life that this song was all about the killing of my grand folks, raping of the women folk, and the burning/pillaging of the homestead. Nowhere in my Christian faith does Jesus advocate such violence upon anybody.
It disgusts me, and I'm incensed that others cannot be more compassionate about its true meaning. It should be banned like "Uncle Remus & Brier Rabbitt" (Song of the South), "Little Black Sambo", "Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn" … please, the list does go on.
If you give this honest thought, would you not agree?
Please be more responsible in the publishing under your authority.
—Spence Morgan, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
I am shocked at your ignorant piece on the atheist Julia Howe and her terrible "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" Where did you get these outrageous lies that you pass off as facts?
That hateful song is not a hymn, it is nothing more than a propaganda piece encouraging the violent deaths of Christian Southern soldiers. Retract your ignorant piece and tell the truth about this evil woman and her evil piece of filth. If you can't do that, then you need to remove yourself and let a more educated gentleman perform your job.
—Terry Crayton, Concord, NC
I never sing the Battle Hymn because if you read the words it delights in portraying the Yankee army invading the Southern states during the Civil War, "carrying His truth" to squash the evil slave states. It may be a peppy tune but the words and their meaning are obviously Mrs. Howe's metaphorical attempt to demonize the South. I resent your article also because my great-great grandfathers both fought on the Confederate side for their states and their homes, which were being invaded. Despite the war's initiation due to slavery it became more than that. How can we ignore the New England textile industry, which depended on Southern cotton, or the prohibitive tariffs put on products by the government to enslave the slave states? Even South Carolina's earlier resistance to the Nullification Act was an attempt to override the tyranny imposed by an industrialized North.
By ignoring the truth behind the Battle Hymn song, your magazine falls prey to the past tradition of regional hatred and South-bashing. You should rethink this position and take another look at the song. Just because it's popular doesn't make it right.
—Dr. Larry G. Aaron, Danville, VA
For many years, until I learned the facts, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" was one of my favorite church songs. A few years ago I obtained the facts about this song, which now I have a strong dislike for. You should study the non-Christian author and the true meaning of the song. The song was actually a Northern rally song, not a hymn. Unless you are a descendant of Abe, U.S. Grant, or Sherman, I feel you should disengage from such a song that promotes the killing of Southerners.
—Mike
It would be greatly appreciated if you would research the history of how this "song" came to be written, since it does nothing but provoke ill will here in the South and it promotes the continued distortion of history. I feel that once you "realize" the truth, then you would not want to attach your name to something of this nature. We must instruct and teach our children the true history of why the War Between the States was fought, rather than continue to print the same old lies.
—A faithful woman of the South, who protects and honors the Valor of the Confederate States of America and her sons, S. H. Dill-Little
As the grandson of a Confederate soldier I do not stand when the congregation sings this song. I recognize the song for what it really is: Yankee propaganda written by a non-Christian. You should publish the truth about this so called "Hymn"
—William Ormond
I am sure that your heart is in the right place, but you cannot expect much Southern support when you promote "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Personally, I turn it off whenever it is played or I walk out of the room, even church services. I am a Christian first but a Southerner comes in a close second. That song is an anathema! Please print a retraction.
—R. W. Rosser
A Unitarian wrote this "Battle Hymn of the Republic" for the Northern armies going into battle against the Serpent in her mind (the South). This hymn should NEVER be sung in our Southern churches or any church that worships the Triune GOD Father-Son-Holy Ghost.
Please denounce this work of Julia Ward Howe instead of praising it.
—A.L. Brown, South Carolina
I would suggest a little more research on "Julia Howe" and her "hymn?" and then tell the truth about her and her song.
It was used as a propaganda piece, praising the killing of Southern Soldiers.
—J.T. Donnelly Jr.
"Battle Hymn of the Republic" was a song of HATE and WRATH against the SOUTH.
—Ben Creech in Martinez, GA.
You have an article praising "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," which I am sure you know is offensive to Southerners, of which I am one. Before you forget, I would like to remind you that we Southerners [were] once conquered and our land confiscated and homes burned and crops destroyed. We were forced to help you fight your wars ever since WWI and WWII, in which I was a Naval pilot for four long years. Imagine how I felt hearing that song as I took off from my carrier to bomb Japan. I think you should apologize to Southern Christians forced to listen to Madam Howe's diatribe
—H. Greenwell
After reading the article on Julia Howe, it is evident that things about Julia Howe were overlooked. She did not believe in the divinity of Christ or apparently did not believe the Bible to be the Word of God. She advocated the killing of Southern soldiers who were defending their homeland supposedly for the purpose of ending an institution that was dying out. I suggest that these things be noted in a future issue.
—Ben Banks
This song (not a hymn) was nothing more than a propaganda tool advocating the killing of predominantly Christian Southern soldiers by a woman that denied the Divinity of Christ (she was a Unitarian). I am deeply offended that a Christian website would praise a song promoting the murder of my ancestors and respectfully ask this article be removed or edited to tell the whole story.
—R. Murray
I realize that you can read religious feelings into "The Battle Hymn of the Republic;" however, each of us knows that it was not a hymn but a "stirring song for the Union Army" just as "Dixie" was for the Confederate Army. Even though some of the words are inspiring, the connotation of the words is not. Please reconsider.
—A Christian for South Georgia, Annette Harrell
Thank you for all the good work you do! But I think you need to dig deeper and find the real history of Mrs. Howe and her song. She was not the saint some make her out to be. I still say thank you, though, for all the good devotionals you give.
—Aaron
| 
