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Song: America the Beautiful
1. Verse 1
O beautiful for spacious skies,
for amber waves of grain;
for purple mountain majesties
above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
and crown thy good with brotherhood
from sea to shining sea.
This is hymn #690 in the hymnal.
2. America the beautiful
3. Words
Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929), New England.
Professor of English literature at Wellesley.
Mentored Robert Frost (not actually enrolled at Wellesley).
Wrote poetry, children's stories, textbooks, etc.
Social activist
4. Mrs. Santa Claus
Katharine Lee Bates popularized Mrs. Santa Claus with her story "
Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride" (1889).
5. Pikes Peak
On a visit to 14,115 foot Pikes Peak in 1893, she was inspired to write the poem "
America the beautiful", originally called "
Pikes peak".
At one time it was "
Pike's Peak" but the name was changed, to remove the apostrophe, to "
Pikes Peak".
6. Place name rule exceptions
Pedantic somewhat controversial English grammar rule: No (possessive) apostrophes in place names (from era of President Harrison, 1890). Five known exceptions:
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
Ike’s Point, New Jersey
John E’s Pond, Rhode Island
Carlos Elmer’s Joshua View, Arizona
Clark’s Mountain, Oregon
7. Music
Music by Samuel A. Ward (1847-1903).
Founded music store in Newark, NJ.
Organist
Wrote the tune "Materna" used in the song "America the beautiful".
Passed away before the tune and song became popular.
8. Verse 2
O beautiful for heroes proved
in liberating strife,
who more than self their country loved,
and mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
till all success be nobleness,
and every gain divine.
9. Verse 3
O beautiful for patriot dream
that sees beyond the years
thine alabaster cities gleam,
undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
confirm thy soul in self-control,
thy liberty in law.
United Methodist Hymnal, 1989
10. End of page