I know many people in this group have a problem with organised religion- but 
I have been thinking about this hymn in the last couple of days. It started 
with a question in an entirely different group asking people what was their 
favourite hymn.

As I come from a fishing community this was a prominent hymn. There is 
something very visceral, a tremor that runs right up your spine, hearing 
people at a funeral for somebody who has drowned singing:-

"Oh hear us when we call to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!"

On the 21st of January 1970 the Fraserburgh Lifeboat capsized with the loss 
of 5 of her 6 crew. This was the second time in less that 20 years that the 
Broch boat had been lost.

http://www.rnli.org.uk/rnli_near_you/scotland/stations/FraserburghGrampian/history

Radio Scotland is doing a series called "Breaking News" where they interview 
a prominent Scottish journalist every week about his/her experiences in the 
media. I sometimes hear part of it if I am driving at the time. A few weeks 
ago the man being interviewed spoke about the loss of the Fraserburgh 
lifeboat as being one of the defining periods of his career, and indeed his 
life. He gave a special mention to how emotional it was to hear "Eternal 
Father..." being sung by the local community.

On looking it up while thinking about writing this I see it has a special 
resonance for both the Royal Navy and the US Navy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Father,_Strong_to_Save

I guess the power of the sea, and the desire for protection from it, is 
something all those who are familiar with it are well aware of.

Neb

"Nebulous"  wrote in message 
news:g4qbt8$19fj$1@energise.enta.net...
>I know many people in this group have a problem with organised religion- 
>but

snip>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Sorry folks sent this to the wrong group by mistake. It was intended for 
Soc.Culture.Scottish.

Neb

Nebulous said the following on 06/07/2008 12:59:
> "Nebulous"  wrote in message 
> news:g4qbt8$19fj$1@energise.enta.net...
>> I know many people in this group have a problem with organised religion- 
>> but
> 
> snip>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> 
> Sorry folks sent this to the wrong group by mistake. It was intended for 
> Soc.Culture.Scottish.
> 
> Neb 
> 
> 

I thought it was a bit up-market for the average troll on this group!

Roy

"Nebulous"  wrote in message 
news:g4qc2p$19o1$1@energise.enta.net...
>
> "Nebulous"  wrote in message 
> news:g4qbt8$19fj$1@energise.enta.net...
>>I know many people in this group have a problem with organised religion- 
>>but
>
> snip>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> Sorry folks sent this to the wrong group by mistake. It was intended for 
> Soc.Culture.Scottish.
>
> Neb

Well I enjoyed it - and I know just what you mean about the spine-chilling. 
I don't need to be at a funeral to feel that when I hear the hymn.

Our children's high school put on a wonderful performance of Noye's Fludde 
many years ago, Britten's arrangment on that hymn made it even more 
emotional.

Thanks, I wish I were in the right part of the world.

Mary
>
>