Samuel Francis Smith: My country tis of Thee

Samuel Francis Smith was born in Newton, Mass., and educated at Boston Latin School, 1820-1825. He graduated from Harvard in 1829, and then entered Andover Theological Seminary to study for the Christian ministry. As a young seminarian in 1832, he wrote a patriotic poem and entitled it “America” … with the opening stanza reading “My Country ‘Tis of Thee, Sweet land of liberty, of Thee I sing: Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims’ pride, From every mountainside, Let freedom ring!” Yes, the writer of this beloved national hymn was a preacher … and a young one at that. By the way, he wrote this patriotic poem in less than 30 minutes. 

Samuel Smith was Baptist by faith and ordained to the Christian ministry in 1834, then served as professor of modern languages at Waterville College (now Colby University) in Maine, and received his Doctor of Divinity Degree from Waterville in 1854. He was a minister, college professor, poet, journalist and writer of 150 hymn poems during his 87 years. He also helped in compiling and producing the leading Baptist hymnal of his day. He was a highly respected Christian minister in Northeast America. He also had a lifelong passion for world missions. 

The music of “America” was adopted from the music of Great Britain’s “God Save the Queen.” The hymn was first sung by a youth choir at Boston’s Park Street Congregational Church on July 4, 1832.

Stanza four of “America” is a statement of America’s collective faith that has been sung by millions of Americans of all ages, notably in churches and schools all across our country. Here is stanza four: 

Our fathers’ God, to Thee,

Author of liberty, 

To Thee we sing; 

Long may our land be bright

With freedom’s holy light; 

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God, our King!

I trust that you and I can sing this verse, this brief statement of faith and prayer, with renewed dedication to Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and for the spiritual health of the United States of America. America needs revival, and let it begin with you and me. Yes, the writer was a preacher … and a young one at that, but he was right on target. 

Peace!