Was that ever a bad move! "Amazing Grace" is a song about one man's real and ugly sin — the sin of slavery. So. The song was used at marches during the civil rights movement and gained popularity among those protesting the Vietnam War. Copyright 2020 The Cherry Creek Chorale Inc. Sign up for occasional announcements and concert reminders. The song and the instrument became intertwined, and never the twain have parted! But you’re going to have to wait until next week to find out what happened, as I’ve gone over my word limit and I haven’t even gotten to the bagpipes. This is one of the many, many times when I so want to sit down with someone from the past and ask questions: “Did you know that this was a slave ship before you joined it?” “Did that bother you?” “Did you ever come face to face with the reality of the conditions before deck for the captured Africans?” I actually do have an answer for the last question, as Newton wrote extensively in his pamphlet “Thoughts on the African Slave Trade” about the conditions on board these ships: I have known them so close, that the shelf would not, easily, contain one more. The powerful lyrics remind us that because of Jesus, none of us are ever lost because God is with us always. You see, we’re all in need of grace. The brutality of this punishment is hard to imagine. We’ve all made mistakes, and continue to make them. There were some captains who traversed all three legs in a never-ending circle, but I don’t see that to be the case with the senior Newton. It is used so much in today's vernacular that its real meaning is often lost. Amazing Grace has gone on to become one of the most powerful songs in the world and favourite hymn for many. “Amazing Grace” is one of the most beloved hymns of the last two centuries. Be sure to go back and read Part I if you haven’t done so already to find out how he got himself into this pickle to begin with. It can al… Just Because Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” Is Lightweight, Does That Mean He Was, Too. Not only do Christians sing it, but it is also sung or played at family reunions and at secular concerts. And you can see why. It applies to you. Newton did this for six years until his father retired, with the plan being that Newton would then go to work on a sugar plantation in Jamaica. Diana Ross Real life, however, is seldom if ever so simple and straightforward. And “Amazing Grace” was a popular funeral song, although not written by an Irishman or Scotsman. Learn the story behind Amazing Grace, read the complete lyrics and watch a … You can be sure that Newton did not spend his days watching the seagulls or sitting in his father’s cabin reading books! Now, at age 20, Newton was participating directly in the transport and sale of human beings. Amazing Grace. Following the appropriation of the hymn in secular music, "Amazing Grace" became such an icon in American culture that it has been used for a variety of secular purposes and marketing campaigns, placing it in danger of becoming a cliché. When there was a death in the line of duty for these dangerous jobs, a way of reminding the neighborhood of these men’s heritage was to play the traditional bagpipes. I’m sure if I delved into this story more deeply I could find out why Newton’s father wanted him to do this; another fractal layer would be exposed. Newton Sr.’s ship was apparently not involved directly in the African slave trade, but I think it must have carried sugar from the Caribbean to Britain as part of the “triangular trade” that had one leg going to Africa to trade goods for slaves, then the second taking slaves to North America and the Caribbean to work on plantations, then the third taking the sugar to Britain. The same is true in your life, even if you think of it as rather mundane. Then there’s the backstory to the song, which contains drama and irony in about equal parts: John Newton, a slave trader, is converted to Christianity and leaves his dreadful business, becoming a part of the anti-slavery movement. (The smaller, lighter boys were considered especially suited for this last task.) What’s not to like? What’s not to like? But John Newton … It’s like rewriting the story of Paul on the way to Damascus as a musical on the high seas. And the beating was probably carried out with the multi-tailed whip called the “cat o’ nine tails,” so the actual lashes were multiplied by that number. So I’ll go ahead and give you this interesting tidbit now, since I promised it in the title. I know this all sounds like something out of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, but it’s attested to in multiple sources. Why Fortnite Is So Popular? His mother died of tuberculosis when he was seven years old, leaving him under the care of his stern sea-captain father who sent him off to boarding school for a couple of years and then took him to live with himself and his new wife. With all this background in mind, then, it’s understandable that Newton was determined to escape again. One of the most beloved hymns of all time is John Newton’s Amazing Grace, not only among Christians, but also among many non-Christians.Its widespread acclaim crosses all boundaries of the belief spectrum, it seems. Let it be observed, that the poor creatures, thus cramped for want of room, are likewise in irons, for the most part both hands and feet, and two together, which makes it difficult for them to turn or move, to attempt either to rise or to lie down, without hurting themselves, or each other. Military life apparently didn’t suit Newton (although how it could be even harder than life on a merchant ship is beyond me), and he tried to desert. (Wikipedia). Jesus said, "Healthy people don ' t need a doctor—sick people do. We have grace periods for paying our bills. He was born in London and after a life which included being press-ganged into the navy, flogged and becoming a skipper of a boat plying the slave trade, was converted to religion and became a minister. It is the exact opposite of what we deserve; there is nothing we can do to earn or merit it. Etc. We all love a good redemption story, don’t we? So it is with John Newton. (Yes, Ireland has bagpipes too.) A beautiful, inspiring story. But now another twist in his story arose, as he got impressed, that is, drafted by force, into the British Navy in 1743. Period. Image soure Wikipedia. (Yes, Ireland has bagpipes too.) The same is true in your life, even if you think of it as rather mundane. At age 11 Newton’s father took him to sea on his ship. When there was a death in the line of duty for these dangerous jobs, a way of reminding the neighborhood of these men’s heritage was to play the traditional bagpipes. The more you delve into a person’s actions the more complicated and messy they become. This is why grace is truly something amazing and worth taking note of. I guess there was some residual fatherly feeling there, in spite of everything. Throughout the Bible, the word grace was mentioned 170 times. After his conversion he penned the words to that favorite hymn. I’m not sure how he accomplished this, but he somehow managed to get himself onto another, non-military ship: the slave trader Pegasus. On any given Sunday, there are thousands of congregations singing it, even 236 years after it was published. But however it happened, Newton spent over two years being abused and mistreated by the Princess, treatment that she doled out to all of her slaves. Most notably, Judy Collins’ version of the hymn was released as a single for the Christmas season of 1970, peaking at number 15 on the U.S. When there was a death in the line of duty for these dangerous jobs, a way of reminding the neighborhood of these men’s heritage was to play the traditional bagpipes. First, let the Bible define grace. There's a reason the hymn 'Amazing Grace' remains the favorite hymn for so many people. It has deep meaning for millions, across all races and backgrounds, and has long united and comforted our nation in times of sorrow. 25. Oh man! Webmaster: admin@cherrycreekchorale.org (General Inquiries). But not only did Newton observe the plight of captured slaves; he was one himself. I used the example in an earlier post about fractals, those designs that reveal new layers as they are magnified. This article simply shares my personal opinions, as to why this is so. Let's look at what's so amazing about grace. This practice was very common and indeed sanctioned by the government as a means of keeping Her Majesty’s Navy fully staffed. The Navy did not treat desertion lightly; otherwise they’d have had no sailors left. But however it happened, Newton spent over two years being abused and mistreated by the Princess, treatment that she doled out to all of her slaves. I guess there was some residual fatherly feeling there, in spite of everything. This practice was very common and indeed sanctioned by the government as a means of keeping Her Majesty’s Navy fully staffed. John Newton was that sailor. He would have held the position of “ship’s boy” or “cabin boy,” which consisted of running errands for the captain, often taking messages from one end of the ship to the other, carrying water for the galley cook, tying knots, and scrambling up into the rigging to help trim the sails. What does Newton point out about God’s grace that resonates with us so strongly? When there was a death in the line of duty for these dangerous jobs, a way of reminding the neighborhood of these men’s heritage was to play the traditional bagpipes. Amazing Grace Part II: How did a hymn written by a former slave trader become an icon of the civil rights movement? Real life, however, is seldom if ever so simple and straightforward. It was on the way back to England on the rescue ship that Newton had his famous conversion experience as a result of almost drowning in a storm. Now, the appropriate question to pose is how a game can be responsible for enabling such Spartan devotion? The words are beautiful and striking, and the melody is at the same time lovely and singable. Grace so amazing is with me each day for this great love I can never repay grace so amazing, tho sinful I've been God loved me so much in spite of my sin Grace so amazing, Grace undeserved I'll ever praise Him and joyfully serve Grace so amazing and love so divine … ‹ https://www.cherrycreekchorale.org, January 20, 2020 , 5:18 pm. There is never an end to the detail. How Is the Song “Men of Harlech” Connected to 9/11? It has been mass-produced on souvenirs, lent its name to a Superman villain, appeared on The Simpsons to demonstrate the redemption of a murderous character named Sideshow Bob, incorporated into Hare Krishna chants and adapted for Wiccaceremonies. Greenwood Village, CO 80155 John Newton, the song’s writer, certainly thought so. At the time Newton penned Amazing Grace, hymnbooks … Some sailors, perhaps taking refuge in grim humor, called themselves “steelbacks,” a reference to their ability to withstand flogging. This is one of the many, many times when I so want to sit down with someone from the past and ask questions: “Did you know that this was a slave ship before you joined it?” “Did that bother you?” “Did you ever come face to face with the reality of the conditions before deck for the captured Africans?” I actually do have an answer for the last question, as Newton wrote extensively in his pamphlet “Thoughts on the African Slave Trade” about the conditions on board these ships: I have known them so close, that the shelf would not, easily, contain one more. Is true in your life, even if you think of it as rather mundane one himself the book especially. Up for occasional announcements and concert reminders, nearly 250 years later, it s. 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