And “Amazing Grace” was a popular funeral song, … In 1772, John Newton, a former slave owner, wrote the song ‘Amazing Grace’. It is the exact opposite of what we deserve; there is nothing we can do to earn or merit it. (Wikipedia). 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. He apparently liked being at sea and got himself a position on another merchant ship. To start, then, Newton had a childhood that would horrify us today but whose main elements were all too common at the time of his birth in 1725. So. But now another twist in his story arose, as he got impressed, that is, drafted by force, into the British Navy in 1743. I used the example in an earlier post about fractals, Part II of “Amazing Grace: How did a song by a former slave trader become an icon of the civil rights movement? I guess there was some residual fatherly feeling there, in spite of everything. There is never an end to the detail. Now, at age 20, Newton was participating directly in the transport and sale of human beings. It applied to John Newton, who mocked God and captained a slave ship. Period. At age 11 Newton’s father took him to sea on his ship. With all this background in mind, then, it’s understandable that Newton was determined to escape again. Not only does the song have a beautiful melody, but it also features lyrics that speak to all of us. 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. - Amazing Grace. 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. Let's try to better understand it, shall we? So they play and sing it at funerals because physical death is not the end. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1764 and penned "Amazing Grace," "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken" and other classic hymns. Amazing Grace. First, let the Bible define grace. The song also was the subject of at least one book, "The Story of America's Most Beloved Song, Amazing Grace," written by Steve Turner and published … 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. Jesus said, "Healthy people don ' t need a doctor—sick people do. The Navy did not treat desertion lightly; otherwise they’d have no sailors left. Image soure Wikipedia. Early in 1748 Newton was rescued by a sea captain who had been sent by his father to search for John. stripped to the waist and tied to the grating, he received a flogging of eight dozen lashes and was reduced to the rank of a common seaman. This article simply shares my personal opinions, as to why this is so. 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. The song and the instrument became intertwined, and never the twain have parted! Reverend Matthew J. Watts, the pastor of the Grace Bible Church in Charleston, West Virginia, says that for slaves, a song like “Amazing Grace” would have been particularly meaningful. 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. What is in grace that it was given so high importance in the human realm that a hymn can actually be transformed to be so popular in the fabric of human life? But not only did Newton observe the plight of captured slaves; he was one himself. Copyright 2020 The Cherry Creek Chorale Inc. Sign up for occasional announcements and concert reminders. I’m not sure how he accomplished this, but he somehow managed to get himself onto another, non-military ship: the slave trader Pegasus. (Yes, Ireland has bagpipes too.) In the meantime you can enjoy one of the many, many performances of the hymn by pipers: […] England after having been rescued from slavery to the African Princess Peye. Be sure to come back next week to read the rest of Newton’s story and how this hymn by a former slave trader became an icon of the civil rights movement. Would I love to know more about this! I used the example in an earlier post about fractals, those designs that reveal new layers as they are magnified. 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. It’s called “Amazing Grace” because when you understand and experience it, it takes your breath away. Why Fortnite Is So Popular? So it is with John Newton. He “did not get along” with the crew of the Pegasus, so much so that he was left in Africa with a slave trader named Amos Clowe, who promptly “gave” Newton as a slave to his African wife, Princess Peye. Is there something in the music which made it so popular? (The smaller, lighter boys were considered especially suited for this last task.) The more you delve into a person’s actions the more complicated and messy they become. And you can see why. Eight dozen is 96! We have grace periods for paying our bills. The Navy did not treat desertion lightly; otherwise they’d have had no sailors left. Let's look at what's so amazing about grace. There's a reason the hymn 'Amazing Grace' remains the favorite hymn for so many people. I think the main reason is because while “Amazing Grace” is a Christian song — and in some ways, an intensely Christian song — its lyrics are more general. I used the example in an earlier post about fractals, those designs that reveal new layers as they are magnified. Today, nearly 250 years later, it is one of the most popular hymns ever written. The same is true in your life, even if you think of it as rather mundane. So. It has deep meaning for millions, across all races and backgrounds, and has long united and comforted our nation in times of sorrow. What does Newton point out about God’s grace that resonates with us so strongly? 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. 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. This is why grace is truly something amazing and worth taking note of. 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. God’s grace is amazing because it is an undeserved and free gift. 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. And “Amazing Grace” was a popular funeral song, although not written by an Irishman or Scotsman. 303-789-5920 Unsubscribe at any time. The song offers up a universal message of hope and redemption – everyone who listens finds a different meaning for themselves. So I’ll go ahead and give you this interesting tidbit now, since I promised it in the title. (Wikipedia). With all this background in mind, then, it’s understandable that Newton was determined to escape again. And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked (Ephesians 2:1, ESV). For News about the Chorale. He apparently liked being at sea and got himself a position on another merchant ship. Oh man! 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. You can be sure that Newton did not spend his days watching the seagulls or sitting in his father’s cabin reading books! What’s not to like? Grace is what saves you, holds you and, finally, gets you Home before the dark. Now, the appropriate question to pose is how a game can be responsible for enabling such Spartan devotion? Amazing Grace Part II: How did a hymn written by a former slave trader become an icon of the civil rights movement? Some sailors, perhaps taking refuge in grim humor, called themselves “steelbacks,” a reference to their ability to withstand flogging. I used the example in an earlier post about fractals. “Amazing Grace” is one of the most beloved hymns of the last two centuries. It applied to Chuck Colson, who, as Nixon ' s "hatchet man," had the reputation for being willing to "run over his own grandmother" to gain reelection. “Amazing Grace” is a hymn that’s recognizable to almost every American, regardless of religious background. Grace is when you get something you don’t deserve, and then on top of that, you’re given much more, far more, way more, exceedingly more than you could ever hope for or dream of. Newton did this for six years until his father retired, with the plan being that Newton would now go to work on a sugar plantation in Jamaica. Etc. It was written by an Englishman who helped inspire William Wilberforce who abolished the Slave trade and slavery in … 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. Eight dozen is 96! Why Is Henry VIII Associated with the Song “Greensleeves,” and Does the Song Have Anything to Do with Sleeves on a Dress? People love the concept of grace. “Amazing Grace” is arguably the best-known and most-sung hymn in America—maybe the world. 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. "Amazing Grace" is a song about one man's real and ugly sin — the sin of slavery. So I’ll go ahead and give you this interesting tidbit now, since I promised it in the title. The words to "Amazing Grace" were written in the 18th century by John Newton. I guess there was some residual fatherly feeling there, in spite of everything. Be sure to go on to the next post to read the rest of Newton’s story and how this hymn by a former slave trader became an icon of the civil rights movement. A sailor, previously a slave trader, wrote the words to “Amazing Grace”. 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. A beautiful, inspiring story. In this article, I will discuss how that fact came to be. 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. How did we get African-American spirituals? John Newton, the song’s writer, certainly thought so. 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. Real life, however, is seldom if ever so simple and straightforward. John Newton was that sailor. I know this all sounds like something out of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, but it’s attested to in multiple sources. Early in 1748 Newton was rescued by a sea captain who had been sent by his father to search for John. The more you delve into a person’s actions the more complicated and messy they become. It applies to you. Following that disgrace and humiliation, Newton initially contemplated murdering the captain and committing suicide by throwing himself overboard. Grace is so important because one trait is that it makes others around you feel more at ease. But John Newton … It’s like rewriting the story of Paul on the way to Damascus as a musical on the high seas. On any given Sunday, there are thousands of congregations singing it, even 236 years after it was published. "Amazing Grace" has become a pop, folk and gospel standard since Englishman John Newton, a slave trader-turned-abolitionist, wrote the words in … Oh man! 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. At age 11 Newton’s father took him to sea on his ship. Learn the story behind Amazing Grace, read the complete lyrics and watch a … Was that ever a bad move! But why has this hymn had such an impact? It can al… So it is with John Newton. And “Amazing Grace” was a popular funeral song, although not written by an Irishman or Scotsman. Greenwood Village, CO 80155 How Is the Song “Men of Harlech” Connected to 9/11? You are not constantly degrading or putting too much pressure on them to be a certain way (to force elegance on others), but it is essential for truly being an elegant woman . 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. A Canadian bagpiper playing “Amazing Grace” during a memorial service, 29 October 2009, at Forward Operating Base Wilson, Afghanistan. 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. The same is true in your life, even if you think of it as rather mundane. Was that ever a bad move! Texas, asked, “Why is God’s amazing grace so amazing?” The more than seventy people who were gathered before him gave two answers: “First, because His grace is free, and second, because we do not deserve it.” All of us con-cluded that the last of the two stands … Newton the younger was having none of this settling down on a sugar plantation. Following that disgrace and humiliation, Newton initially contemplated murdering the captain and committing suicide by throwing himself overboard. Newton the younger was having none of this settling down on a sugar plantation. Fortnite is the most popular game on the planet. He “did not get along” with the crew of the Pegasus, so much so that he was left in Africa with a slave trader named Amos Clowe, who promptly “gave” Newton as a slave to his African wife, Princess Peye. Its popularity helped increase sales of Yancey's 2000 book Reaching for the Invisible God, which appeared on religion bestseller lists immediately after publication. 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. I know this all sounds like something out of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, but it’s attested to in multiple sources. While I take some issue with such practices, and I certainly am skeptical about Tomlin’s attestations that he had “no idea” his version of “Amazing Grace” would be so popular (it’s only the “greatest song ever written”; it also closes his album, See the Morning [2006]), I … In the meantime you can enjoy one of the many, many performances of the hymn by pipers: And here’s an arrangement, also with bagpipes, sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which my own choir has also performed: If you don't currently support another organization through Amazon, may I suggest that you use the link below for your Amazon shopping to support this site? 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. 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. Why did 'Amazing Grace' become so popular in the US? 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