Yesterday, i sent you "Nearer My God to Thee" a famous Christian hymn which is played at funeral ceremony. Today i share with you, "Abide with me" another Christian hymn composed by Scottish Anglican minister Henry Francis Lyte in 1847 and set to music while he lay dying from tuberculosis. He died within three weeks. The hymn was first sung for the very first time at Lyte's funeral. It is most often sung to the tune "Eventide" by William Henry Monk.
It was one of the favourite hymns of Mahatma Gandhiji. It is played by the Indian Army as the concluding celebration of Republic Day in India on 29th January every year during Beating Retreat Ceremony at 6pm at Vijay Chowk, Delhi. This hymn is very apt while the shadow of death and fear is hovering over our country. Only God can save the poor, middle class and innocent people who are worst affected by Covid-19. This hymn connects us with our creator to whom we have to return one day. Here below, i have sent three videos. 1. Mormon Tabernacle Choir USA singing the hymn. 2. A choir singing it and you can read the lyrics. 3. The military band of India playing it at Beating Retreat Ceremony on 29th January 2021. Pratap Naik sj