Thanksgiving Hymn Dedicated to Woodrow Wilson in Apology for Trotter
Title
Thanksgiving Hymn Dedicated to Woodrow Wilson in Apology for Trotter
Creator
Hargrave, Samuel Jackson
Identifier
CS77
Date
1914 November 24
Description
Samuel Jackson Hargrave writes to Wilson in the wake of the Trotter incident saying that tens of thousands of African American voters are ready to vote for him again, and sends a Thanksgiving hymn he's written and dedicated to the President.
Source
Library of Congress
Wilson Papers, Series 4, 152A Reel 231, Manuscript Division
Wilson Papers, Series 4, 152A Reel 231, Manuscript Division
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Trotter, William Monroe, 1872-1934
African-Americans--segregation
Contributor
Althea Cupo
Maria Matlock
Language
English
Provenance
Digital copy acquired from federal archives by previous WWPL Archivist, Heidi Hackford.
Text
#311 Depot Ave
Knoxville Tenn.
Nov. 24, 1914
Mr. Pres.
When I read in the papers the late unpleasant episode in the white house by Mr. Trotter and others of my race acting as a committee, I felt deeply agrieved that our pres. had been approached in an undignified manner. As an apology for my race I have written and dedicate to you a Thanksgiving hymn, which I hope your most excellent sec. will arrange to have sung at the white house and where you worship on Thanksgiving day. If this does not meet your approval kindly toss it into the waste basket and console yourself with the knowledge that there are thousands and tens of thousands of Negro voters ready to deposit their ballots for you again.
Your most humble servant,
S.J. Hargrave Bishop of the Church of God,
State of Tennessee.
The White House Thanksgiving Hymn - Tune, Wilson, C.M.D. Respectfully dedicated to His Esq. Woodrow Wilson, Pres. U.S.A. By Samuel Jackson Hargrave, A.M.Mus.D.
God's Greatness and Goodness Cause For Thanksgiving.
(1) O God, stupendous is thy might,
And glorious is thy Name!
The solid rock before it melts
Like wax before the flame.
By thine Almighty hand, the stars
Are guided in their flight;
At thy command, unerring worlds
Roll on before thy sight.
(2) Neigh dashing winds, the chariot steeds,
Are scorched by lightning beams,
From sombre clouds, whose thunders speak
Thy wrath in copious streams.
Treading the seas' majestic depths,
They slow thy sovereign sway.
Great mountains, at thy dread approach,
Shrink back in wild dismay.
(3) Nations and kindreds, tribes, and tongues
Exist by thy command;
While royal sceptres, robes, and crowns,
Are products of thy hand.
In peace; in war's insatiate strife,
Man moves; but, at thy Call:
For, by thy power alone we stand;
Without thine aid we fall.
(4) O God, what boundless thanks we owe
Thy Providential Care!
May we the riches of thy love's
Continued blessings share.
Lord, with thanksgiving, then, we come
To worship at thy feet;
Extol thy grace, adore thy Name -
As in thy sight is meet.
[Note: Hargrave also sent sheet music to accompany the words - see scan of original document.]
Knoxville Tenn.
Nov. 24, 1914
Mr. Pres.
When I read in the papers the late unpleasant episode in the white house by Mr. Trotter and others of my race acting as a committee, I felt deeply agrieved that our pres. had been approached in an undignified manner. As an apology for my race I have written and dedicate to you a Thanksgiving hymn, which I hope your most excellent sec. will arrange to have sung at the white house and where you worship on Thanksgiving day. If this does not meet your approval kindly toss it into the waste basket and console yourself with the knowledge that there are thousands and tens of thousands of Negro voters ready to deposit their ballots for you again.
Your most humble servant,
S.J. Hargrave Bishop of the Church of God,
State of Tennessee.
The White House Thanksgiving Hymn - Tune, Wilson, C.M.D. Respectfully dedicated to His Esq. Woodrow Wilson, Pres. U.S.A. By Samuel Jackson Hargrave, A.M.Mus.D.
God's Greatness and Goodness Cause For Thanksgiving.
(1) O God, stupendous is thy might,
And glorious is thy Name!
The solid rock before it melts
Like wax before the flame.
By thine Almighty hand, the stars
Are guided in their flight;
At thy command, unerring worlds
Roll on before thy sight.
(2) Neigh dashing winds, the chariot steeds,
Are scorched by lightning beams,
From sombre clouds, whose thunders speak
Thy wrath in copious streams.
Treading the seas' majestic depths,
They slow thy sovereign sway.
Great mountains, at thy dread approach,
Shrink back in wild dismay.
(3) Nations and kindreds, tribes, and tongues
Exist by thy command;
While royal sceptres, robes, and crowns,
Are products of thy hand.
In peace; in war's insatiate strife,
Man moves; but, at thy Call:
For, by thy power alone we stand;
Without thine aid we fall.
(4) O God, what boundless thanks we owe
Thy Providential Care!
May we the riches of thy love's
Continued blessings share.
Lord, with thanksgiving, then, we come
To worship at thy feet;
Extol thy grace, adore thy Name -
As in thy sight is meet.
[Note: Hargrave also sent sheet music to accompany the words - see scan of original document.]
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Hargrave, Samuel Jackson, “Thanksgiving Hymn Dedicated to Woodrow Wilson in Apology for Trotter,” 1914 November 24, CS77, Race and Segregation Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.