When Dr James Egan Moulton arrived in Tonga in 1865, he brought with him a conviction that Tongans should sing the great hymns of the Wesleyan tradition — in their own language, and in four-part harmony. The following year he founded Tupou College under the patronage of King Siaosi (George) Tupou I, and it was there, among his students, that his gifts as an educator, linguist, and composer set him apart. His Tongan hymns were never word-for-word translations: when an English image didn’t speak to Tongan life, he composed anew around the theme, weaving in imagery Tongans knew. Those hymns remain at the heart of the church’s worship today.
I believe these words are Dr. Moulton's own
composition to the tune
music_noteCome, Ye
Thankful People, Come (St George's Windsor).
He likens the Kingdom of God to the ancient Tongan fishing method called the "Uloa".
George Vason, one of the first London Missionary Society (LMS) missionaries sent to Tonga in 1797, and who lived with the chief Mulikiha'amea in Mu'a for four years describes the Uloa in his book.
"Having a good supply of vegetable food, I was desirous of varying and improving it with fish; and therefore set upon contriving some expeditious mode of catching them, and at length improved upon the method of fishing at Tonga, by pursuing it upon a larger scale. For this purpose, with the assistance of a number of men, I stripped off the inner bark of trees; and, splitting it into fibres, twisted them into a large rope, which when drawn out extended one mile. Procuring then a large quantity of the branches of the coconut tree, and stripping off the peel together with the leaves, we wrapped it round the rope, in such a manner that the leaves formed a fringe round it. This they called Uloa, or a fishing rope.
We then put parts of the Uloa into several canoes, and rowing together to a considerable distance from shore, two divisions of canoes were formed, and each division took opposite ends of a piece of rope, and separating, rowed off in different directions lengthening the Uloa as we receded from each other, with other parts of the rope in the canoes, till we came to the full extent of it; when both divisions turned round, and rowed towards the shore, in an inclining direction, till they met, when the Uloa encircled a large space of water. Upon approaching the reef, a number of men got out of the canoes, and pulled the rope together towards the shore; and gradually drew it up in order to lessen the circle. The fish did not offer to jump over or dive under, but swam round the circle, as to avoid the rope, which tufted with leaves, as before mentioned, swept the water with a rustling noise. As they approached the shore, and the circle became more contracted, the men ran the nets round the Uloa, or rope and at length, the circle was so diminished that the fish were forced into the bags of the surrounding nets, where they were secured, till the tide went down. The fibres of the coconut are so strong as to be capable of sustaining an immense weight. The nets therefore were unbroken when the tide went down; although they had enclosed a number of large fishes, sufficiently great to fill, by this one draft, a canoe that would contain eighty men."
Not all the fish were brought to shore. The unwanted and undersized fish were thrown back into the sea.
Verse 1 gives the image of the people fishing. Verse 2 makes the point of the image clear.
"the Kingdom of God is like the Uloa
Where all kinds of fish are trapped
And brought to shore to be shared among the people.
Let us look at the Church as the Kingdom's net.
It surrounds a country with the love of God.
In the beginning God's word had no meaning.
Gradually we are brought into the Kingdom of God."
This is only one illustration of the Kingdom of God and different people can interpret it in different ways.
music_note Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of life
John 6:63 "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life".
Words and music of this hymn were originally written and composed by Philip P. Bliss 1838-1876. Bliss was one of the most important names in the development of early gospel music. "Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of life" was written by Bliss in 1874 for the first issue of a Sunday school paper, Words of Life. These words still speak to both young and old of the importance of God's Word in our daily lives. We must realize that God's truth revealed to us is never contrary or apart from the Bible. Sadly Bliss died when he was only 38.
1. Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of Life!
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of Life!
Words of life and beauty,
Teach me faith and duty!
Beautiful words! Wonderful words!
Wonderful words of Life!
2. Christ the blessed One, gives to all
Wonderful words of Life!
Sinner, list (listen) to the loving call,
Wonderful words of Life!
All so freely given, Wooing us to heaven!
Beautiful words! Wonderful words!
Wonderful words of Life!
3. Sweetly echo the gospel call!
Wonderful words of Life!
Offer pardon and peace to all!
Wonderful words of Life!
Jesus only Saviour, Sanctify for ever!
Beautiful words! Wonderful words!
Wonderful words of Life!
music_noteDare to be a Daniel
Daniel 1:8 "But Daniel resolved not to defile (corrupt) himself …."
This is another of the fine Sunday School hymns written by Philip P. Bliss.
The book of Daniel is really a textbook of instruction and an example of how God's people can live in difficult conditions and come through victoriously. Today we are pilgrims and travellers in a foreign culture. We like Daniel and his friends, must exercise our implicit faith in God's purposes and leading for our lives. We too must resolve in advance that we will not be corrupted by the world. And whether our God delivers us or not from the fiery furnace (hardships) we will remain faithful to Him. Daniel (3:17,18)
Daniel and his friends show us Christian courage at its best, not merely a desperate type of courage for some emergency situation but a quiet steadfast courage that enables us to live in a Christ-like manner each day.
1. Standing by a purpose true,
Heeding God's command,
Honour them, the faithful few,
All hail to Daniel's Band!
Chorus:
Dare to be a Daniel! Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known!
2. Many mighty men are lost,
Daring not to stand,
Who for God had been a host,
By joining Daniel's Band.
3. Many giants, great and tall,
Stalking through the land,
Headlong to the earth would fall,
If met by Daniel's Band!
4. Hold the gospel banner high!
On to victory grand!
Satan and his host defy,
And shout for Daniel's Band!
music_noteDear Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole
Psalm 51:7 "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."
Unconfessed sin becomes a destructive poison in our lives, not only spiritually but also emotionally and physically. Repentance and confession are always the starting points for a restored fellowship with God. We all need to experience God's cleansing and forgiveness through his blood. Only then will we be effective for God in helping others and directing sinners Him. This is a musical prayer that needs to be expressed by every Christian on a daily basis.
1. Blessed be the fountain of blood,
To a world of sinners revealed;
Blessed be the dear Son of God,
Only by His stripes we are healed.
Tho' I've wandered far from His fold,
Bringing to my heart pain and woe,
Wash me in the Blood of the Lamb,
And I shall be whiter than snow!
Chorus:
Whiter than the snow! Whiter than the snow!
Wash me in the blood of the Lamb,
And I shall be whiter than snow.
2. Thorny was the crown that He wore,
and the cross His body over came ;
Grievous were the sorrows He bore
But He suffered not thus in vain.
May I to that Fountain be led,
Made to cleanse my sins here below
Wash me in the blood that He shed,
And I shall be whiter than snow!
3. Father, I have wandered from Thee,
Often has my heart gone astray;
Crimson do my sins seem to me –
Water cannot wash them away.
Jesus to that Fountain of Thine,
Leaning on Thy promise I go;
Cleanse me by Thy washing divine,
And I shall be whiter than snow!
music_noteBehold the Amazing Gift of Love
1 John 3: 2-3 "Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this; when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure."
The words of this hymn were written by Isaac Watts 1674-1748 and William Cameron 1751-1811. The tune is composed by Dr. Egan Moulton's brother Dr. William Fiddian Moulton and is called "Hope". When Isaac Watts was only 16 years old he felt that the old psalms were a dreary aid to worship in his chapel. His father told him to write better hymns if he could and Isaac produced the first of his hymn-paraphrases which he continued week after for the next two years for use in their chapel. He wrote about 750 hymns.
1. Behold the amazing gift of love
the Father has bestowed
on us, the sinful sons of men,
to call us sons of God!
2. Concealed as yet this honour lies,
by this dark world unknown,
a world that knew not when he came,
even God's eternal Son.
3. High is the rank we now possess;
But higher we shall rise;
Through what we shall hereafter be
is hid from mortal eyes.
4.Our souls, we know, when he appears,
shall bear his image bright;
For all his glory, full disclosed,
shall open to our sight.
5. A hope so great, and so divine,
may trials well endure;
and purge that soul from guilt and sin,
as Christ himself is pure.
music_noteIt's just like Him
This hymn is Dr. Moulton's interpretation of the hymn 'It's just like Him' by Rev. W.L. Stone.
This is another example of Moulton's brilliance in using Tongan illustrations for a deeper Theological meaning.
In ancient times, before Christianity came to the Pacific, people travelled between the islands on huge kalia (double canoes) which had sails woven from pandanus leaves. One year, the men from Ha'apai sailed to Tongatapu to present their gifts to the Tu'i Tonga at the 'Inasi (presentation of the first fruits of the harvest) . In these times the people used leaves for clothing and after this particularly rough voyage, the sailors' leaves were damaged and torn.
When they came to land, before they entered the Royal compound to present their baskets of food, their leader Tuita told them to take down the la (sails) and cover their torn leaves with pieces of sail. The King declared this new dress Ta'ovala (something that holds the clothes in place) as a sign of respect, and from thereafter it became the National dress. (M. Moala p.183)
Moulton uses this word Hulā (Hu – enter, lā sail) likening it to Christ who clothes us with himself, taking our sins on our behalf, so that we can be worthy to enter into the presence of God.
Chorus:
"It's just like Him," to take my sins away,
To make me glad and free,
To keep me day by day;
'It's just like Him" to give His life for me,
That I might go to heaven, and ever with Him be.
Hulā mo Ia ke fua 'eku hia;
Ke veteange au,
Mo tauhi tauhi ma'u;
Hulā mo Ia ke hifo 'o pekia;
Ke u 'alu ki he langi, 'o nofo m
a'u mo Ia.
This hymn appears in a collection of Sacred Songs and Solos by Ira D. Sankey, an American Gospel Singer, first printed in 1873.
It is titled "Assembled at Thy Great Command" and is based on Ps. 2:8 "I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession."
The words are written by Rev. William Bengo Collyer (1782-1854) who was born at Blackheath Hill, London. He studied at Homerton College and became Pastor of the Congregational Society at Peckham London when only 20 years. He continued throughout his life in that position and published many hymns.
The tune is composed by Heinrich Christopher Zeuer, 1795-1857 and is titled "Missionary Chant"
Dr. James Egan Moulton, (Missionary Educator, Theologian, Linguist, Musician and poet to Tonga 1865-1906) was the writer of many outstanding Tongan hymns. In his biography his son says:
"Efforts at direct translation were found to be abortive, and hence this method had to be abandoned. The groundwork of all success was the selection of a theme, whose development was afterwards to be worked out."
So Dr. Moulton's Tongan hymns are interpretations rather than translations of Hymns most dear to the churches of English speaking people. He often replaced English imagery with Tongan imagery which was meaningful to the Tongan people, He also wrote hymns for special events and themes.
In 1835 Tonga began to send missionaries to the neighbouring islands. In 1888 some of Dr. Moulton's graduates from Tupou College were sent as missionaries first to Samoa. It is probable that this hymn was composed about this time, as an encouragement to the missionaries, and to emphasize that there were many people who had still not heard the Gospel. This hymn in the Tongan Hymn Book is based on the idea of these English words.
1. Assembled at Thy great command,
Before Thy face, great King, we stand;
The voice that marshalled every star,
Has called Thy people from afar.
2. We meet, thro' distant lands to spread
the truth for which the martyrs bled;
Along the line, to either pole,
The thunder of Thy praise to roll.
3. Our prayers assist, accept our praise;
Our hopes revive, our courage raise;
Our counsels aid; to each impart
the single eye, the faithful heart.
4. Forth with Thy chosen heralds come;
Recall the wandering spirits home;
From Zion's mount send forth the sound,
to spread the spacious earth around.
'E Sīsū na'a Ke tuku atu, Jesus you have commanded
Mo kouna ho' kau faifekau, Your ministers
Ke fai he potu fulipē to be missionaries
'A e Misinale laumālie. of lost souls everywhere.
"Mou 'alu pē ki tua'ā "Go to the highways and byways
Tu'u 'i he hala pule'anga, Stand on the roads
Foli he vao kehekehe, Seek in different places
Puke 'a e laumālie hē." find the lost souls."
Na'a Ke mamahi ke vakai You were sad to observe
'A e hē mama'o ni toko lahi, how many are lost
'O 'alu fiekaia pē and are hungry
He hala fakatau ki mate. on the road that leads to death.
'Oku nau kei tokoto na They lie down
Hangē ni sipi tuku noa; like sheep left without
'Ikai ha taha ke tauhia a shepherd,
'A e vaivai mo mahaki'ia. weak and sick.
Ko si'i fa'ahinga pani hia, They are stained by sin
Mousa'a mo fakalielia, wickedness and evil.
Fakapo'uli honau loto Their souls are dark
He kuihi 'e he Tēvolo. blinded by the Devil.
'E Sīsū 'omi ke mau 'ofa O Jesus give us compassion
Si'i fanga sipi mate noa; for these sheep who don't need to die
Toe fai mai ho' angi ē, Direct us again,
"Mou misinale laumālie." "Be missionaries of souls."
music_noteDon't stop praying! The Lord is nigh
I Thessalonians 5:17 "… pray without ceasing."
This hymn was written by Edna R. Worrell and translated into Tongan by Dr. Charles P. Walkden-Brown. The message is to Pray Through. We try to worry through in our own strength, and merely mention our troubles to God. We need to pray the situation through until we get light.
1. Don't stop praying! The Lord is nigh;
Don't stop praying! He'll hear your cry;
God has promised, and He is true;
Don't stop praying! He'll answer you.
2. Don't stop praying for every need;
Don't stop praying the Lord will heed;
No petition to Him is small;
Don't stop praying! He'll give you all.
3. Don't stop praying when led to sin;
Don't stop praying that good may win;
Christ was tempted and understands;
Don't stop praying! He'll hold your hands.
4. Don't stop praying when bowed with grief;
Don’t stop praying! You'll get relief;
Troubles never escape God's sight;
Don't stop praying! He'll make it right.
5. Don't stop praying but have more trust;
Don't stop praying for pray we must;
Faith will banish a mount(mountain) of care;
Don't stop praying! God answers prayer.