THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
Sir, —The "Spectator’s” criticism of the words of the National Anthem is not the first that has been made. The "Children’s Encyclopedia,” edited by Arthur Mee, says: “The British National Anthem ... is not poetry, and the second verse is mere doggerel, hot far removed from blasphemy, and quite unworthy of a great nation.... The music, which has a massive plainness, was composed by Dr. John Bull, organist to Queen Elizabeth and James I."
Of Bracken’s “God Defend New Zealand” the writer says: “National hymns are seldom a high form of poetry. They have an air of Jieing manufactured for the purpose. Our own National Anthem is such a bad example that only two verses of it are usually sung. This from New Zealand is irreproachable In sentiment, and a fair specimen of hymn-making for a special occasion.”—Yours, etc., A. Match 3. 1952.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26671, 4 March 1952, Page 5
Word Count
145THE NATIONAL ANTHEM Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26671, 4 March 1952, Page 5
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