Lord, while for mankind we pray

499 Manoah. C. M.

1 Lord, while for mankind we pray
   of every clime and coast,
   O hear us for our native land,
   the land we love the most.

2 O guard our shores from every foe,
   with peace our borders bless;
   with prosperous times our cities crown,
   our fields with plenteousness.

3 Unite is in the sacred love
   of knowledge, truth and Thee;
   and let our hills and valleys shout
   the songs of liberty.

4 Lord of the nations, thus to Thee
   our country we commend;
   be now her refuge and her trust,
   her everlasting friend.
                         John R. Wreford
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
Seems an appropriate prayer for this period in history. Some hymnals modify verse 3 extensively and insert a verse.

2 Our fathers' resting places here,
   and here our kindred dwell,
   our children too: how should we love
   another land so well?

</idle musing>