A hymn of thanksgiving and of the higher patriotism, glorying not in empire nor in battleship and fortress but in the things of the spirit which have made America great. It was first printed in _The Continent_, a Presbyterian paper, now defunct, published in Chicago. Concerning the origin of the hymn, Dr. Merrill wrote in a letter dated April 18, 1947: The occasion for the writing of this hymn was a Union Thanksgiving Service in Chicago, where Jenkin Lloyd Jones made a prayer, in which he thanked God more for spiritual values in our national life than for any temporal ones. That prayer inspired my hymn. Howard Chandler Robbins, Professor of Pastoral Theology in the General Theological Seminary, New York City, says: “On Thanksgiving Day we all ought to be singing Dr. Merrill’s great Thanksgiving hymn, one of the greatest national hymns in the English language.” For comments on William Pierson Merrill see Hymn 183. _MUSIC._ IN BABILONE. For comments on this tune see Hymn 122. 356. Thy Kingdom come! O Lord, we daily cry _Henry W. Hawkes_, 1843-1917 One of our few hymns on the petition, “Thy Kingdom come.” It is an earnest prayer for social righteousness and peace. The hymn was written by Henry Warburton Hawkes, an English Unitarian. No further information is at hand concerning the author. _MUSIC._ FFIGYSBREN. For comments on this tune see Hymn 183. 357. Peace in our time, O Lord _John Oxenham_, 1852-1941 A beautiful prayer for the peace which is “based upon Thy will and built in righteousness.” The author, having learned that a new hymnary was to be published, and aware of the Mennonite position on war and peace, sent this hymn from England for inclusion in this book with the request that it be used with the tune “Diademata.” For comments on the author, John Oxenham, see Hymn 320. _MUSIC._ DIADEMATA. For comments on this tune and its composer, George J. Elvey, see Hymn 118. THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY 358. O happy home, where Thou art loved the dearest _Carl J. P. Spitta_, 1801-59 _Tr. Sarah L. Findlater_, 1823-1907 O selig Haus, wo man dich aufgenommen, Du wahrer Seelenfreund, Herr Jesu Christ; Wo unter allen Gästen, die da kommen, Du der gefeiertste und liebste bist; Wo aller Herzen dir entgegenschlagen Und aller Augen freudig auf dich sehn; Wo aller Lippen dein Gebot erfragen Und alle deines Winks gewärtig stehn! O selig Haus, wo Mann und Weib in _einer_, In deiner Liebe _eines_ Geistes sind, Als beide _eines_ Heils gewürdigt, keiner Im Glaubensgrunde anders ist gesinnt; Wo beide unzertrennbar an dir hangen In Lieb’ und Leid, Gemach und Ungemach, Und nur bei dir zu bleiben stets verlangen An jedem guten wie am bösen Tag!