Dear Lord and Father of Mankind: words for a funeral order of service
5 verses, 25 lines. John Greenleaf Whittier (died 1892). Out of copyright in the UK.
Put these words straight into an A5 order of service booklet.
Add to my order of serviceDear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways!
Re-clothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives thy service find,
In deeper reverence praise.
In simple trust like theirs who heard,
Beside the Syrian sea,
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow thee.
O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
Where Jesus knelt to share with thee
The silence of eternity,
Interpreted by love!
Drop thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of thy peace.
Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still small voice of calm!
The closing verses of Whittier's poem "The Brewing of Soma". Five verses, as The English Hymnal (1906) prints them; the poem has one more, beginning "With that deep hush subduing all", after verse three.
At a glance
| Verses | 5 |
|---|---|
| Lines | 25 |
| Words | 141 |
| Fits one A5 page at 11 pt | Yes, about 83% of the page |
| Fits one A5 page at 12.5 pt (larger print) | Yes, about 95% of the page |
| Words | John Greenleaf Whittier (died 1892) |
| UK copyright in the words | Out of copyright The writer died more than 70 years ago. |
| Text taken from | The English Hymnal (Oxford, 1906), no. 383, scanned at the Internet Archive |
Hymn books differ in small ways: a word here, a comma there, sometimes a verse left out. Check these words against the hymn book or sheet your organist will use, and edit them in the builder if they differ.
Questions
- Can I print the words of Dear Lord and Father of Mankind in a funeral order of service in the UK?
- The words are by John Greenleaf Whittier, who died in 1892. UK copyright in a writer's words lasts no longer than 70 years after the end of the year the writer died, so these words are out of copyright. This is information, not legal advice.
- How many verses does Dear Lord and Father of Mankind have?
- The version on this page has 5 verses and 25 lines (141 words).
- Does Dear Lord and Father of Mankind fit on one A5 page?
- At 11 point type on an A5 page with 14 mm margins: yes, it takes about 83% of the page. At 12.5 point: yes, about 95% of the page.
This page gives information, not legal advice. Facts were checked on 10 November 2026.