From Lies of Pen and Tongue…

No wonder this one was left out of the 1982 Episcopal Hymnal. From the 1940 Hymnal, this seems very timely, especially for Anglicans:

O God of earth and altar,
bow down and hear our cry,
our earthly rulers falter,
our people drift and die;
the walls of gold entomb us,
the swords of scorn divide,
take not thy thunder from us,
but take away our pride.

From all that terror teaches,
from lies of tongue and pen,
from all the easy speeches
that comfort cruel men,
from sale and profanation
of honor, and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!

Tie in a living tether
the prince and priest and thrall,
bind all our lives together,
smite us and save us all;
in ire and exultation
aflame with faith, and free,
lift up a living nation,
a single sword to thee.

~ Gilbert Keith Chesterton, 1906

You can hear the tune here.

(I found reference to this hymn in an online journal called Earth & Altar: A Journal of Anglican Life and Worship, an interesting read for Anglicans and Anglican sympathizers.