Judge Orders Band to Remove How Great Thou Art
Franklin Graham, the president and CEO of Samaritan'due south Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is alarm Christians they must stand up for their beliefs or their religious freedoms will exist lost.
He was commenting on Facebook nigh a Mississippi high-school band that was barred from performing the traditional hymn "How Bang-up Chiliad Art" in their halftime show Friday night.
The hymn was regularly sung by George Beverly Shea at the opening of Baton Graham's evangelistic events for nearly six decades.
"If 'How Corking Thou Fine art' is banned, does that mean 'God bless America' is off limits as well? And probably Lee Greenwood's … 'God Bless the USA' too?" Graham wrote. "I approximate whatever other proper noun except our Lord's would exist adequate in a vocal for the band!"
He continued: "What are we assuasive to happen hither? We're going to have to stand up for the religion or we're going to lose every freedom we have as Christians. Call up, it begins with simply one person, just it takes all of us – praying, living out our faith, and standing house."
The Rankin County School District told the Brandon High School band it could non perform the hymn due to an order by U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves prohibiting "prayer, religious sermons or activities in whatsoever school sponsored consequence," Trick News reported. Reeves ruled in July that the district violated a 2013 understanding in a case brought by a student who complained of Christian meetings on campus. The judge ordered the district to pay $7,500 in fines in July for allowing a Christian government minister to pray at an awards ceremony.
School Board President Ann Sturdivant told the Clarion Ledger paper in Jackson, Mississippi, that because of the court society, the board "had no choice" but to bar operation of the hymn.
"Forged in Organized religion: How Faith Shaped the Birth of the Nation 1607-1776″ documents America's Judeo-Christian foundation
Reeves wrote in his order that schools "owe a duty to all students to refrain from conduct which gives the appearance of advocating a particular religion."
"In fairness to and protection of all, they must remain neutral. This same duty is owed to the parents who submit their children to the protection of educators, entrusting that they will sharpen their academic minds."
The judge, whose decision was posted online by the American Humanist Association, said at that place were even more allegations. The school besides immune the Gideons to hand out Bibles to students.
The American Humanist Association represented the student who objected to the prayer by Rev. Rob Gill, a pastor of a local Methodist church building.
The judge also threatened to fine the school $10,000 should there exist another occurrence.
Consequently, the band director informed students they would not be able to perform the halftime testify after months of preparation.
"When I picked the halftime show in tardily February of last year information technology was with full administrative support, but the Rankin County School Board has decided that we are not immune to perform the half time testify due to recent court rulings," the email from band director Tim Cable said.
Friday night, notwithstanding, the community sent a bulletin to the judge, as Play tricks News commentator Todd Starnes reported.
"During halftime of Friday nighttime's game – a solitary vocalization began to sing the forbidden song," he wrote.
"And then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,' the singer sang.
Graham picked up the story.
"It began with just one person. Later Brandon High School'southward ring was unbelievably banned from performing 'How Great K Art' at one-half-time during Friday night's season opening football game game, some in the oversupply decided they weren't going to simply sit past and take it. There was a hum, and so one person stood and began singing. Then one by ane, hundreds of people stood upward in the stadium and together they sang the 'forbidden' vocal – 'How Great Thou Art.' Practiced for them!"
Starnes said it was clear the people idea "a message had to be sent to the likes of Judge Reeves."
Brittany Mann told Starnes she witnessed the moment of defiance.
"We were just sitting at that place and then ane by one people started to stand," she said. "At first, it started out as a hum only the audio got louder and louder."
Man described it as a "truly incredible" moment to watch hundreds of people singing together in the stadium.
"At that moment I was so proud of my town – coming together and taking a represent something we believe in," she said. "It breaks my center to see where our land is going — getting farther and farther away from the Christian beliefs that our state was founded on."
Starnes commented: "Oh what a sight it must have been – every bit hundreds and hundreds of people stood together and with one vocalization – sent a bulletin to Guess Reeves.
He said the "time has come to put an end to their cultural jihad."
"I promise the Rankin Canton Schoolhouse Board will reconsider its conclusion and permit the marching band to resume performing 'How Peachy Thou Art,'" he said.
"And should Guess Reeves make good on his threat to financially punish the school district, I will personally pay the $10,000 fine."
Source: https://propagandaguard.wordpress.com/2015/08/25/franklin-graham-jumps-into-ban-on-how-great-thou-art/