California Is the Place You Ought To Be!

Finally completing my full collection of books by Dr. Ronald D. Dennis, I was reading The Call of Zion: The Story of the First Welsh Mormon Emigration, (Religious Studies Center, Provo, Utah 1987). And I came across a piece of a translation of a hymn attributed to Dan Jones. It was about California, which in 1848, would have included the new Mormon settlements of 1847 near the Great Salt Lake. Utah Territory would not be organized until the Act of 1850. And Brigham Young was still envisioning a "State of Deseret" stretching over the Sierra to the Pacific Coast in what is now Southern California.

The hymn appears in the 1852 Welsh Hymnal at No. 193 which I thought I had recognized and I found it with the clear keyword of "California." The rest of the lyric seems to fit my weak vocabulary. I wish I knew the tune. 

I now produce the Welsh (Cymraeg) version and the English translation that Dr. Dennis provides in his book noted above, at App. E, Translated Document 1, p. 125.

Pan fo'r haint yn medi'r gwledydd-
   Medi dyn fel gwellt y maes;
Pan fo chwa ei afiach awel
   Un diffrwytho'r ddaer las,
California,
   Draw i'r moroedd maith, i me.

Hymn No. 166, Abide with Me -- Trig Gyda Mi

This hymn, found here, has several more verses. These are the ones used in the modern, LDS Hymnal.

(Gweddi am bresennoldeb Crist) [Prayer for the Presence of Christ] Trig gyda mi, fy Nuw, mae'r dydd yn ffoi, Cysgodau'r hwyr o'm hamgylch sy'n crynhôi; Diflana nerth y ddaear hon, a'i bri, Cynorthwy'r gwan, O! aros gyda mi. Nid digon gair, na brysiog wel'd Dy wedd, Ond gwna Dy drigfan gyda mi mewn hedd, Yn ostyngedig, addfwyn, gyfaill cu, Nid fel ymdeithydd, aros gyda mi. 1847 Henry Francis Lyte 1793-1847 Tunes [10.10.10.10]:     Abide with me (1847 H F Lyte 1793-1847)     Evening Hymn / Eventide (W H Monk 1823-89)     Morecambe (1870 F C Atkinson 1841-96)     Penitentia (Edward Dearle 1806-91) (Cyf.) John Roberts (Ieuan Gwyllt) 1822-77 Tonau [10.10.10.10]:     Berlin (F Mendelssohn 1809-47)     Ellers (E J Hopkins 1818-1901)     Emyn Hwyrol / Eventide (W H Monk 1823-89)     Troyte's Chant (A H D Troyte 1811-57)

Hymn No. 246, Onward, Christian Soldiers -- Rhagom, filwyr Iesu

This hymn, found here, has an additional verse that is not in the modern, LDS Hymnal about the church never changing, built on the rock, etc. Also note that the music is by Sir Arthur Sullivan of Gilbert and Sullivan fame.

(Cân yr Eglwys Filwriaethus) [Song of the Church Militant]

Rhagom, filwyr Iesu
  Awn i'r gad yn hy!
Gwelwn groes ein Prynwr
  Hon yw'n cymorth cry';
Crist, frenhinol Arglwydd,
  Yw'n Harweinydd mad;
Chwifio mae ei faner,
  Geilw ni i'r gad.

  Rhagom, filwyr Iesu!
    Awn i'r gad yn hy!
  Gwelwn groes ein Prynwr
    Hon yw'n cymorth cry'.

Arwydd buddugoliaeth,
  Wna i Satan ffoi;
Filwyr ffyddlawn Iesu,
  Dowch yn ddiymdroi:
Seiliau uffern grynant
  Gan y nerthol floedd,
Frodyr, bloeddiwch eto,
  Molwch Ef ar goedd.

Fel rhyw fyddin arfog
  Symud, Eglwys Dduw!
Frodyr, lle y troediwn,
  Llwybr y seintiau yw;
Nid ym ni'n rhanedig,
  Ond un corff di-goll,
Un mewn ffydd a gobiath,
  Un mewn cariad oll.

Dowch gan hynny, bobloedd
  Dyma'r dedwydd lu;
Y fuddugol anthem
  Seiniwch gyda ni:
Moliant ac anrhydedd
  Byth i'r Iesu glan;
Dynion ac angylion
  Unant yn y gan!


hy' :: hyf

cry' :: cryf



1865 Sabine Baring-Gould 1834-1924

Cyf. Lewis Edwards 1809-1887

Tonau [6565T]:
    ? (J H Roberts (Pencerdd Gwynedd) 1848-1924)
    Caledfryn / Vexillum (Henry Smart 1813-79)
    St Gertrude (Arthur Sullivan 1842-1900)