Norwegian Emigrant Prayer

I was intrigued when I first came across a mention of an old emigrant prayer, written aboard a sailing ship at the beginning of the great nineteenth century migration of Norwegians to America.  The inspiring lines from the end of the prayer read:  "...Should all things [...] perish, fleeting as a shooting star, O God, let not the ties break that bind me to the North."  This excerpt seemed an appropriate way to begin an introduction to a Norwegian family history I was writing at the time.

Curiosity and a recent request for help in finding the prayer in its entirety led me to an English translation in a book by Theodore C. Blegen (1891-1969), a renowned American historian and author known for his research in Norwegian-American studies.  In 1936, Blegen published "Norwegian Emigrant Songs and Ballads" with the University of Minnesota Press.  Included is the prayer in its original Norwegian text, along with an English translation by Blegen's co-author, Martin B. Ruud (1885-1941).  Ruud had published an English translation of the prayer several years earlier in Norwegian-American Studies and Records, 2:(13-14).

Authors Blegen and Ruud explain that the original poem was signed "Chr. H.," as it was published in the July 19, 1846 issue of Morgenbladet, a daily out of Oslo (then Christiana), Norway.  The author of the prayer was determined to be Christian Hansen, who was Danish by birth.  He had resided in Norway for several years when he sailed across the Atlantic to his prospective new home in America.  His wife and son remained behind for an undetermined period of time.  This was a common practice, especially during the beginning of the wave of Norwegian emigration.  Males of the family often traveled alone to America and sought to find work and set up a household before arranging to have wives, children, and/or elders join them on a permanent basis.  Doing otherwise would have seemed irresponsible.

Hansen wrote the prayer along the banks of Newfoundland on May 6, 1846, near the end of his journey.  He was apparently a prolific writer and after arriving in New York became connected with Skandinavia, a Scandinavian newspaper that began publishing in 1847.

Evening Prayer on the Atlantic (1846)

by Christian Hansen 

 

Once again has the sun gone to rest, and another day of life has slipped by.  No one may halt the hurrying hours; no one may bid Time stay.  Oh, but ere night spreads its cool wings over the dark waters my thoughts shall ascend, silent, full of gratitude, to Heaven and to God:  Merciful Father, Thou who hast summoned earth and sea from the deeps of chaos; Thou who dost forgive each fallen sinner and never askest "Who?' or 'Why?'  Thou, unchanging forever and ever, Thou who dost bless the penitent child; Everlasting Trunk of the Tree of Life, at the foot of Thy Throne I offer my prayer:

Far toward the North, where the darkling spruce covers the mountains, there have I [built] my humble cot; poor, aye, poor because of me, O God.  And there have I left behind me in grief and suffering her, the jewel of my earthly life; but with the hope, O God, that in days to come, I shall clasp once more my beloved wife.

O Thou who searchest each human heart, Thou who hast given us life, O Father in Heaven, here in grief and anguish I pray that Thou wilt watch over my humble home.  Home!  that dost keep my only treasure, all that I cherish, for thee I pray.  Bless them, O God, the loved ones at home, wife and son, bound to me in bonds of blood and affection.  Bless, too, all those who have befriended me and who have reached me a helping hand!

Night has fallen; the evening breezes hurry our ship toward a foreign shore.  But the ties that bind me to home fire my courage and strengthen my soul.  Should all things else perish--fleeting as a shooting star--O God, let not the ties break that bind me to the North."

Although the editor of Morgenbladet published Hansen's prayer as a piece of interest, it was interpreted in an unforgiving manner.  This attitude was perhaps typical of many Norwegians who remained in the home country and viewed emigration, at least during the early years, as a betrayal of sorts.  Even so, many Norwegians felt compelled to leave for economic opportunities and land ownership that could not be obtained in their homeland.  Blegen writes:  "Though the editor of Morgenbladet published this poem, which seems to be wrung from the anguish of an emigrant's heart, he steels himself against the poet's plea.  He interprets it most unfavorably and takes pains to say that the acceptance of it does not mean that he believes that offenses against public order or family peace should be forgiven or forgotten merely because the offender reveals a momentary regret and humility."

Although emigration from Norway to North America began more slowly than in some other countries, Norway lost a greater percentage of its population through emigration, nearly one million from 1820-1920.  Over time, as more and more Norwegians caught "America Fever" and bade farewell to relatives and acquaintances, the idea of emigration became more normalized and was treated with less disdain.

 

Sources:

Blegen, Theodore and Martin C. Ruud.  Norwegian Emigrant Songs and Ballads (Minneapolis:  University of Minnesota Press), 1936:  114-118.

 "Immigration and Relocation in U.S. History:  The Norwegians."  Library of Congress Classroom Materials, https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/scandinavian/the-norwegians/ (accessed February 14, 2021).