Thousands of copies of a Ceremonial Hymn to NATO were recently distributed to British schoolchildren with the suggestion that they sing it at prayers:
May God who rules o'er earth and sky
Cleanse our fair world from fear.
Let freedom's banner rise on high
And violence disappear.
Build up the power of right;
Bid all the free unite.
Let NATO grow in might
And put its foes to flight . . .
The hymn (air by Thomas Preston, words by Godfrey Lias) was far from music to the ears of the Manchester Guardian, which huffed editorially: "This has a ring of 'confound their politics, frustrate their...