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.. ,·, ... ' ~ ''inistry of

3bth May,

NATIONAL SONG, PRAYER AND PLEDGE FOR USE IN SCHOOLS

Following discussions last October with the various

teachers' organisations, my predecessor established a Committee

under the Chairmanship of Mr. Henry Fowler, M.A. to formulate

plans for preparing the youth of Jamaica for responsibility,

independence and freedom.

2. This Committee has made several recommendations in-

eluding the preparation for use in all schools (public and

private), of:-

(i) A National Song for use on all suitable occasions;

(ii) A National Prayer for use weekly;

(iii) A National Pledge for use at the beginning and end of term, and on other special occasions .

The Song, Prayer and Pledge, copies of which are

attached for the information and endorsement of this Honourable

House, were approved in principle by the last Cabinet, endorsed

by the main religious denominations in Jamaica and approved

by my predecessor and me after minor modifications.

4. It is intended to give wide publicity to them and to

send copies to heads of all educational institutions informin g

them of my desire that they should be recognised and used in

schools as and where indicated •

Education 1962.

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A NATIONAL SONG FOR USE IN SCHOOLS

I PLEDGE JviY HEART

(to the tune of "I Vow to thee, my Country")

I pledge my he art forever To serve with humble pride This shining homeland, ever So long a s earth abide.

Vow now, my heart, this island As God and faith shall live Jvly work, my strength, my love , and My loyalty to give.

0 gr een isle of the Indies, Jamaica, strong and free, Our vows and loyal promise s , 0 he ar tland, 'tis to thee~

(By Victor Stafford Reid) •

NATIONAL PRAYER FOR USE WEEKLY IN SCHOOLS

THE RESPONS E I S : " WE GIVE THEE THANKS, 0 GOD 11

Le t us Pra y:

Le t us give thanks for a ll God's goodne ss a nd the wonderful heritage int o wh i c h we h a v e entere d:

For J a maic a , our Isla nd home , th e l a nd of our birth -We give Thee tha nks, 0 God•

For the ma jesty of our hills, the b eauty of our va lleys, a nd the flamin g loveliness of our ga rdens -

We give Thee tha nks , 0 God•

For the wa rmth a n d brightne s s of our da ys a nd the calm and p e ace of our countryside -

We give The e tha nks , 0 God.

For the rich heritage of our people coming fr om ma ny r a ces, a nd y e t on e i n purpo s e, in a chievementi and in destiny, and for the dignity of labour an d the se rvice give n by e very citize n of our land -

We give Thee thanks, 0 God.

For free d om, just laws a nd our democr a tic way of life -We give Thee tha nks, 0 God.

For the high privile ge and r e sponsibility of Independenc e a nd for bringi ng u s to nationhood -

We give The e tha nks, 0 God;

Fo r our p ar ents, t eachers, religious a nd other leaders and all thos e who in e v e ry walk of life ar e h e lping to pr epar e us for r e sponsible citizens hip , a n d for all thos e who a r e giving volunt a ry s ervic e in the public int e r est -

We give The e tha nks, 0 God.

For the poets, artists a nd thinke rs a nd all who create in us the vision o f a n ew a n d bett e r society -

We give The e thanks, 0 God.

For our godly herit a ge, the exa mple of Jesus Christ and the sacrific e s of our f a thers in the f a ith --

We give Thee tha nks, 0 God.

THE RESPONSE I S : "HEAR US , WE BESEECH THEE, 0 GOD 11 •

Bless, we pra y Th ee, ou r Qu een, our Governor General, our Prime Minist e r a nd other Minist e rs of State, our Pa rlia ment, a nd a ll who a re sent in a uthority ove r us a nd gr a nt tha t under the m we may be peac e fully a nd justly gove rned -

Hear u s , we b ese ech Thee , 0 Go d~

Gr a nt us lo ve a nd compas s ion for a ll those in~ e d and distress and h e l p u s to remov e pove rty a nd ignora nce from our land; and gr a nt U? prosperity a n d tru e wisdom, we pray -

Hear us, we beseech The e , 0 God.

Forgive us a ll tha t is unworthy and evil in our n a tional life, esta bli sh u s in righ t e ousn ess a nd inspire us to work for universa l brothe rhood , we pra y -

He a r us, we bese ech Th ee , 0 God.

Guide a nd bles s our nation, we pray , a nd ma k e us loya l and dutiful citize n s , throu gh Almi ghty God, the Fa th er of us all~

Amen.

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0 ....

A NATIONAL PLEDGE FOR USE I N SCHOOLS AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF TERM, AND ON

OTHER SPECI AL OC CASIONS :

Before God and all mankind, I pledge the love and

loya lty of my heart, the wisdom and cour a ge of my

mind, th e strength a nd vi gour,of my body in the ~~~ ·~~

servic e of .tao ~~my ee'bl:Rtr~. I

promise to sta nd up for Justic e , Brotherhood and

Peace, to work diligently and creatively, to think

generously a nd hone stly, so that J a maic a may, und e r

God, increase in be a uty, f e llowship and prosperity,

and pla y her pa rt in advancing the welfa re of the

whole human r a ce.

ooooOooooo