President Reagan’s casket was carried into the U.S. Capitol tonight to an appropriate song. The band played “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The 5th verse of that hymn carries a charge to its hearers that Reagan kept all his political life:

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally …let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.