The Battle Hymn of Cooperation

Sung on the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, this song was widely popular throughout the American consumer cooperative movement from the 1930s onward. It remained a favorite until well after the Second World War, for example at the annual meetings of the Consumer Cooperative Association of Missouri, where thousands of members joined in singing the song.

The hymn was originally written for a charity revue of the Consumers Cooperative Services of New York City in February 1932. The authors were two CCS workers: Elizabeth Mead (of the bakery) and Carl Ferguson (a busboy), who won a $5 prize for composing “the best song on cooperation”.

Battle Hymn of Cooperation

Oh, we are a mighty army,
though we bear no sword and gun,
We’re enlisted ’till the struggle
for cooperation’s won,
And beneath our banner blazoned
“One for all and all for one,
Consumers marching on!”

Chorus: Come and let us work together Come and let us work together Come and let us work together Consumers marching on!

It was long ago in Rochdale that our cause saw first the light, We were sadly few in numbers but our principles were right, But today we count our millions as we girt ourselves to fight: Consumers marching on!

Chorus

Oh, the world today is suffering filled with poverty and pain, And the day has come for freedom from the curse of private gain, For all may live in comfort ’neath Cooperation’s reign. Consumers marching on!

Chorus

Oh we know our scheme is righteous and we know our cause is just; For upon the brotherhood of man we firmly base our trust: Let us strive to win the victory, for win we can and must. Consumers marching on!

Chorus

Notes:

“The Battle Hymn of Cooperation”, Cooperation XVIII,5 (May 1932) 91.

“A Mighty Army”, Time (December 10, 1951). Clarke Chambers, “The Cooperative League of the United States of America, 1916-1961: A Study of Social Theory and Social Action”, Agricultural History 36,2 (1962) 59-81, there 72.