--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ay, call it holy ground, The soil where…" description: "\"Ay, call it holy ground, The soil where first they trod, They have left unstained, what there they found,- Freedom to worship God.\" — Felicia Hemans" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/felicia-hemans-26950_firsts_ay-call-it-holy-ground-the-soil-where-fi_1960730.png" --- # Ay, call it holy ground, The soil where first they trod… ![“Ay, call it holy ground, The soil where first they trod, They have left unstained, what there they found,- Freedom to worship God.” quote by Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/felicia-hemans-26950_firsts_ay-call-it-holy-ground-the-soil-where-fi_1960730.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/felicia-hemans-26950_firsts_ay-call-it-holy-ground-the-soil-where-fi_1960730.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/felicia-hemans-26950_firsts_ay-call-it-holy-ground-the-soil-where-fi_1960730.png) > “Ay, call it holy ground, The soil where first they trod, They have left unstained, what there they found,- Freedom to worship God.” [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The sacredness of a place is defined by the pure intentions and freedoms of those who first inhabit it. **In simple terms:** Sacred places arise from pure, free worship. Key Takeaway Respect and protect places of genuine devotion. Themes faith freedom purity Mood reverent reflective Type cultural philosophical When to use this quote - pilgrimage sites - historical monuments - personal meditation spaces Key Concepts Spirituality place attachment historical reverence Questions to Reflect On - How does one preserve the sanctity of a place? - What responsibilities come with honoring holy ground? A Different Perspective Not all sacred sites remain untainted over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Holy ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-ground/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) ## Related quotes > [We believe in freedom to worship for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/we-believe-in-freedom-to-worship-for-everybody/) [Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/) > [Freedom of speech...Freedom of worship...Freedom from want...Freedom from fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/freedom-of-speech-freedom-of-worship-freedom-from-want-freedom-from/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There's a difference between freedom of worship and freedom of religion. Worship is an event that happens inside the house of worship. Religion is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/there-s-a-difference-between-freedom-of-worship-and-freedom-of/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Freedom of worship, even of public speech, would become a farce if interference became the order of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/freedom-of-worship-even-of-public-speech-would-become-a-farce-if/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Faith is either something that informs one at all times or it isn’t anything at all, really. When the Chinese government tells its citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/faith-is-either-something-that-informs-one-at-all-times-or-it-isn-t/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [When the Chinese government tells its citizens that they can worship in a certain building on a certain day, but once they leave that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/when-the-chinese-government-tells-its-citizens-that-they-can-worship/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Our constitution enshrines the rule of law, freedom of worship and expression, we cherish these values too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/our-constitution-enshrines-the-rule-of-law-freedom-of-worship-and/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“Separation of church and state' meant freedom to worship, not freedom from worship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/separation-of-church-and-state-meant-freedom-to-worship-not-freedom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Religious liberty is misunderstood. It simply means that the Founders said that everyone in America should have the freedom to practice and exercise their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/religious-liberty-is-misunderstood-it-simply-means-that-the-founders/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [One of the great things about America is that we have the freedom to worship or not worship as we please. It doesn't matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/one-of-the-great-things-about-america-is-that-we-have-the-freedom-to/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [“Mum,” she frowned “if one has freedom of worship to either be a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist or pagan: why can’t one have freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-david/mum-she-frowned-if-one-has-freedom-of-worship-to-either-be-a/) [S. A. David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-a-david/) > [“let anyone using those weasel words “freedom of worship” know, they have “freedom of worship” in China and it is meaningless and it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/let-anyone-using-those-weasel-words-freedom-of-worship-know-they-have/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Freedom of speech is of no use to a man who has nothing to say and freedom of worship is of no use to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/freedom-of-speech-is-of-no-use-to-a-man-who-has-nothing-to-say-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I respect and admire the Mormon faith. And I am eternally grateful that we live in a country where we have the freedom to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delilah/i-respect-and-admire-the-mormon-faith-and-i-am-eternally-grateful/) [Delilah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delilah/) > [The Constitution does not guarantee freedom of worship - it guarantees freedom of religion. And this is what I call America's first freedom...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-constitution-does-not-guarantee-freedom-of-worship-it-guarantees/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## More by Felicia Hemans > [The opening and the folding flowers, that laugh to the summer's day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/the-opening-and-the-folding-flowers-that-laugh-to-the-summer-s-day/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) > [Christ hath arisen! O mountain peaks, attest- Witness, resounding glen and torrent wave! The immortal courage in the human breast Sprung from that victory-tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/christ-hath-arisen-o-mountain-peaks-attest-witness-resounding-glen/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) > [I had a hat. It was not all a hat,-Part of the brim was gone:Yet still I wore it on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/i-had-a-hat-it-was-not-all-a-hat-part-of-the-brim-was-gone-yet-still/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) > [Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/thou-hast-all-seasons-for-thine-own-o-death/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) > [Oh! lovely voices of the sky Which hymned the Saviour's birth, Are ye not singing still on high, Ye that sang, "Peace on earth"?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/oh-lovely-voices-of-the-sky-which-hymned-the-saviour-s-birth-are-ye/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) > [Is it where the flow'r of the orange blows, And the fireflies dance thro' the myrtle boughs?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/is-it-where-the-flow-r-of-the-orange-blows-and-the-fireflies-dance/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) > [A passion for flowers, is, I think, the only one which long sickness leaves untouched with its chilling influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/a-passion-for-flowers-is-i-think-the-only-one-which-long-sickness/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) > [Gird your hearts with silent fortitude, Suffering, yet hoping all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/gird-your-hearts-with-silent-fortitude-suffering-yet-hoping-all-things/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) > [life's best balm - Forgetfulness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/life-s-best-balm-forgetfulness/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) > [We pine for kindred natures To mingle with our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/we-pine-for-kindred-natures-to-mingle-with-our-own/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) > [Alas! for love, if thou art all, And nought beyond, O earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/alas-for-love-if-thou-art-all-and-nought-beyond-o-earth/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) > [Passing away" is written on the world and all the world contains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/passing-away-is-written-on-the-world-and-all-the-world-contains/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) > [What sought they thus afar? Bright jewels of the mine, The wealth of seas, the spoils of war? They sought a faith's pure shrine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/what-sought-they-thus-afar-bright-jewels-of-the-mine-the-wealth-of/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) > [There’s beauty all around our paths, If but our watchful eyes Can trace it ’midst familiar things, And through their lowly guise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/there-s-beauty-all-around-our-paths-if-but-our-watchful-eyes-can/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) > [There is in all this cold and hollow world, No fount of deep, strong,deathless love ;save that within a mother's heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/there-is-in-all-this-cold-and-hollow-world-no-fount-of-deep-strong/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) [Explore all 21 Felicia Hemans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) ## More Firsts quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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