William would have preferred something older and more traditional than "Shall We Gather At The River?" - which, aside from his personal disquiet at the imagery, was barely a decade old - but it was clearly popular, and sung with rough enthusiasm by the people around them. He added his own deep voice to the mix; he did not have the voice for a choir, but he could carry a tune readily enough, and longer than his father ever managed. He gave Hattie an encouraging smile as he sang, as the others sing, their voices rising and resonating through the great space of the cathedral.