The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-06-05
SOIu fIundred.''

IN a rustic old church opposite, while we
| write, a company Of worshippers are singing
the old, old hymn, Be thou, o God, exalt-
ed high" The air as old, also; the immor-
tai "OId Hundred"
If it be true that Luther composed that
tune, and if the worship of immoitals is car
ried on the wings Of heaven. how often has
he heard the declaration, "They singing
'OId Hundred now"
The solemn strain carries Us back TO the
times Of the reformers-Luther and his de-
voted band-ilc, doubtless, was the first to
strike the grand old chords in TIE public
sanctuary Of his own Germany. From his
own stcntorian lungs they rolled, vibrating
not through vaulted cathedral roof, but
along a grander arch, the eternal heavens.
He wrought into each note his own sublime
faith, and stamped it with that faiths i'm
mortality. Hence it cannot die. Neither
men nor angels will let it pass into oblivion
Can you find to MO in the lands where
sealed lips lay that have not sung that tune
If they were gray ole men, they had heard
or sung "Oid Hundred" II they were
babes, they smiled as their mothers rocked
them to sleep, singing "Old Hundred. -
Sinner and saint have joined with the end
less egation where ;t has, with and
without the pealins organ, sounded on sa-
cred air. The dear little children, looking
with wondering eyes on this strange world
have li~ped It. The sweet young giil v hose
tomb stone told Of sixteen summers, she
whose pure and innocent face haunted you
with its mid beauty, loved "Old Hundred, y
and as she sung It, closed her eyes and
seemed eommuning with the angels who
were soon to claim her lie whose man
hood was devoted to the service Of ms God,
and who with altering steps asccnded the
pulpit stairs with white hand placed owe
his iaborjng breast, loved "Old Hundred
And though sometimes his lips ou,y moved,
away down in his heart, 50 soon 10 cease its
thrUbs, the holy roeoiy was sounding. The
dear white headed father. with his tTeglul0Gs
Voice. how nc loved "O.d HunGrcd.' Do
YOU see him nov, sitting n the venerable
armchair. MS arms crossed over the top OF
his cane, his siiyery locks floating of from
his hol.ow temples, and tear, perchance,
steals down n.s lgrroWed checks, as the no.
ile strains ring out: DO you hear that
thin. quivering, faItering sound, now burst
ing forth. now listened fer, almost in vain
II YOU do not we do; and from such lips,
hai.owed by .ourscOre years service IN the
Masters cause, ''O'd Hundred" sounded
indeed = sacred melody.
You may I'll your churches with choirs
with Sabbath priua doinaS, whose daring
notes emulate the steeple and cost almost IA:
much, bat give Us the spirit stirring tom:
Of tie lutheran hymn, sung by Young anc
old together Martyrs have ha.lowed It: Il
has gone up from the dying beds of the
saints The old churches where generation
after generation has worshlPped, and where
many scores Of the dear dead have been car
red and laid before the altar where they
gave themselves TO God, seem to breathe ot
+ i" Old Hundred from vcstibu,e to tower-toI
the very air J.. haunted with its spirit.
Think. for a moment, Of the assemble
company who have at different times and II
. different places, Joined IN the familiar tune
Throng upon throng-the stern, the tinIii
the gentle, the brave, the beautiful, ILeil
rapt faces al. bear.ing with the Inspiration
ci heavenly SQUADS!
"Old Huudrci,' king Of the sacred band
Of the ancient airs Never shall cur cars
grow weary Of hearing. or our ton ucs o.
singing thee, And when We get TO heaven
no knows bu. what the tig,t tgiumpAa
strain that welcomes IL may be
BE ,..a2 @ Cod, excited l.igh."