Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-05-27
" Old Hundred y

In rustic old church opposite, while we
write, q company of worshipers are singing
the old, old hymn Be thou, o God, exal-
ted high" The air as old also, the immor-
tai cod hundred"
If it be true that Luther composed that
tune, and if the worship of immortals is
carried on the wings of angels to heaven,
how often has he heard the declaration.
4" They are singing Old Hundred now.
The solemn strains carries US back to the
times of the eformers-Luther and his de-
voted hand. He, doubtless, was the first to
strike the grand old chords in the public
sanctuary of his own Germany. From his
own stentorian lungs they rolled, vibrating
not through vaulted cathedral roof, but along
a grander arch, the eternal heavens. He
wrought into each pote his own sublime ia 18th,
and stamped it with that faiths Immortality.
Hence it cannot die Neither men nor
angels will let it pass into oblivion.
Can you find a tomb in the lards where
sealed lips lay that have not sung that tune
If they were gray old men, they had heard
or sung Old Hundred" IF they were
babes they smiled as their mothers rocked
them to sleep, singing" Old Hundred" Sim
ner and saint have Joined with the endless
congregations where it has, with and without
the pealing organ, sounded on sacred air.
The dear little children, looking with Won
dering eyes ON this strange world have lisped
it. The sweet young girl whose tombstone
told of sixteen summers, she whose pure and
limo cent face haunted you with its mild
beauty, loved" Old Hundred" and as she
sung it, closed her eyes and seemed comihun-
ing with the angels who were so soon to
claim her. He whose manhood was devoted
to the service of his God, and who with fall
toring steps assembled the pulpit stairs with
white hand placed over his laboring breast,
loved L" Old Hundred And though some
times his lips only moved, away down in his
heart, so soon to cease its throbs, the holy
melody was sounding. The dear white
headed father, with his tremulous voice how
he lovtd g Old Hundred Do you Sc him
now, sitting in the venerable armchair, his
arm crossed over the top of his cane. his sill
very locks floating off from his hollow tenn
Piles, and tear, perc ance, stealing down
his furrowed cheeks, as the noble strains
ring out. Do you hear that thin, quivering
fatering sound, now bursting forth, now
listened for, almost in vain If you do
not, we do and from such lips, hallowed
by four.score years service in the Masters
cause " Old Hundred sounds indeed sa-
cred melody.
You may Gil your churches with choirs,
with Sabbath prima donnas, whose daring
notes emulate the steeple and cost almost as
much, but give us the spirt-stirriug tones Of
the Lutheran hymn, sung by young and old
together. Martyrs have hallowad it 4; it has
gone up from the dying beds of the saints
The old churches, where generation after gen.
GRAFTON has worshiped and where many
scores of the dear dead have been carried
and laid before the alter where they gave
themselves to God, seem to breathe OF " Ole
Hundred from vestibule to tower-top-the
cry air is haunted with its spirit.
Think for moment of the assembled COM
pany who have at different times and ii
different places, Joined in the familiar tune
Throug upon ;hrong-the stern, tmid, the
gentle, the brave, the beautiful, their rapt
faces all beaming with the inspiration of the
heavenly sounds !
"Old Hundred " king of the sacred banc
of ancient airs Never shall our ears grow
weary of hearing, or our ton rue OF singing
thee and when we get to heaven, wht
knows but what the first triumphal strait
that welcomes US may be,
" Be thou o God, exalted high"