Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-04-21
OLD HUNDRED.

In rustic church opposite, while we
write, a compahy Of Wouhippen are
singing the old hymn, BE thou o God
exalted high The air is old, also the
immortal cid hundred.
II be true that Luther composed
that hymn, and il the worship Of m.rtals
Is carried on the wings Of angels to hea.
ven, how often has he heard the declara-
ton They are singing old hundred now.
The solemn strain carries us back to the
times Of the Reformen-Luther and his
devoted band. He doubtless was the
first to strike the grand ole chords in
the public sanctuary Of his own faithful
Germany.
From his stentOrisn lungs they rolled,
vibrating not through vaulted cathedral
roof, but alOBga grander arch, the etsr-
nal heavens. He wrought into each note
his own sublime faith, and stamped it with
that faiths Immortality. Hence it can.
not die. Neither men nor argels will let
it pass into oblivion.
The blue.eyed girls Of the old faderland
sang those same strains with all the enthu-
siasm Of a new and better religion. They
had been bound down TO priest, prayer.
book and rosary. They bad raisel ado.
ring eyes to the spsnglOd image of the
Virgin, and bent unblushingly before
the carved sembIance of the saviour Of
sinners.
They had knelt at the dark confessional
and placing their lips to its eunningly
wrought portals, told the choicest and
most sinful emotions to their father con
fesSor whom, sometimes, they feared more
than they feared God But Luther in
the face of the fathers, had thrown
down his rosary, and refused TO acknowl-
edge any intercessor save Christ. Luther
had as il we're nailed bis anathemss over
the door Of The confessional. He had
laughed to scorn the holy relics, pretend
ed miracles, and saving power Of the priest
hood, and with daring, burning eloquence.
denounced their sensuality and idoatry.-
First the mother head, and then the
maids. They went to listen, and remain
ed to pray, aye, to sing with throbbing
hearts and tearfu! eyes, praise God from
whom all blessings fow.'
Can you fud tomb in the land where
sealed lips lay that have not sung that
tune If they we're grey old men they
had heard or sung old hundred. If they
we're babes they smiled as their mothers
rocked them to sleep singing old hundred
Sinner and saint have joined with the
countless congregations where it has, with
and without pealiug organ. sounded on sa,
cred air.
The dear little children, looking with
wondering eyes on this strange world
have lisped it. The sweet young girl,
whose tombstone told of but sixteen sum.
mers-sbe whose pure AMI innocent face
haunted you with its mild beauty--loved
Old Hundred, and as she sang it, closed
her ewes and seemed communiug with an
gels, who were so soon to claim her,
He whose manhood was devoted to the
service of his God, and who with faltering
feet assembled the pulpit. with white hand
placed over his laboring breast, loved Old
Hundred. And though sometimes his
lips ouly moved, away down in bis heart,
so soon to cease its throbs, the holy melo
dy was sounding The dear white head
ed father, with his trenulous voice-how
he loved Old Huudred. Do you see him
now sitting in the venerable arm chair,
his hands crossed over the top of his cane,
bis slvery locks floating off bis hollow tenn
pies. and a tear perchance stealing down
bis funowed cheeks as the noble strains
peel out. Do you hear that Thin, quiver-
ing, saltering sound, nov bursting forth.
new listened for, almost in vain? If you
do not, we do; and from such lips, hallow-
ed by four score years service iu the Mas
ter's cause, Old Hunded sounds indeed a
sacred melody.
You may fill your church choirs with
Sabbath prima donnas, whose darling
notes emulate the steeple aud cost almost
as much, but give us the spirit stirring tones
of the Lutheran hymn sung by young
and oldtogether. Martyrs have hsllowed
TIT has gone up from the dying bed of
the Saints. The old churches, where gen
erations after generation has worsbipped.
and where many scores of. the dear dead
have been carried, and laid before tie al.
ter where they gave themselves ts God,
seem to breathe of Old Hundred from yes
tibu!e to tower top-the very air is haunt
ed with its spirit.
Think for moment Of the assembled
company who have at different sstrmes and
places, Joined in the familiar tune. Throng
upon throng--the strong the timid-the
gentle the brave-with the inspiration of
heavenly sounds,
The Devil a Democrat"
One ofthe most Gncompromising Dem