Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-04-30
OLD HUNDRED. ="

the immortal Old Hundred. y
If it be true that Luther composed
that tune and if the worship of mortals
is carried on the wings of angels to
heaven, how often has lie heard the de-
claration. They are singing Old Hun
dred' now.'
The solemn strains carry US back to
the times of the reformeS-Luther and
his devoted band. He, doubtless, was
the first to strike the grand old chords
in the public sanctuary Of his own Ger
many.
From his stentorian lungs they rolled
vibrating, not through vaglted cathedral
roof, but along grander arch, the eter-
nal heavens. He wrought into each
note his own sublime faith, and stamped
it with that faiths immortality. Hence
it cannot die Neither mel nor angels
will let it pass into oblivion.
The blue eyed girls of old fader-
land send those same stnins with all
the enthusiasm of new and holier re-
ligion. They had been found down to
priest, prayer book, and rosary. They
had raised adoring eyes to the spangled
image of the Virgin, and bert unblush-
ingly before the carved semblance Of the
Savior of sinners. They had knelt at
the dark confessional, and placing their
lips to its cunningly-wrought portals,
told the choicest and most sinful emo
tions of their hearts into the ears of the
father confessor, whom sometimes they
feared more than they feared God. But
Luther in the face of the fathers, had
thrown his rosary and refused to ac.
. knowledge any intercessor save Christ
Luther had, as it were, nailed his anath
ema over the opening of the confession
: al. Luther had laughed 10 scorn tht
holy relics, pretended miracles, and say
ing power of the priesthood, and will
daring, burning eloquence denounced
their sensuality and their idolatry. FRS
= the mother heard and then the maids
. they went to listen, and remained t
pray aye, and to sing with throbbin
= hearts and fearful eyes, Praise Go
= from whom all blessings fow.'
Can you find tomb in the Ian
J. where sealed lips lay that have not sun
: that tune? If they were gray old mer
? they have heard or sung Old Hundred
If they were babes, they smiled as the
'e mothers rocked them to sleep singing
q FOld Hundred Sinner and saint hav
Ut Joined with the endless congregation
7r where it has with and without the pea
Us ing organ sounded on sacred air.
10 The dear little children, looking vii
IS wondering eyes on this strange wor
III have lisped it. The sweet young gil
y whose tomb stone told of sixteen sun
no mers, she whose pure and innocent ia
VI haunted you with its mild beauty, lov,
l's Old Hundred and as she sang it, clos
aS her eyes and seemed communing wi
u7 the angels who were soon to claim her,
li' He whose manhood was devoted to t
ny service of God, and he who with falte
u ing feet ascended the pulpit steps wi
"S the white hand placed over his labori
'e breast loved odd Hundred A
Ith though some times his lips only mo-
ler away down in his heart, so soon to cea
md its throbs, the holy melody was soundir
,;d The dear white headed father, with
tremulous voice, how he loved c
oc- Hundredp ? Do you see him now, sittl
an in the venerable armchair, his silve
At locks floating off from his hollow tempt
mr. and tear stealing down his furrow
cheeks, as the noble strains ring out
'-n' Do you hear that thin quavering, sou
I'm, now bursting, now listened for almost
be- vain? If you do not we do; and FRI
but such lips, hallowed by fourscore yea
ton service in the masters cause, Odd HI
dred' sounds indeed, sacred melody
Id You may fill your church choirs W
his Sabbath priima donnas, whose daring nc
emulate the steeple and cost almost
much, but give us the spirit stir
:, tones of the Lutheran hymn sung
lne old and young together. Martyrs hi
was hallowed it; it has gone up from the b
rec. of the saints. The old churches, VIII
AXE generation after generation has wOrst
- ped, and where many scores of the d
'"5o dead have been carried, and laid bel
ana the altar, where they gave themselve
.oon God seem to breathe off Old Hundl
cub. from vestibule to tower-the air
49, haunted with its spirit.
"e Think a moment Of the assent
anne company who have at different times
places, joined in the familiar tune
ther Throng upon throng-the strong,
-eraI timid the gentle, the brave, the beauti
. e their rapt faces all beamihg with insF
u ton of the heavenly sounds.
age 'Old Hundredp king of ancient a
and Never shall our ears grow wear
hearing, or our tongues Of singing Il
And when we get to heaven, who kn
but what the first triumphal strain
is welcomes us, may be