Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-09-15
Old Hundred.

II it be true that Luther composed that
tune, and if the worship of mortals is
carried on the wings Of angels to Heav-
en-, how often has he heard the declara
ton They are singing Old Hundred
now. The solemn strain carries US back
to times Of the reformers Luther and
his devoted band. He, doubtless. was
the first to strike the grand Old chord
in the public sanctuary of his own Ger.
many. From his steutoriaa lungs rolled,
vibrating not through vaulted cathedral
roof, but along a grander arch the eter-
nal heavens. He wrought in each note
his sublime faith, and stamped 1t with
that faiths Immortality. Hence it can
not die. Neither men nor angels will let
it pass into oblivion.
Can you find a tomb in the land where
sealed lips lay, that have not sung that
tune? If they were gray old men, they
have heard or sung Old Hundred" II
they were babies they smiled as their
mothers rocked them to sleep singing
Old Hundred Sinner and saint have
joined with endless congregations where
it has, with and without the pealing or
gan, sounded on the sacred air.
The dear little children, looking with
wondering eyes on this strange world
have lisped it. 4'he~E7Seet young girl
whose tomo stone told Of sixteen summers
she whose pure, innocent face haunted
you with its mild beauty loved Old
Hundred" and she sang it, closed her
eyes, and seemed communing with the
angels who were soon to claim it. He
whose manhood was devoted to the ser
vice of God, and be who, with the white
hand placed over his laboring breast
loved =" Old Hundred )" and though some
times his lips only move, way down in
his heart, SO soon to cease its throbe. the
holy melody was sounding. The dear
white haired old father, with his tremu-
lous voice, how he loved g Old Hundred
Do you see him now, sitting in the ven
cradle arm chair, his hand crossed over
the head of his cane, his siyery locks
floating off from his hallowed. temples
and tear stealing down his careworn
turrowed cheeks, that thin, quivering,
faltering sound, now bursting forth, now
listening for in vain? If you do not, we
do; and from such gias, hallowed by four
score years, service in the masters cause
" Old Hundred sounds, indeed, a sacred
melody.
You may Gil your choirs with Sabbath
prima dondas, whose daring notes emu
late the steeple, and coss most as much
but give US the spirit-tones Of the
Lutheran hymn, sung by old and young
together. Martyrs bave hallowed it it
has gone up from the bed of the saints.
The old churches, where generations
have worshipped, 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
" Old Hundred" from yestibuie to tower
top the air is haunted with its spirit.
Think a moment Of the assembled com
pany who have at different times Joined
in the familiar tame. Throng upon
throng-the strong, the timid, the gentle,
the brave, the beautiful, the rapt faces
all beaming with inspiration of the heav-
emily sounds.
Old Hundred !" king of the sacred
band Of" ancient airs !" Never shall our
ears grow weary Of hearing, or our
tongues Of singing thee. And when we
get to Heaven, who knows but what the
first triumphant strains that welcome us
will be
81 Be thou, God exalted high