The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-20
Ehe a}er2ld anil a9F1r5>
NEWBERRY, S. G.
SINGING SCHOOL WAYS RECALLED.
The Hundredth Anniversary OIL br' Io"'t-
Mason's Firth Celebrated.
rE-or, tho BOSTON Journal.

from the Boston Journal.
Just century ago Lowell Mason
the distinguished musical composer
was born a. the little New Engiaho
village of Medfeld, and to-day the
nIace Of his birth paid due tribute to
the illustrious son. 1t was gathering
which might delight the heart OF tne
famous old man himself, where 'he
children played an active part anu
srno his own verses, and men whoh
ha wes associated with in life spoke
b;s praises in glowing and eloquent
terms. The exercises were conouc'eo
under the auspices Of the following
committee of the Aedfieid Hlstorlcal
society in Chepery Hall: Joseph A
Alien William S. Tilden, the Kew
". w. Hayward, Albert A. Lowell
and J. 3. Hale. ,.o
The programme opened with a , se'ec,
ton by an orchestra composed Oh looai
talent under the leadership OF Pro1'
w. $. Tilden, after which the Kew
n T. Dyer offered prayer. The Ffes'
ident of the day, Mr.. Joseph A. Allen'
welcomed the guests in behalf OF the
society and town, and gave a snort
history OF the life of Lowell mason.
Prof " S. Tilden was tne neA'
speaker. urrono
The children then sang From
Greenland's Icy Mountains" " lio
wood Flowers" and "Murmur zen
tie Lvre.n On the sheets from "nlcn
they sang each selection was asctioeu
- DR. Mason. But surprise was III
store for the audience, for scarcely mac
the sweet notes of the last soutsuErlng
niece died away when the Rev. >. Z.
Smith, D. D., of Newton, the auVnof -
..A,,or;ca - WAS introduced, VINO
ononed his remarks by Saying that 1he
singing of that verse awakened d ne"
train of thought within him, because
he wac the writer Of the Woros. wy
nano mas never been connected Win
itn said DR.. Smith, 'but nevertheless
am the source from whence II spluns'
Dr Mason wrote the music. Inls re-
collie to me the manner ID WHICH L
wrote the hymn America WINE
stndent ut tie Andover Iheolog'cal
Seminary l was examining a "uSi'
hook nsed in Germany when III
Mason had secured and from which ne
cot some idess. I was mucn pleaSeu
or;th the nstriotic sentiment displayeo'
and being in the mood, went TO my aesN
and dashed of, in less than nan al
bour those verses. I did not tnen
know that the air was that OF 'ooo
Save the King that nave s'noe
found out. The words were the
thoughts which came uDrestFalneo TO
nv mind, and the piece OF scrap paper
on which it was written 70" reposes III
my portfolio at home. 1 never tnen
thought that the hymn would become
noted and never drear u nearing IL
anvwbere but near u. v%n home. 4
month after it was written DR.. Mason
cot hold Of it, and I heard nothing
more or even thought OF the nylnn
untiI the following Fourth of July
when 7 heard it sung at the Farh
Street Church. Since then 1 nave
heard it in numberless languages III
London, Paris, Naples, Rome A.nens'
Con.tantinople, Stockholm Copen-
hagen, Berlin, Ceylon, Rangoan' on the
topmost peaks of the Rocky NOUN
tains, in the caves Of the earth' III lacl'
over this entire world"
Mr.. Henry Lowell Mason, OF bos-
ton, grandson of DR.. Mason, spoke
briefly and extended the hearty thanAs
of his family and relatives to the peo-
pie of Medfield.
The Rev. q. J. Patrick, OF Newton,
spoke upon the religious character OF
DR. Mason's work. HE was so intent
on whatever he did" said Mr.. PatricA'
"that when he started to play Ine
piano he offered up a prayer tor alu
to make his piece worthy OF Goa anu
thus he was successful"
The hymn "Hebron,i written IN
1920, was sung by the children and au-
dience, and.also "Laban." written the |
same year. Principal n. T. Allen, OF
the Newton English High School nen-
toned the very famous statement
made by the composer that Cali could
be made to sing" which he SAID, Or.
Mason illustrated most perfectly oy MS
new method. Mr.. A. a. Lowell fol-
lowed with an address upon the gen.
ius ot ne man.
E>ery occupant of the hall joined IN
singing the closing hymn, "Amerlca,'
after which the Bev. \. NJ. Crane pro-
nounced the benediction.
Baby Ruth Ci,ristened.