Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-11-21
"OlD SHIP OF ZION."

Herald.
"oLD SHIP OF ZIoN."
How the Pioneer Preacher Used to
Sing His One Song.
Here and there. once in long
while. the Lord gives some man a
great gift that makes him stand out
among his fellows" said Manlius
Sparrow, the son Of pioneer Mis-
souri, preacher. "A man endowed
with such a gift was Rev. John A.
Clark and the song that made him
famous was "The Old Ship of Zion"
Brother Clark would have been
an effective man without the song.
but with the song he was a power
the acknowledged king Of church
melody throughout northern Missouri
from the middle and almost to the
end of the last century. J. don't sup
pose a person who ever heard him
sing that song will forget 1t because
the chances are he's heard nothing
that has in any way equaled 1t since.
You've heard the story how the ac-
tor, Booth, trained himself to recite
the Lords prayer? And how it af
fected his hearers until they wept?
Of his-the old folks all called 1t so
as seriously as some great trage-
dian takes his favorite character in
Shakespeare. 1t was an event in the
community. Brother Clark's voice
was peculiarly strong and sincere. /
don't know whether he knew a note
or one of the marks indicating music
most likely not. But 1t made no
difference; the wonderful melody, the
earnestness, inexpressible depth OF
feeling-all these were there, and
they could not be confined by any
composer who sought to arrange a
scale.
Years ago 1 attended an institute
meeting at Macon, a town In the
heart Of Brother Clark's area of la
Dor. 1t was a hot day and the bust
ness droned lazily along without in
terest. The delegates famed them
selves and looked longingly out Of the
window. Some one noted the lethar-
gy that was falling like a gloomy
mantle upon the meeting, and he
arose to his feet.
"Mr. Moderator he said. make
a motion that Brother Clark be re-
quested to sing "The Old Ship Of
Zion'-right now!"
"'Second the motion! Second the
motion!'
THE cries came from all over the
house. Every eye frightened. Men
and women leaned forward eagerly.
The scene became intensely animated.
Brother Clark was tall and slen-
der. His face closely resembled that
of John C. Calhoun. He slowly arose
and walked up to the pulpit Then
he began on his song:
o what ship Is this that will take us
all home?
o glory! Hallelujah!
'Tis the old ship Of Zion,
Hallelujah
'Tis the old ship Of Zion,
Hallelujah
"As he began the singer reached
out and shook hands with men in the
chancel, and then started down the
aisle, shaking hands right and left.
singing all the while. Before he had
passed half way round the delegates
were shouting: 1t was impossible for
person with red blood in his veins to
have kept still under the tremendous
inspiration. In an instant the assem-.
bly, had turned into a regular revival
meeting. Glory to God escaped In
voluntarily from the lips Of all
'Hallelujah! Amen! Bless the Lord!'
came from all sides.
1T resulted in the most complete
transformation I have ever wit
messed; no more lethargy there, but
red-hot, lively meeting, and the i'm
petus given 1t was so strong that a
prolracted meeting followed hard on
the heels Of the institute.
I'm the rendition OF his song
Brother Clark always moved about
the church and shook hands with ey-
cry one within reach, and his hand
shake was not the clasp Of a molly
cOddle, let me tell you. / have felt
1t. The personality Of the man. MS
goodness and his love were all ele.
ments that figured in the powerful
influence of his singing, and these
added to his marvellous voice mace
him we'll nigh irresistible as leader
Before this event at the institute
meeting an even more dramatic incl
dent occurred in the life OF the ola
singer In 40 Brother Clark went 10
the Pacific coast with his FAMILY. he
returned by way of the isthmus, on
a sailing vessel. While on the gull
such a fearful storm came upon them
that the passengers and crew gave
themselves up for lost Amid the roar
of the waves and the crash or spars
Brother Clark made his way up 10
the mainmast and held on while ne
sang so loud they could hear MIN
above the booming Of the storm:
Do you think she viii be able TO TAKE
us all home?
O glory. Hallelujah
No doubt she will be able,
Hallelujah!
No doubt she will be able,
Hallelujah!
THE seamen and the Wllu.eyeu
passengers gathered about the singer
and they soon found themselves un-
consciously joining In the song. II
calmed the tumult, drove away fear,
and installed faith in its place. The
shin rode out of the storm, without
the loss of a life. Before the vessel
reached port every officer and sea-
man aboard had learned from Broth
pr Clark "The Old Ship Of Zion" and
thew sung it sonorouSIy. 1t appealed
TO the men Of the sea as nothing else
could. 1t seemed written for them,
and they loved the devoted man VINO
had brought It to them from fara-
way land, and many became worship
pers of his God. The crew wouldn
let Brother Clark step off to the walt
ing lighter at port until he had sung
the old song for them one last time.
It was his farewell benediction tol
the men who 90 down to the sea In
great ships.-Edgar White in the Ad-
vance.