The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-12-16
THE STORY OF THE MESSIAH

For more than one hundred and
sixty years men have delighted TO
honor the name of George Freder-
lex Handel. He was not only one
OF the worlds greatest composers
but a great and noble character.
His best works are the sacred ora
torios and thousands Of people
have been made better and nobler
by hearing his music.
Handel had been invited TO visit
Dublin by the Lord Lieutenant OF
Ireland and wishing 10 give the
Irish people, whom he called "a
generous and polite nation" some
thing new, he composed the Mes
siah, and incredible as il seems.
this tremendous oratorio was writ
ten in twenty-four days.
10 is said that when Handel was
writing that part Of his Messiah,
"He was despised and rejected OF
men," a friend, coming to his room,
found him in tears and shaken
with emotion. He so lived in this
scene that its pathos and sorrow
possessed him, and thus he was
able 10 make other people enter
into il. too. A young woman
walked slowly away from a rend-
ering Of the Messiah" with such
an awed face that her componion
said. That Hallelujah Chorus was
grand. wasn't it?" "0h, II wasn't
that that took hold OF me so. II
was. He was despised and rejected
Of men. a man Of srrrows and &C
duainted with grief I could see
il all-the bufreting and shifting
and derision. II never was so real
and so awful as today. Such .
Savior, despised and rejected Of
men,
He was enthusiastically received
in Ireland and so great was the de-
mand for the tickets for the first
performance that ladies were re-
quested 10 come without hoops and
gentlemen without swords thereby
affording seating capacity for q
hundred more people than Other
wise could he accommodated.
Handel was so generous that he
arranged with the director that the
entire proceeds should go 70 three
charities. THE MERGERS Hospital.
The Charitable Inflrmary" and
the Society for Relieving Prison
ers i'm Gaoi from Debt"
The first performance took place
April 18th. i7i2, and was success
from the beginning. Great as was
the first success Of the Messiah,
who, unless il was the composer
himself could have foreseen the
wonderful power for good which IL
was 10 becomel It's influence has
steadily widened and increased
throughout the years, and will
doubtless continue until the masses
Of the people shall know il and love
il.
In most places where il has been
heard many times, the people who
hear il most frequently are the
most eager to hear il again. II so
grows on one that they look for
ward from year TO year TO its rend-
ering with anticipation.
When complimented by Lord XII
noul upon the wonderful entertain
ment" he had given the people. Han
del replied my Lord. should be
sorry il I have only entertained
them; I wish TO make them better.
On being asked what were his
feelings when he wrote the Halle
lujah Chorus" Handel replied II
thought saw all Heaven before me
and the great God Himself"
Handel directed the Messiah
thirty-four times himself.
Some time before his death Han
del became blind, sad fate which
has come 10 a number Of famous mu-
sicians. Still he continued to con-
duct his great oratorios at the organ
He had many times expressed a
wish that he might die on Good Fri
day. On Good Friday, i779, he died
and his body was laid TO rest In
Westminster Abbey. where, not long
afterwards, was placed statue OF
the great composer looking upward