Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-04-01

struments. With this sort of spirit
abroad in Methodism, it is not to be
wondered at that choirs sang without
musical accompaniment. The turiing-
fork served in best trained musical
circles TO pitch the tune" I have ac-
tually known in those days as many
as three attempts to pitch a tune"
or get the right meter to a hymn, and
all OF them fail. One man in despera-
ton, as well persistence, went out be-
hind the church, whistled his tune ur-
til he got il, then came up the church
aisle whistling and beating time, and
taking his seat, proceeded with the
music OF the sanctuary. But Prof
Jake Reinhart did not have to resort
to this. Pretty much all things are
valuable only by comparison. But al,
the tins | heard the Unionville choir
sing in the old Methodist Church !
thought had never heard such ger
feet music.
The following circumstance &C.
Cured at this Unionville Church in
the days Of my mothers youth. Tho
presiding elder was conducting SER
vice and a great crowd was in the
church and in the church yard. The
elder in an exuberance of feeling ask
ed the choir in the gallery to sing to
the hymn, "Alas, and did my Savior
bleed" to the chorus, "WeIl all be
gathered home" There was much
whispering and commotion in the
choir, and at last the leader in despera-
ton called out to the preacher: at
won't GO But the preacher, not dis
mayed, replied, "lf YOU can't sing it, !
can" Now, those who understan5
the beats in music and recall the tune
OF this oldtime chorus, will ap-
preciate the difficulty the choir leader
would have had to sing the hymn an
nounced to the chorus requested. All
was plain sailing in the first line, but
storms and waves would be met in the
second. But the determined presid-
ing elder launched forth, and this is
what he made Of it:
"Alas, and did my Savior bleed,
Well all be gathered home;
And did my Sovereign die-wy-wy,
Well all be gathered home"
BY the time he had thus sung his
| first stanza the audience was in
parOxysms of laughter, and the elder
concluded that it "wouldn't 60" and
suggested that the audience "sing a
more familiar tune"
1t was in this old church that nv
grandfather, John Kephart, who was
in the early days pillar in the church
an, whose home was tie preachers
main stopping place, gave in a remark
able experience at a love-feast on 3
quarterly meeting occasion He was
very tall, slim, straight man, resem-
bling both Henry Clay and the pictures
we now have Of Uncle Sam. He was
sure TO say things as no one else said
them, and was known for miles aroun
as incisive in his sarcasm and sure
70 hit the bulls eye in his criticisms.
Standing at the close Of long life
and with humidity he said: "When '
was younger ! had ambition to secure
a high place in heaven. But in m,
life | have backslid, and foreslid, and
al other kinds of slid so much that |
now stand as a poor sinner save6
by grace"
The love-feast of old-time Meth
odism suggests something that has
now practically gone out of use, at
least in its picturesque features. The
quarterly meeting occasions, when the
presiding elder would pay his visits
were times of great throngs at church.
and times also of great feeling in the
love-feast that was held just before
morning preaching. The bread an
water were handed around, Of which
all partook who desired, as the preach
or was careful to say that this was nc
sacrament. The pastor or elder would
then, after reading some appropriate
Scripture, give in his own testimony
and would at times how much emo
ton. After he had spoken, the gener.
al invitation was given for all present
TO tell what the Lord had done for
their soul" While the invitation
was given to all, il Was pretty we'll I'M
derstood that only certain men and
women would talk, and persons
present had come largely to hear them
do so. The pillars of the church, par
ticularly those who could talk to
edification," would one after another
speak. The atmosphere became sur
charged with emotion. Those who