THE GARLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 57

THE GARLAND.

FOR THE QUIET HOUR. No. 228. (By Duncan Weight, Dunedin.) "I WILL SING:" In God's great field of labour All work is not the same; He hath a service for each ono Who loves His holy name. And you, to whom the secrets Of all sweet sounds are known, Rise up; for He hath called you TO' a mission of your own: And rightly to fulfil it - * His grace can make you strong, Who to your charge hath given The ministry of song. Possibly -the beautiful hymn "Veni Creator Spiritus" c is one of the finest in the language : Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire And lighten with celestial fire. In anxious days towards the dawn of the German Reformation a. great conference took place in Leipsic, in June, 1519, to which persons • from all parts of the kingdom had been summoned. On its issues the liberty, the religion, and the peace, not of Germany alone, but of all Europe, were suspended. • All who assembled in the grand hall of the old Pleisenberg Palace were solemnised at the magnitude of the crisis. Before going on with the discussions it was suggested that this grand old hymn, in recognition of the Holy Spirits needed presence and guidance, should be sung—"Veni Creator Spiritus"—and with one heart the whole assembly knelt down and joined in the weighty petition which that hymn embodies. Once, however, was not felt to be sufficient. Three times over the deep cry went up for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, i Let me ask : Was that long, strong cry answered? History gives the glad reply.

Byron, the erratic genius, wrote the lines : There's music in the sighing of a reed, There's music in the gushing of a rill; There's music in all things, if men had ears— There, earth is but an echo of the spheres.

Let me mention the name of Ira D. Sankey, of hallowed memory, a sweet consecrated singer. How well 1 remember the thrill in the mighty throng as he sang "The Ninety-and-Nine" :

There were ninety and nine that safely lay In the shelter of the fold, But one was out on the hills away Far off from the gates of gold—

One day in Scotland Mr Sankey bought at a bookstall a penny religious paper, in which he found the words of this memorable sacred song. Dr Bonar (honoured name in dear old Scotia) gave a thrilling address on "The Good Shepherd.' Mr Moody turned to the singer and asked him to sing. As if inspired for the moment, Ira D. Sankey put the verses before him, touched the 'keys of the organ, and sang almost without knowing how he was to come out. He finished the first verse amid profound silence. He took a long breath, and wondered if he could sing.the next verse the same way. He tried, and succeeded. After that it was easy to sing again. At the close the great gathering was broken down. Mr Sankey declared it to be the most intense moment of his life. In cold printer's type the words fail to appeal to persons who have frigid natures. But to have heard the vigour and soul of the sonjj from consecrated lips ! Just read slowly verse s:

But all tliro' the mountains, thunder-riven And) up from the rocky steep There arose a cry to the gate of heaven: "Rejoice. I have found my sheep."

Headers of history 'may remember that at a critical moment during the battle of Waterloo Wellington discovered that the 42nd Highlanders began to waver because the band had ceased to play. He instantly crave orders that the pipes be played in full force. The effect was almost magical. The Highlanders rallied, and, with tattered colours and blood-drenched swords, thev rushed forward and gained fresh laurels for the British Crown !

(), what a gentle ministrant is musio! To piety, to mild, to penitent piety! O, it gives plumage to the tardy prayer That lingers in our lazy, earthly air, And melts with it to Heaven.

Cromwell, too! Please, don't sneer. Don't call this warrior names. In some matters the public conscience is flabby—too much jelly-fish sentiment. At the 'battle of Winsby Field Cromwell's men, disheartened by numerous de-

feats and overawed by superior numbers, were hardly restrained from precipitous flight. Cromwell, riding along the lines, gave out a Psalm. As tho strain was taken un by officers and men every voice joined in the sacred song; and as the chorus rose over the field, keeping time to the music, slowly, intrepidly, the inspired army advanced to meet the charge. Before the united phalanx the ranks of the enemy wavered, broke, and turned to flight. Once more victory proclaimed the power of song! Psalm singers 1 Yes, young friends, Psalm singers have been in the past, and are now, brave and true. And if you live to be as old as your fathers and mothers you will learn, I hope, to reverence and love the Psalms of the Royal singer David, with their grand, rugged strength and rhythm. And more: The day may come when you may discover to your joy and inspiration that the Psalm-singers of the historic past were the men and women who. laid deep and well the concrete foundations of the vast Empire to which we proudly belong. The Covenanters of Scotland among the hills and dells sane: the Psalms, and stained the heather with their blood I day they wear the martyr's crown! Later in life, with fuller knowledge and a wider horizon, you younger peoplo will perhaps lift your cap to the heroes of the past, and nut a juster estimate upon the Psalms of the Royal singer! If, in the meantime, you desire honestly that your blood may pulsate quicker through your frame, read without; delay "The Cameronian's Dream." Most gladly, if thought worthy of the honour, do I claim kinship with all Psalm-singers, without respect to age, creed, colour, country, or clime!

Don't you think the etory of "The Lost Chord" pathetic?

For nearly three weeks Arthur Seymour Sullivan had watched by the bedside of a dying brother. One night, when tho end was not far off aril his brother was asleep, he came across, by chance, some' verses of Adelaide Proctor's which, five years before, he tried to set to music and flailed!"' In the silence -yi that night watch he read them over again, and almost instantly their musical expression was conceived-. A stray sheet of music paper was at band, and he bsga'i to write. The music grew, and he worked on, delighted to be helped to while away the weary hours of watching. As he progresed he felt sure the music was what he had sought for and failed to find on the occasion of his first attempt to set the words.

In a work by Mr Willey, entitled "Masters of English Music," Ave are 'told that over 250,000 copies of "The Lost Chord" have been sold in Great Britain alone.

"I WILL SING" had, years ago, a remarkable illustration in the "World's Parliament of Religion" in the Hall of Columbus, Chicago, which was in all respects the most unique gathering ever held on earth.

There were on the platform representatives of the religious hopes and beliefs of 1,200,000,000' (yes, twelve hundred millions !) of the human race. The first act of this truly marvellous throng was an act of common worship to Almighty God. With a mighty voice they sang: Before Jehovah's awful throne, Yo nations bow with sacred joy, Know that the Lord is God alone, He can create and He destroy.

And once again : Glory His alone, all height, Mercy,- majesty, and might, God) in man is love's delight; Man in God of God hath sight; Day in God hath never n:ght; Love is God's throne, great and white. "Following an address, by an African prince the "Hallelujah Chorus" was sung. . . '.'" It seemed as if the leader and singers entered into an inspired sympathy with the great composer and with the Scriptural words which he had clothed with the majesty of the sublimest music." "Hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth; and He shall reign for ever and evei\ King of kings and Lord of lords! Hallelujah!" The effect produced w T as utterly beyond the power of words to describe. Thousands and thousands felt that this was the great moment in their lives, and will never be unmindful of the heavenly vision granted them in that hour. At present I am not aware that the words—massive words they are—following are to be found in any of our books: Hcly! holy! holy! Cross, All else now I count but loss. Sapphire runs are dust and dross In the radiance of the Face Which reveals God's way of grace Open to a rebel race.

You know something of the saintly, gifted singer Frances Ridley Havergal. Through a companion she was led at an early age to the Saviour's feet. Acquiring languages with great facility, she was versed not only in French 'and German, but also in Latin and Greek and even Hebrew, and could read both Old and New Testaments in the original. She had also musical genius, and could play through Handel and much of Mendelssohn and Beethoven without notes. She also composed music, and four of her tune« are well known—viz., Herman, Epenetus, Patmos, and Nymphas.' To many gifted souls the four lines quoted below have been an inspiration: Take my voice, and let me sing Always, only for xny King; Take my lips, and let them be • Filled with messages from Thee.