Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 112, 30 May 1941, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

THE OLD HYMNS—AND OTHERS There's lots of music in em —the liyinns of long ago,. And when some grey-haired brother sings the ones I used to know, I sorter want to take a hand ! I think of days gone by, "On Jordan's stormy banks I stand and cast a wistful eye." There's lots of music in em—those dear sweet hymns of old, With visions bright of lands of light, and shining streets of gold; And I hear 'cm singing—singing Avhere memory dreaming stands, "From Greenland's icy mountain:-; to India's coral strands.,'" And so I love, the old hymns, and when my time shall come, Before the light has left me, and my singing lips are dumb, If I can hear cm sing them then, Pll pass without a sigh. To "Canaan's fair and happy land, where my possessions lieu" In a religious magazine, recently, a discussion took place about hymns, ancient and modern, and some crit- 1 icism was levelled at some of the old favourites. Afterwards one lady wrote: "X have been much interested in the discussion on Church music. I have not i had the privilege of a musical education, but ccrtainly have the | ity of appreciation for the Great Masters, although I must confess T cannot rise fully to the majesty of Bach, as I do to the soul-stirring of Beethoven, and the poignant sweetness of Schubert. But I haw been rather puzzled and hurt by the criticism of the Sankey's. hymns, which have meant so mulsh to the common people. On a recent Saturday evening 1 had been reading the magazine, and. felt vagutely disturbed by the sentiments expressed in an article on Church music. I awoke on Sunday to a busy dav with a rather burdened heart. As [ set about the necessary duties before Church time, T was suddenly arrested by the strains of a Salvation Army band playing, "Blessed assurance, Jesus is Mine." The words look possession of me, and there flashed Into my mind similar words [ had not heard for years, and then memories woke which took me back (o my childhood. I Ours was a Scottish home whe:r~ family worship was the order of the day. We always sang, and although we were well drilled in "the Psalm?. ~>f David to the tunes of David/ Sankey's hymns formed part of om worship, and rarely a week passed without a new one being added to. our repertoire. 1 I can hear. now. my mother':) and mv father's voice blended in "When the stovms of life are ras£I ing," and "When peace like a rivei, attendeth my way.'" They knew the storms of life, but could say, "It >i well,, it is w r er±', with my soul."

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE (Supplied by the Whakatane Ministers' Association).

I remember, too, when thci Alexander hymns were first sung. Some of the choruses, with mus'ic, were printed on leailels. One of these fell into my mothcrV hands, and she said, "I'll :;end this to Mrs West" a friend in the country who was a musician of no small merit. llie day the leaflet reached her, she was weary and worried over a sick child, and other household cares. She went to the piano to try the simple musi.: and words — Jesus knows all about our struggles, He will guide till the day is done. There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus, No not one. No, not one'. Her burden Mas lifted, her heart cheered, and she was able to face life with a new courage. Let me tell a little experience of my own. When my children we.rj all small, I was: offered the use of a holiday house in a quiet spot on a hill-top, where there was only one ether house, about a mile from the iitlJe township. My husband went w'th us to sea us comfortably settled, and then was'obliged to return to city duties. Towards evening a party of young men took possession of the nearby house, and as the night wore on I became alarmed at the sounds or revelry, and wondered what I should do if liquor made them objectionable neighbours. I made up my mind to remain- awake, and kee:) watch over my children. But long before midnight there was a lull, and a sound of music. To my intense relief, young men's voices were raised in beautiful part-sing-ing of Sankey's hymns.. It certainly was the very finest music to my ears! I found afterwards the lads were visitors, taking part in a conference in the little township: There are few who are not stirred by the glorious music of Oratorios and Orchestral Symphonies,, but there are/ times in every day life with it's fears and cares and sorrows, when we are brought nearer ' o the Heart of the Eternal by those simple heart-reaching words of such hymns as we find in the Sankey's ollection, expressing as they do, our own experiences. Must we rule out the latter in order to appreciate the former. I think not. There : s a place for both." A man needs uligion as he needs 1 sunshine, and fresh air and good i food, and for somewhat similar reasons. He cannot be sound, and sane, and wholesome, and healthy without the one any more than he can without the other. The man to whom i the Gospel means, nothing tends to become a one-sided, unhealthy, illinformed man. He has left something out of his life that sadly mars and weakens it. "He may not be n f very bad man, but the thing, he has left out lowers his idemls,, narrows his outlook, spoils his happiness, and injures his real usefulness.