HANDEL IN THE STREETS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 887, 3 September 1910, Page 3

HANDEL IN THE STREETS.

VOICES OF THE NIGHT. [Contributed.] “ Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! Hallelujah ! ” It was the grand old Handelian chorus borne faintly, yet quite clearly, on the misty night air. How could this be, yet it was. Out of the darkness came the chorus, all the parts chiming in with hearty precision —higher and higher it rose, great glorious, inspiring. “And He Shall Reign for Ever and Ever ! ’’ rang out in the grandest unison —surely one of the most emphatically convincing music-thoughts in the whole expanse ot oratorical composition. It was over-early of Christmas, yet snrely it must be the Musical Uuion, or was it the Choral Society rehearsing “The Messiah ’’ in some secluded spot? Irresistibly attracted by the music, the writer approached the direction of tha sound, rounded a corner, and there stood the full chorus and orchestra —a hard-working gramaphone in charge of a blind man! There were no crowds round the instrument; the music had not apparently worked any spiritual uplifting in the people, who hurried by in great-coats and mufflers. The only listener was a tiny girl of six years or so, who, with a dear, dirty old dog, danced elt-like round the blind man in beautiful time to the eternal “Hallelujahs!” Could he have seen the sight, what would Handel have thought ?—Dominion. This picture can be drawn out further —just as that gramaphone sang out its praises of “ Hallelujah ! ” “ Hallelujah ! ” “ Hallelujah ! ’ ’ and gave its message to the world, “ And He Shall Reign for Ever and Ever,” so do the churches to-day. They still acknowledge Him Who Emptied Himself of His glory and walked about this world living a sinless life among sinful men. They still point to Him as the Ideal. They still kneel at His feet and worship Him with joyous adoration. But what of the people ? Thev pass by, and the empty benches show what they think of him ! What would Handel have thought ? But there is a deeper question : What does the Saviour of mankind think of those who have no ears to hear His voice—no voice to praise His holy name ?