THE OLD CHURCH.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 155, 29 May 1900, Page 3

THE OLD CHURCH.

What ! tear the old chinch down, you say, ami build a modern one That we can look with pude upon and boast of when 'tis done? -With lots ot little rooms below for festivals and fairs, Acd one big room for pieachln', with its pews and oasy chahs? i What's wrong about the dear oM ehuieh we've \voi6hipped in so long ! The walls aie good, the cJapboaids tight, the windotVo sound and j»tiong ; I'll own the loot is leakin' some, but that can be made right, A shingle stuck in here and theie wnl make the old loof tight. I tell you, brethien, that the old church seems like a hie-long friend : Sweet memoiies cluatenn' round there 'viil last till life shall end. Each timber, joist, and board, and nail seems speaking with u toogue, And tollm' of the good done heie since you and I woie young. Beside that dear old altar "-there ju*( fitty yoa,is to-day, I imelt and begged lor pardon, and Cari3t washed my yna away, And, though old Time has thinnad mj hair and bleached cu wiiice as snow, That altar is as dear to me as hity years •ago. The sermons ihat we'va listened to from holj men of God, Whose bodies now are lyin' cold beneath the churchyard sod, Seem inigin' in my ears "to-day, and full of truth As when I listened to them in the merry days ot youth. I seem to hear the preacher's voice say, "Brethren let us piay," And all the congregation kneel in the oidfaalnoned way ; I seem to hoar the thrilhn' shouts 0/ " Glory " and " Amen" Eosponding fioni the people's hearts and echoin' again. 1 seem to hear those old-time hyrnnß wo all so loved to sing, That used to 3 well from ev'ry heait, and make the old church ring. There's one now ringin' in my ears — " Let angeij prostrate fall, Bring foith the royal diadem and crown Him Lord ot all !" 'Twould seom too ranch like sacrilege to tear that altar down : I'm 'fraid God wouldn't bless that deed, but rather on 11 fiown. No, brethren, not a dollar will you get from my old hand '. I'd rather give five hundred more anJ let the old church stand !