264 History of the 



I entered just as the Musicians were completing the tuning of 

 their instruments, and found the chapel crowded in every part. 

 Soon the minister ascended the pulpit, and opened the service by 

 giving out the noble Hymn of Dr. Watts : — 



" Come let us join our cheerful songs 



With angels round the throne ; 

 Ten thousand thousand are their tongues, 

 But all their joys are one." 



The tune selected by the Leader of the choir was " Nativity," and 

 with a precision which long practice had rendered easy, and which 

 Charles Halle would have admired had he been there to listen, 

 the whole body of singers and instrumentalists struck briskly off 

 into the fine old lilting measure ; the deep bass of the violoncellos 

 and manly voices, alternating with the treble and alto of the lesser 

 instruments, and the sweet, clear, silver tones of the females, in the 

 frequent repetition of the lines. With reverent voice the minister 

 then perused the Sacred Volume ; his lucid comments enforcing 

 the truths of Holy Writ, and with marvellous power bringing home 

 the Bible narrative to the experiences of our common humanity. 

 Not less impressive and effectual was his earnest prayer, spoken in 

 that homely, vigorous Saxon, which, needing no interpreter, is 

 all-powerful to touch the heart. The hymn which followed the 

 prayer was one familiar to many of my readers : — 



"God of the seas, thy thund'ring voice 

 Makes all the raging waves rejoice ; 

 And one soft word — 'tis Thy command — 

 Can sink them silent in the sand." 



And this being sung to "Glad Tidings," the effect which would 

 be produced by the noble lines of the poet, and the weird, 

 exultant music, upon the unsophisticated mind, may be more easily 

 imagined than described. 



" Compared with this, how poor Religion's pride 

 In all the pomp of method and of art, 

 When men display to congregations wide 

 Devotion's every grace, except the heart !" 



