]58 A HALF CENTURY. 



for the sake of others, that is our glory, that our most enduring pos- 

 session. 



They tell of St. Martin, how on the way to church in the cold and 

 storm, meeting an almost naked beggar, and having nothing else to 

 give him, he gave him half of his cloak ; and how the same night 

 Christ appeared to St. Martin, wearing the beggar's cloak now all 

 radiant with divine glory. Infinitely more precious henceforth than 

 the whole was the part that remained to St. Martin. If in our lives 

 we exhibit a like spirit, we may be sure of a like reward. 



The old anthem, so dear to our fathers, commencing 



"Jerusalem, my glorious home, 

 Name ever dear to me," 



was sung by the choir, after which the history of the Church in 

 detail was continued in the addresses following. 



THE SERVICE OF SONG. 

 John P. Bartlett, Esq. 



One who had noticed the printed announcement that I was to 

 speak to-night on our " Service of Song," asked what I knew about 

 it, — if I ever sang a song. Before that, my ignorance of the subject 

 was recognized, so that the suggestion was not novel, and the situa- 

 tion has not improved in my own mind as this hour has approached. 

 It is said that " no lawyer can plead his own cause " ; perhaps on that 

 theory the committee thought no singer could sing his own song, and 

 so commissioned me to speak to you of the service of song during the^ 

 first fifty years of the life of this church. 



It is understood that the person who wrote 



" A drop of ink 

 Makes millions think," 

 added, 



" A musical ring 

 Makes millions sing." 



While we may not agree with the exaggeration poetic license per- 

 mits, still, relatively speaking, we recognize the truth in the rhyme. 

 Although but few actually sing, these few^ touch responsive notes in 

 the relative " millions " who sing in sympathy. And so it is that the. 

 consideration of our service of song becomes important and its history 

 inseparably linked with the history of the whole church. 



In the early days of the life of this church the music was furnished 

 by a choir led by a chorister and accompanied by instruments. These, 

 instruments were the "double bass," played by Edward Doen, the 



