The Nostalgia that Choruses Bring

For many years since my childhood and throughout my life as a believer, I have had the joy of engaging in singing Choruses invariably designed for youngsters. But they continue to resonate in my heart up to this present time!

Some Choruses evoke distant but unforgettable memories. From January 1977 through to mid-March 1985 my wife Bernice and I held Sunday School Classes, each Lord's Day afternoon and on one or two week nights.

Sunday School was held in the home as an antagonistic brother in the local Assembly objected to Sunday School quite forcefully; he brought this "teaching" with him when he "left" the Taylor Brethren many years earlier. We felt that to continue in the Hall would only cause upset and offence.

We were mightily blessed during those years, as hundreds attended for varying lengths of time; some only came once; while some remained faithful for the entire duration. We closed the S.S. because my job involved moving to South Wales. I have regretted that move ever since, never sure that I had the Master's guidance.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of that S.S. experience was the singing of numerous choruses. So many of the choruses are replete with the truth of the Gospel and remain in the hearts of the singers indefinitely. Sadly we sing very few and not very often. We do sing the occasional chorus or refrain at the Breaking of Bread, and it is surprising how it can enhance our praise.

I look back over so many years and I can still remember quite a good number of our pupils, and with sincere affection. 

A number of them were certainly saved, and a few others may also have trusted the Lord for salvation. Nothing compares with this as the gracious recompense of God to us for His service; absolutely unmerited!

We could never quite grasp how it was that a Mormon girl and a Roman Catholic girl were allowed to attend our S.S. But nothing is too hard for the Lord! Unfortunately, the sweet-natured and gentle young girl indoctrinated with Mormonism, but who always listened attentively to the Glad Tidings was shipped off to America some few years later and compelled to marry a Mormon lad. The Lord knows.

The Roman Catholic girl was also very attentive, pleasant, and polite. One day she asked me in the session for singing choruses, if she could teach us another chorus. I was somewhat nonplussed and hesitant but trusted the Lord to overrule. She sang the chorus brightly and well. And all was well! The chorus began with the line, "Jesus' hands were kind hands doing good to all." That is the only line I remember, but on referring to the "C.S.S.M. Chorus Book," now entitled "Scripture Union Choruses," I realise it is number 698 in the book and the young lady would probably have pointed this out to me which would be of significant help to me and to the children in learning it. 

What nostalgia grips my heart as those dear ones flood the memory and conjure up in the mind's eye, a sea of beaming faces singing exultingly in our front room!     

       

Brief Report on International Tract Distribution Day (8) 

Yesterday Aril 18th 2024 was the eighth year in succession that the date was designated International Tracy Distribution Day, a further reminder of our God's unchanging and gracious faithfulness toward His own beloved people; another good opportunity to seize the time to reach out to the souls perishing on every hand.

I returned to deliver Via gospel magazines to a couple of high-rise flats and the road approaching them. When I first "tracted" there, a considerable number of years ago, the occupants were elderly folk in the main. During those years the character of the buildings has changed and couples with young children predominate. It is sad to realise that many of those of that former generation had been ushered into eternity; some, if the Lord will, to enjoy bliss and blessedness. But along with the awful responsibility, it is a privilege to be able to take the Word of God to them and trust that He will bless His Word in that written form in salvation blessings for His glory and the glory of His only-begotten Son, our lovely Saviour.

I encountered but one moment of fear when passing by the fence of a garden a ferocious dog leaped at me snarling! By God's grace,  the dog could not clear the fence and I was prevented from entering the premises to deliver the magazine; I was about to do just that, oblivious to the presence of that guard dog.

My prayer is that every "morsel" of the Word of God that has been received into the hands of needy ones whenever and wherever that may be, but especially yesterday, will accomplish the purposes of God for His own name sake.

If you have any news regarding the experiences of "tracting," and have the time to spare, please let me know; we may well be encouraging one another and so much more as we see the day approaching.

Tom Wyatt

Gathering to the Name of the Lord Jesus alone, with the saints at Corsham Gospel Hall U.K.

Email: tw007q5184@blueyonder.co.uk

To Sing or Not to Sing

Due to incorrect "science," or "science falsely so-called," the vast majority of believers within the "Assemblies" have desisted from singing for close to twelve months. The original advice (not legislation,) from the UK Government was to stop singing as it increased the risk of transmitting/contracting Covid-19. This misguided practice continues as the amount of credence and public airing of this misinformation has never been replaced with the later scientific conclusion admitting that singing was no more "dangerous" than speaking. Unfortunately, if brethren and sisters are given this updated and correct information it has little or no effect on many of them as they appear to be perfectly happy with the new "norm." I have referred to some of these new practices on an earlier occasion, especially in relation to the Lords' Supper. With others, though numerically few, I fear that "virtual" meetings have gripped many of the Lord's people, and perhaps "physically" attended meetings will prove to be few and far between, or indeed, non-existent!

I digress from my little thought, "to sing or not to sing." My individual view is obvious from what I have already written. But I really wanted to add something even more personal. I truly miss singing the beautiful hymns that form an integral part of our praise, I believe such singing is a component part of our worship, but I know that some would not agree.

Some considerable years ago in the Assembly with which I was then identified, a few of the gathered saints literally overnight foisted upon the entire unsuspecting Assembly an additional hymnbook of dubious character. The Assembly was already waning spiritually in a number of serious ways and was subsequently exposed as having tolerated it in its denial of gross misconduct within. (It has never owned its dreadful failure in refusing to believe a significant weight of evidence clearly presented to them.) Mercifully long before the exposure I and my family had withdrawn.

In confining myself to the simple subject before me I will just indicate how the above disclosure has a bearing on it. When I graciously protested at the unannounced determination to introduce the hymnbook, (which by the way would of necessity need musical accompaniment for some of the hymns,) the retort was "why make such a protest over a hymnbook?" I felt first of all that it showed a lack of spiritual discernment, but also surprise that they had not realised how much of their time in Assembly gatherings and Gospel Meetings was spent in singing! Surely singing MUST be of significance in the light of its obvious prevalence at these times! The only other conclusion must be that singing is vain and futile.

Well, in feeling so aggrieved at being deprived of opportunities to sing with the spirit and the understanding, making a joyful noise unto the Lord, and only able to "meet" with my wife, (who is a very fine singer,) I decided to find a number of CDs containing hymns from the "Little Flock Hymnbook" to listen to them being sung by fellow believers and to sing along with them in the solitude of my study. I have located three CDs and hope to find a little time most days to spend in this way. Thus I will continue to remember the words we joy in singing and perhaps rehearse the appropriate tunes to them.  

I have updated this post as I believe that the consequences of blindly following the Government's "advice," as stated in my first paragraph, have proved to be unequivocally correct. I find no pleasure or satisfaction in this pronouncement, only sadness of soul.