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ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 26, 1876

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 48, No. 17.

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ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

By Lilla D. Avery

A CENTENNIAL HYMN.

One hundred years ago, a few brave heroes Battled for freedom, ’mid the cannon’s roar, And bravely bore aloft their glorious banner, And spilled their blood upon Columbia’s shore. Where cities stand that are the nation’s pride, Her patriot sons have nobly bled and died.
One hundred times our swift-revolving planet Her circuit round the fiery sun has told, One hundred times the snowy frost of winter Has spread its mantle o’er her bosom cold, Since the brave sexton, with his locks of snow, Rung Freedom’s bell a hundred years ago.
One hundred years ago, the hardy hunter Launched his canoe upon the silent stream, And with his bow and arrow strode the forest, Which only echoed to the panther’s scream. Where wigwams stood a hundred years ago, Our lightning chariots hasten to and fro.
One hundred years ago, the stealthy savage, With scalping knife and arrow lay concealed; And hostile warriors sprung with fiendish madness From thicket dark, or bloody battle-field. The deafening war-whoop in the dead of night, Startled the slumbering men in dread affright.
One hundred years ago, the broad prairie Stretched undisturbed beneath the western sky; And flowery meadows bloomed in peaceful verdure Where now broad fields in cultivation lie; And on the soil where waving cornfields grow, The bison roamed a hundred years ago.
Beneath their lowly roof, our noble mothers Prepared with cheerful song their humble fare; And from their loyal hearts for home and country Ascended oft the voice of earnest prayer. Their willing hands could spin, and weave, and sew, With patient toil, a hundred years ago.
One hundred years ago, our mighty nation Was but an infant, helpless, weak, and small; Only a few who gathered ’neath her banners,— Only a few brave, noble hearts were all! But God in Heaven who governs all below Watched o’er our land a hundred years ago.
And now she stands a giant ’mong the nations; In every zone her banner is unfurled, Her sails are spread on every sea and ocean, Her mighty arm encircles half the world. O patriot fathers! little did ye know What power was born a hundred years ago!
One hundred years ago, had human wisdom Foretold events that now are in the past, That prophet voice had startled all the nations! With doubting wonder men had stood aghast; Yet God in Heaven revealed to favored seers The mighty progress of a hundred years.
Where were the thousand startling inventions? Did air and water slumber in the deep, Had wind and wave no power of locomotion, Was steam, unconscious of its strength, asleep, When men pursued, with weary step and slow, Their tedious way a hundred years ago?
Our land in power and knowledge is increasing, And art and science hasten onward still, Till puny man the elements has conquered, And made the fiery lightning do his will! Wonder, O Earth! that power has e’er been given To mortal man to chain the bolts of heaven!
But vice abounds, and wickedness increases, And evil men are waxing worse and worse; The growth of crime is daily more appalling, And weary earth is groaning ’neath the curse; The hearts of men are failing them for fear, And signs portend some awful crisis near.
And will our God be thus forever silent? And will he hide his burning wrath for aye? Shall falsehood reign, and sin forever triumph, And error hold its devastating sway? Our God will come! in vengeance soon appear, And usher in the grand millennial year.
LILLA D. AVERY.
Locke, Ingham Co., Mich., Oct. 7, 1876.