Sing to the Lord, ye distant lands, Sing loud with solemn voice; While British tongues exalt His praise, "Earth shall obey her Maker's will, Our God will crown His chosen isle, "God the Redeemer scatters round, Then followed the usual items of an inaugurationthe speaking and the replying, the votes of thanks and the addresses, whilst in the necessary exclusion of the engraved "trowel," as a memento to the chief performer-the noble Earl was presented by the committee with an elegantly bound edition of Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns. Once more did the choirs break in upon the proceedings with the Hallelujah Chorus, accompanied by the full band. "Hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our And of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever! Then followed the Doxology, the procession reformed, "God Save the Queen" burst forth from the spectators and the excited band, whilst the Earl of Shaftesbury, towering head and shoulders above the dimunitive sculptor and some of the committee, led the way back to the Audit House. The statue remained unveiled, a "Watts Soirée" took place in the evening, and this successful inauguration became a thing of the past. But not so with the memories associated with it, foremost amongst which were the kindly feelings engendered between the various religious denominations and Sunday schools, in having for once combined to carry out a good work. A like feeling pervaded the different political sections, and "extremes meet here with a placidity which our local Whig and Tory committees could hardly credit, but at which they could in secret admiringly wonder. It is said that common dangers make common friends; it is equally true that a common object of admiration will make friends and co-workers of those who have few other sympathies in common; and here we had the whole town and environs in holiday attire, combining to give a permanent niche in her evergreen temple of fame, to a townsman, so long since gone to his rest, but whose works live after him. But not alone for the instruction and delight of her own children does this statue adorn her choicest park. From the spot where we now write can often be seen pilgrims of many nations—Hindoo, Chinese, Turk, German, African, and American, in fact people of nearly every clime and tongue and kindred-wending their way to the shrine of the good and pious Doctor, whose hymns have spread through every land; and when examining the basso relievos upon the shaft of the pedestal, a genial, happy smile will often overspread the face of many a dusky visitor as he espies the one representing the Doctor as a teacher of the young, and surrounded by a group of little children who are repeating to him their first lessons in Divine song, whilst below are inscribed the words "He gave to lisping infancy its earliest and purest lessons." Others again will gaze upon the third bas relief, which represents him as a youthful poet, with upturned look, under which are written words from one of his own hymns: "To heaven I lift my waiting eyes." In this way may we not hope that the Watts statue has and will be a means of exciting a proper emulation and the cultivation of a kindred spirit, which should be the great end and aim of all monumental records. My task is done. As an eye-witness of acts and deeds relating to this vivacious seaport, the "Voice from Southampton " has ofttimes spoken to your readers through the actions and the words of her arriving and departing guests-through the scenes witnessed when welcoming the renowned living or the ashes of the illustrious dead. It has spoken as from the tomb of the aged Christian, and from the graveside of the little child; and now, from the cold, white marble of this statue, erected upon the greensward, amidst flowers and shrubs and evergreen trees, it would reiterate the same teaching. Let me, then, conclude with words which have been repeated and believed in by saints of many generations, and which, could he who penned them return to earth, having now witnessed their glorious reality, would be affirmed with power a hundredfold to the thousands who still come, with loving and thankful hearts, to gaze upon the statue of the good Doctor who, in his day and generation, was the friend of little children and the servant of God: "There is a land of pure delight, And never-withering flowers;- "Sweet fields, beyond the swelling floods, So to the Jews old Canaan stood, Oh, could we make our doubts remove- "Could we but stand where Moses stood, Not Jordan's stream nor death's cold flood SPECTATOR. AN OFFERING. MARK XIV. 3-9. SHE had one precious thing-a box of nard, Soft- At times, her pale and trembling hand she placed; She kept this precious thing. So long had lain "Such wealth! such waste!" yet happy to have stored, She brake the box; the fragments at her feet May, 1875, A. Ll. . |