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Community Corner

Peace, Hymn, Sing

Area residents gather in the name of peace

September 11, 2011 was a day of remembering those who are no longer with us, a day to honor volunteers and public servants that gave so valiantly and selflessly, a day for forgiveness, and a day for praying and hoping  that peace will be felt in our turbulent world.

On Sunday, The Salford Schwenkfelder Meetinghouse was the venue for an inspirational hymn sing for peace.  Those gathered in the historic meetinghouse came to raise their voices in song and to listen to the message of peace and hope for the future.

The opening hymn, "When Peace Like a River," reverberated from the high ceiling and the whitewashed walls, while those in attendance sat on old, straight-backed, unpainted wooden pews which line the inside of the meetinghouse. 

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Wooden, time-worn planks line the floor and have seen the passage of time. Tall, bare windows let in natural light with a view of the woods in the distance.  This unadorned, humble place of worship seemed to be the perfect meeting place to hear the message of peace. 

The song leaders were Hiram Hershey, John Ruth, and Rob Yoder.  The huge voices of the men needed to be reminded, from time to time, to make room for the soprano voices of the women in attendance.  There was no need for musical accompaniment, and the a cappella singing resounded throughout the building and out into the field nearby. 

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Bible selections relating to peace were read and an array of hymns were sung with favorites being called out by those in the pews to be chosen for the next number.  The guitar, played by Yoder, accompanied the offering.   

Mid-way throughout the hymn sing, local historian Ruth presented "Reflections 9/11/01 – 9/11/11" from the unpretentious pulpit, which dominates the center of the room.  

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.  That is why we are here today — to sing,” said Ruth.  “It is appropriate that we have a peace hymn sing today”. 

Ruth continued by making some observations about the present world situation as well as times long gone.  

“There is something wrong in the world — something wrong with human nature,” he said.  “But we sing in war and we sing in peace.” 

He went on to state that so many of our famous patriotic songs, not only in our country, but around the world, are war related.  Many exist — with probably our national anthem being most famous — with the lines of “bombs bursting in air” immediately coming to mind.  Ruth noted that the first song in the Bible was actually a war song.  

Ruth said that 9/11 was a reaction of hatred and vengeance against the United States, and that it was important that we all possess both inner peace and outer peace — with inner peace being much easier to obtain than outer peace.  Conveying outer peace is the key that needs to be expressed to others for world peace to be obtainable. 

“We have to work for peace in a way that we can be heard. We need to strive to be number one in compassion and healing,” Ruth said.  

Even though the countryside around the meetinghouse saw its share of conflicts and war in the past, the Schwenkfelder’s were a singing people and they had many hymns that they regularly sang.  The year 1762 marked the year of their first hymn book, which Ruth noted was “beautifully written, and bound.”

The Salford Schwenkfeld Meetinghouse was built in 1869 in the federal style and has an adjoining cemetery to the rear of the building. Plain and unadorned, the place of worship contains a pot-bellied stove for heat and lacks both electricity and plumbing.  

With attendance in decline, the meetinghouse discontinued regular services in 1920; but on the first Sunday in June, there continues to be a memorial service for those that lie in the cemetery. 

One favorite hymn that was sung, "O God of Love, O King of Peace," aptly conveyed the feelings of those present:

O God of Love, O King of Peace. Make wars throughout the  world to cease.  The wrath of sinful man restrain.  Give peace, O God, give peace again.

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