By A. Brooke Whitley 04.10.2014

Marylynn Rouse, British scholar and associate of the John Newton Project, lectured on the meaning and background of this weekend’s performance of Handel’s Messiah on Tuesday night in Hyder Auditorium.

 

“I’ve been involved in the Newton Project for 20 years,” said Rouse. “After I came across unpublished manuscripts we formed a non-profit to circulate those writings that are so rich in teaching.”

 

A crowd of around 50 people laughed, smiled and listened as Rouse explained the ins and outs of John Newton’s life.

 

As a boy, Newton joined the wrong crowd. He was press-ganged onto the ship HMS Harwich after falling in love with 13-year-old Polly. Newton became a blasphemer and a deserter, but was transformed in a service at a Londonderry church after a shipwreck.

 

Weeks before, he was the man who embarrassed sailors for being so uncouth. Now, he was on his knees reciting Lord’s Prayer. Newton served as a captain of slave ships and a customs official while he waited to become the pastor of an Anglican Church.

 

Newton stuck to three principles: Jesus Christ crucified, love and gospel holiness.“He was Christ-centered and practical,” said Rouse.

 

Newton grew creatively and wrote many hymns during this period, most notably, “Amazing Grace.”

 

“The many details Ms. Rouse gave about his life made him seem so much more real and gave a fuller picture of his motivation to write the hymn ‘Amazing Grace,’” said Noah DeLong, assistant professor of music.

 

He wanted to preach about Jesus as Messiah to his congregation. After hearing Handel’s “Messiah” at the centenary commemoration of Handel’s birth, Newton deemed the text a perfect outline. He preached one sermon every week for 50 weeks. Newton urged his congregation to “lend your meditations to the Messiah.”

 

“Handel's ‘Messiah’: A Celebration of God's Amazing Grace,” was performed at Gloucester Cathedral in London and will make its United States premiere in Mary B. Martin Auditorium of Seeger Chapel.

 

“There will be five brief extracts of Newton’s sermons interspersed throughout the pieces of ‘Messiah’ this weekend,” said Rouse. “They will introduce the next few pieces. It helps you focus your thoughts on what’s coming up and will enhance and enrich the subject.”

 

The first edition of the “Messiah” sermons that Newton gave to his niece and nephew in 1785 will be on display at the concert. There are shows on April 12 at 7 p.m. and April 13 at 3 p.m.

 

Rouse read from one of Newton’s manuscripts, “’Messiah’ might afford one of the highest and nobles gratifications of which we are capable in the present life.”