The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-02-15

rs MUSIC NECESSARY IN A FAMILYs
Extract from Dr.HOOker's Tract on Music
as a part of Female Education.

AS MOS1C AN n II "A AA
Extract from Dr.HOOker's Tract on Music
as a part of Female Education.
And here we come to the proper an.
swer 10 the next object stated-lhat mu-
sic, though pleasant in the family home,
is nevertheless not one of the necessaries
of life. True i! is, we can live without
music: it is moi so necessary as bread or
clothing. But the same can be said of
ten thousand other things, which yet the
bountiful God Of our existence has been
pleased to provide for us.E The hues of
the rainbow-the beautiful paintings of
sunlight upon the clouds of an evening
skv-the flowers of spring and summer
the beauties and subiimities of natural
scenery-lhe comeliness of complexion,
and the speaking expression in the
human CONFERENCE.-The songs of birds
the soothing sounds of a waterfall, and
the echo of the forest--we could live
without these; for they are not necessary,
TO our existence. And yet the benevolen:
Creator Of all things has been pleased 10
provide them; in his dealings with man,
"To make all nature beauty TO his eye,
And music TO his ear"
Because, however, they are not indispen-
sable to our existence, shall we disesteem,
render no thanks for Them, never seek to
enjoy them? Suppose our world TO be
emptied of all these; that we had only the
stubborn and absolute necessaries of life,
and that these superadGed favors were
withdrawn, as so many superfuiies -
Would not this world in which we live
b. strangely and wonderfully chang
ed Could we not finally come 10 regard
these superduiIies, as we may have call
ed them. more necessary to our comfort
and enjoyment of existence than we have
been accustomed to believer Dismiss
music from our world. Let there be is
sued decree against all sweet sounds. -
Blot out of existence all the music that ev-
er was written silence every musical
voice: forbid every song, and every
hymn of praise 10 God unstring every
harp, pull down every organ, take in pie
ces every piano forte; make holocaust
Of all tuneful instruments; and let this
world, for while, be world without
music; such world, too, as this, where
'he soul Of every member of the human
IamiIy is oppressed, more or less, with the
ills OF life-ills often crushing, insupport-
able. Would the change be nothing p
And then, when years shall have passed
away without the music Of either nature
or art to fall upon mems ears, and soothe
their spirits; then let one song steal up
on the world, would it not be as a voice
from heaven, and men earnestly invoke its |
repetition and music for once be deemed
necessary 10 man, in his condition as |
child OF sorrow & sin,in this vale of tears !
The object goes 10 arrange both The
wisdom and the benevolence OF God. 1t |
virtually imputes 10 Him provision for
man which man does not need. 1t prac.
tcalIy says, Here is gratuity, so super
fuous and uucalled for, that the gift is
not worth using; the giyer deserves no
thanks.
The Creator has been pleased to pro-
vide for the qualification Of all our senses,
beyond what is needfu to preserve to US
our breath, and to keep our bodies out of
the grave. Music is one of the things
provided; that it may minister to the de-
light of the ear, and through the ear reach
the soul, and move its deepest and tender
est sensibilities; and call forth all the
pIeasurabe emotions. 1t is a gift for
which reason, conscience, and religion,
all teach US to be thankful. They bid US
to cultivate it; to turn it 10 the best posi-
bic account, for the purposes to which it
was appointed by the bountitul Author of
all good.