Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-04-17
Religious & Nloral,
FAMILY MUSIC.

night without star Wv nat Is spring
without flowers, or autumn without
fruits? The same is family with
out music. This is true in general,
and particularly in its devotional en-
ercises.
There is charm in beholding a
family bowling before heavens eter-
nal King, pouring out their souls in
rapture, and adoring flat name which
is above every name. There is SOL
emn grandeur in beholding when
thus
1" The saint, tho father, and the husband prays."
At first the accents of his voice are
feeble; but as lie mcditates upon
things heavenly and divine, realizing
that he is in the presence of the SOW
ereign Architect of the Universe, his
intonations become more DISTINCT
his voice Uses tremendously with his
feelings,-his emotions are aroused
and quickeued, and contend with each
other for u,lerancc, as the man of God
implores pardon, not only for his own
sins, but also for those of the entire
brotherhood of mankind, and prays
that all may be rescued from the pow
ers of darkness, and restored to the
favor of God. There is something
inlescribablc in such sight, that
paints blush upon the brazcn check
Of the snocring sccptic.
This is beautiful; but there is some
thing besides which adds brighter
tint and a sweeter fragrance to this
heavenly rose. I refer to Mat part of
divine worship which is so frequently
neglected, and yet which is so delight
full: THE singing gfMe songs Of Zion.
Whilst, in prayer, they come into the
audience chamber of the King of
kings, and address him through one.
as their representative; in singing,
the hoary.locked sire, with the wife of
his youth, and the prattling white
headed darling of five, with the bloom
ing maiden of sweet sixteen, can u
mite their hearts inhymning theirgreat
Redecmer's praise. Oh, how inter-
esting to view such u family comming-
ling their voices in singing that psalm
of psalms, as it is so beautifully par
APPRAISED by Addison
"The Lord my pasture shall prepare" &c,
or, perhaps, on Bonded knees devout-
ly chanting: =
"our Father which art ia heaven" &c.
Is not such an exercise elevatingl Is
it not enrolling? Is it not heavenly!
And yet how seldom do we find it,
even in intelligent Christian families !!
Would we have u glimpse of the true
dignity and excellence Of properly
conducted family devotion, let us turn
for a moment to the poet and read
" The Catcr's Saturday night" In
it we see picture Of domestic peace
and happiness, drawn from real life,
rural in cottage, amid the romantic
highlands Of Scotland. 1t is a true
delineation of nature, and perfect
model of beauty. There we see
/" They chant their artlcss no,esin simple guise:
They tune their hearts, by far the noblest AIM
Perhaps Dundcc's wild warbling measures rise,
Or plain,ivc Martyrs, worthy o. the name:
Or noble Elgin bears+ the unwearied flame,
The sweetest far o'scotiu's holy. lays"
Music is the harmonious combina-
ton and succession Of sounds, or as
far as singing is concerned, it is a Pc
culiar meditation of the voice, SO as
to speak in forcible, highly pleasing
and delightful manner; and this fac
ulty, if l may so call it, is possessed,
though in different degrees, by all
men, and requires only to be brou ght
out, and like u tender plant to be cul.
tivated, and soon will appear the tree
with its fruits. Parents should, there
fore, by no means neglect ,hatin their
children's education, for upon it de.
ponds not u little of their fircside Gu
joymcnt.
Singing has tendency to throw an
interest into family devotion, of which
many never dreamed. That dull mo-
no,ony (for in many instances it real
ly is such) is entirely avoided The
children, too, US soon as they are ca
pablo Of learning, will rejoice in the
thought that they too can worship God
their Maker. That Christian family
in which the children are properly in,
struAel, and in which tho devotional
exercises arc conducted in this man.
nor, is an enviable one. 0, that all
the families in the Christian church
were such! For if this practice were
universally adopted, verify believe
that not so many of the lambs of the
flock would wander from the fold, and
making covenant with tho wolves
would fall an easy prey. The family
circle would thus become more inter
csting, aud the young would not hays
that constant desire 10 spend ,hel'
evenings uni the greater part Of thciI
nights away from home, in amnse
ments Of very doubtful moral char
actor, if not decidedly injurious. |
is owing, doubtless, not SO much t