The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-15
me oFnA DExoUscED mon THE PULPIT.
Sermon by the Rev. VIM. e. Harris ON
tho Opera and Its Innuence--The Power
and Province OF Musfc.

and Province OF Music.
Rev. VIM. Harris, pastor Of the Methodist Episcopal
church in Carlton avenue Brooklyn preached on Sunday
evening" by special request discourse on the "Mora In
fuence Of the Opera" The church was crowded by a
deeply Interested audience, large share OF which con-
sisted OF ladies', who appeared anxious to learn how their
favorte be regarded by their spiritual
authority Mr.. Harris, the preacher is apparently
thirty of age rather below the average height but
thick set and strongly made, with deep rich voice u
fluent delivery, in gesture and free and
easy way Of dealing with his audience which reminds us
Of Henry Ward Beccher. Indeed, with his long and
rather bushy hair combed behind his ears and his un
shaver chin, his appearance in the pulpit is very much
like that Of the popular preacher.
Aiter the usual preliminary services tho pastor gave
several notices. among them announcing " love FEAST
on Wednesday night Ito which all who chose to como
were invited without ckets) and an adjourned meeting
OF the congregation ON Tuesday regard TO the building
Of hcir new tabernacle. He then commenced hig dis
course in an of hand manner.
was patent he said, to the most cursory obser.
yer, that the opera is amusement patro-
nzed very generally by Christians of all Denominations
Methodsts well as others and that his reason for
preaching upon the subject just he preached upon the
theatre While Christians might be ddent about
ing regular dramatic performances at theatre, many
seemed think the Opera allowable and quite consonant
to their character Christians He knew that be
popular, speaker must have Ia large measure the
sympathes Of his hearers which he could scarcely hope
the position that the Opera, in its moral influence upon
those who attend IT, is wrong Some might charge him
with taking one-sided view, from moroseness and
ascecism but there nothing his religion morose or
ascec; on the contrary II intended to make men
happy and no, TO restrict them in the enjoyment OF
cent recreation He asked his audience dives them
selves OF all prejudice, and give him patient hearing
and then announced this text
sis any merry let him sing psalms. James ", 1s
They might say there nothing this text TO pro
hibt the Opera, aud that the Holy Spirit had
IL,
il might, IL the best text he could select
from which to show how far he agreed with the
friends Of the Opera, and where their views diyerped
The epse Of James the best homiy social duties
extant; was complete list of moral duties inspirted
by earnestpess and beauted by graphic and striking
imagery OF style. lie the most sententtious terse
and pointed of the New Testament authors. How sharp
and effective were such passages this When lust
conceiveth ii brngcth forth sin, and sin brngeth
DEATH Again ''Show me thy faith without thy works
and will show thee my faith by my works" Again:
Thou beievest that there s one God thou doest well:
the devils also believe and reniben Aud again in the
text"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any
merry let him sing psalms"
Mankind may be divided into two classes the merry
and the serious, each having its proper mission in
the serious there natural tendency to melancholy
moroseness, and in the merry, to fantastic levity.
Each has a natural antipathy against the other.
The serious inveigh against the foles of
all amusemants and diversions, while the merry
rush to the opposite extreme. The perfect character is
formed by happy combination Of both these elements
rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those
who weep Much as he loved merry face he would not
trust il with sxpence it could be sorrowfu aud
weep aud much he loved u serious face at serious
times, he had lief take dose of jaap have ugu
brous man in his presence occasions of enjoyment
Men ought TO be to forget that God
in the world, nor serious to forget that
the world. The word merry in the text conveys
idea not properly found in the original word Merry
refers to any light and noisy pleasure joyful, buoy
ant pointed with laughter; but the Greek word meant
only cheerful pleasant so that the text might read
Are any Of you pleasant or happy Sthen sing psalms
There were no psalms then but the psalms of David,
though there may have been spiritual songs The word
however, was psalms, yet he thought it did not
mean that when man s happy he is only TO sing psalms.
In Ephesians the same word rendered spiritual
songs" speaking in spiritual songs and making melody
your hearts, that contradistinction TO those
bachanaan and operate songs sung places Of revery
well as in the heather temples. 1t had often been
question with him in what way the ancient Christians
sung, whether with or without instrumental accompani
ments by choir, or the whole assembly, by individuals
only, with responses. That they did sing, and sing
most Justify Is chroncled in the New Testament while
the echo OF their melody reached the heather
the historian Pny, who says they s'sang among them
selves hymns 10 Christ, Cod He rather of the
opinion that the early Christians had musical Instruments
in their choral services and there much of indirect
and theoretical evidence TO support the opinion Hence
he thought people wrong who objected TO music in the
churches, that It was innovation primitive simplicity
OF worship Wherever there is musc-tle harmony OF
sweet sounds-here is the voice of Cod and the human
is the tuning fork which begets II in humanity. Play
ing fankee Doodle upon the fife and with beat of drum
makes the heart pusate quicker and regulates the step
TO military precision The singing Of the arseies Hymn
drove France to bloody revolution and is the shrll
blast Of the buge that inspires the charge battle II
such rs to contribute to the maintenance of
where God forgotten surely the Of the sanctuary
should not be such to disgust those of pure aud refined
taste Singing churches should be regarded as an act
OF solemn worship in which all should engage in heart
at least The music should not be Of light and trivial
character better htted for the for Chris
ties and Woods negro deiineaons than the worship Of
God The singers in the choir ought to be Christians
their voices would be the less sweet and their plea
sure in the services would not be essened by having
their hearts attuned by angelic love- and voiced
chors in the church below ought TO be converted that
ma n fhp choir Tnarn
Of directors to instrumental music in churches One
object from well meaning motives, and he respected
them and the other from motive at ALL and he did
respect them-that is, he did not respect the motives.
He proceeded TO reply of the objections church
music Some men had more music in their compost
tons than an old tin kettle, and the squeaking Of litter
OF pigs worth dollar apiece sweeter to them than
the dvinest anthem. was music which first attracted
him to the church, and under God he believed led to his
conversion. The natural world concert room,
full OF music and song. There music in the ripping
stream in the carol of the lark in the cricket the
hearth in the trckng RAIN in the loud thunder clap,
the myriad insects that float in the summer sunbeams in
the rustlng trees in the lowing of kne To all animate
creation God had given sound. There was music in the
smallest insect well in the archanges trump Why,
there was music in the mosquito though that OF
style best liked in the distance; and there music
in the squang babe least the mothers said though
he had failed TO perceive it, not having been blessed with
babe There is in nature tremendous powers power
that can control the heart of man when all else fashat
arouse every passon-tha can drive to fury, still
the passions Of gass-that soothe distraction
or drive To despairhat can dissolve the heart and lift
the soul to God in his sanctuary-that draw tears
from the mpenent soothe the savage breast soften the
hardened, make home joyful and turn Borrowing into
jocingand that power is music He would that his
babe them sing all the time merry not merry, for this
power of music would tighten the heavy heart In the
very hour when Jesus cried ont y soul is exceedingly
sorrowful even unto DEATH he sung hymn of praise
with his Disciples. Martin Luther tells that the best
thing, to the Bible, to drive away the devil hs
Lutte. He says emusic of the farest and most go
rous gifts Of God TO which Satan is bitter enemy and
adds 81 always loved music, and would not for great
matter be without the little skill possess the harp
Christian.
vsh wrapt up in the ghostly srouds Of blue devsm,
who could break the horrible spell If he would only sing
the praises of his Creator. u! come, yc poor gloomy
Christians, unbar your imprisoned lungs, let Gods light
stream, and his air Hash in upon them, and sing Sing If
you are in sorrow--sng if you are rejoicing. Are any
merry, let them sing psalms; and any not merry,
let them sing psalms. ''Let everything" says
David, praise the Lord" o. come, l would
like to have little singing, just here and |
feel though ought to have singing, and let US get
hold Of the Doxoogy just here Come my friends, join
me in that good old Doxology, choir and all.
The congregation led BY the preacher, then sung the
Doxoogy, and following that part of hymn beginning,
Now will tell 10 sinners round