The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-11-27
F0R rI Central PRESBYTEREsN
Something about Music.


I was glad to see the deliverance Of the
Synod Of Va, on the subject Of singing st
family worship, and purpose to send you
some thoughts on g similar subject suggested
by reading what the Synod has done. "Mu-
sic should be redeemed from prOfaue to
sacred use" And who can do it so we'll as
the church, Who else but Christians can
be expected to engage in this enterprize2
Does any one question, whether music
be lawful fundamentally in accomplish
. ing the purposes Of religion Surely not
those for whom I nov write, snd with whom
l hope to have influence. They VINO have
sat in tie church Of God, aud have been
raised to heaven by the songs of earth, DO
not require to be told by me, that music is
good for purposes of deyOtion-Ihas 1t is q
(not to say the) most powerful auxiliary in
eleyating and purifying the affections Of the
soul and IN lodging aud plaadng there the
sublime truth OF revelation.
am preacher, aud love music; and |
can say with truth, that l always wait and
look with anxiety fer the effect of public
singing before sermon tn M own mind, as
q preparation for the exercise Of preaching.
When 1 have thought and prayed over my
sermon, and perhaps, have been prepared
10 soma measure, to foat pleasantly on the
surface of the deep sea Of my theme,
suitable psalm or hymn, suitably sung, Ia
the very thing to plunge me at once and
thoroughly into the ocean Of truth, which
practical text of the Bible opens. | can say
from. the most delightful experience, that
the kindling and viyifying power ofChristian
psalmody, properly executed, has done more
for me at the moment of rising to address
congregation On the great truths Of the 81
bic, than | ever could have anticipated, or
can possibly describe.
am sometimes, though rarely, permitted
TO De a heareI; and when in hearing am
so fortunate rs to listen to skilful handling
bfths Wogd os God- and ha's bad the deem
syupstaies of~my s0ui challenged TO iel-
lowsaip with las saints, aud with truth on
the sacred themes Of the Gospel, the con-
GLIDING hymn, if appropriate, and if sung in
8 becoming manner, las so impressed my
specially if the subject was mn
usually solemu-as to be almost overwhelm-
ing. Or if the subject was one Of praise
and thanksgiving have been so raised by
its Influence, as to remind me Of the effect
produced upon the mind of Christian lody,
whilst listening to the performance Of Han
ders Hallelrjlh Chorus, as described by
herself,-vhen she caught hold OF the pew
in which she was sitting, with vigorous
grasp, experimenting, as she said, that she
was actually afoat among the clouds Of hea-
ven, and that the close Of the song would
let her fall with fearful violence.
/ am aware, it is said by nice critics, and
bg those who scyutinze the attectjons,-and
i an always sorry when hear 1t, as It shows
how far even some enlightened Christian are
fon understanding tue philosophy Of their
own moral being,-that this effect OF music
is common to holy and unholy men, that 1t
is merely the effect of human art. Very
wel;-I have no objection to this position
If be admitted-as can hardly be denied
to De an instrumental agency acting on the
affections. So are all forms Of language,
by which divine truth is conveyed in the BIZ
bic and announced from the pulp, human
art. No Christian ever thought Of object
ing to the reading Of the Scriptures be-
cause their very existence in this form, Is
by uecess ty, human Grt: or to the preach
ing Of the pulpit because human speech
then employed. is an art. acquired by time
and labor and practice. No one, whether
saint or sinner, who has wept under the
truth Of TIE Gospel uttered from the pulpit
ever Thought of questioning the proPrety
or good induelc zee of those tears, because
the lovely tones and affecting manner OF the
preacher were nothing more than the art OF
human speech, conveying truth TO Che mind
and impressiug i. On tde hear.. The preach
er has so studied, and so constructed, aud
so delivered his sermOa-all which Is an art,
il any one choose TO call it sO-as to give
erDyession to divine truth, and by this M
s,rumeataLify, q sympathy with truth has
been awakened in tde minds Of others. Aud
this is lust as it should be; 1t is as God de-
stoned: it is Gods ordinance.
Sacred song-Christian psalmody- has
been so constructed aud SO performed by
the same organs, as 10 produce the same ef-
feet. And who will say, it is not good-that
it IS not suitable? Both toe one snd the
other are mere instrumental agencies IN the
hands Of the Spirit of God. Divine truth
could never be conveyed to the mind, nor
impressed upon the heart Of man, so far as
human fundamentally is concerned, INDIE
pendent Of human art. 1t must be by the
art of printing, or by the art Of speech, or
BY the art Of sacred song.
A few years ago, as l came down from
the pnloit, man approached me before
left the church, evidently deeply agitsted in
MS feelings, and asked ne, with the deepest
emotion, to pray for hin. took his arm
and went to bis house and We there knelt
down in company with bis wife, and / prayed
With him Is he requested, and followed ii
Up with an earnest conversation on bis per-
sonal salvation. l have seen the mar. many
a time since, and he seems to be consist
eut Christian. Presenting from the time
and the manner Of his addressing me IL the