The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-29
RELIGIOUS INTRLLIaENCH.


glnes the subject Of the Holy Opers" became
tepic for discussion in religious papers the whole
hinge OF church music has been drawn Into the
Hontroversy. Hence we see that staid old Pres
byterisn oracle, the Observer coming out boldly
Is favor Of the largest liberty to church choirs, and
ustsinipg the introduction Of other than strictly
kacrsd music into the rdpertoires Of church vocal
4ts, This view, however, ID not entertained BY
1oms strait-laced Presbyterians, and the conss.
s&uencs Is . schsm among the brotherhood upon
che subject OF harmony at moment when the dn
Aculties existing between the different branches Of
Nhs sect were being happily reconciled. and
spirit Of union and fraterna feeling becoming gene
lssI and permanent. Following the strain Of the
observer the National Baptist, Of the 26th inst,
furnishes quite curious and elaborate article on
r. Song Worship" from which We mako the fol.
Rowing extracts:-
- Tho first song recorded in the Bible il the song
Moses, the servant Of God; the last is the song
81 the Lamb. The first was q pecan Of victory
Saung by the rescued Hebrews and their great
oeadcr at the Red Sea, over the utter destruction
OF their foes. It was an oratorio,. whose wild
'measures mingled with the winds and the music Of
the sea; grand chorus Of alteration and praise
20 their great Delivercr The last, - yet unsung,
chosen people Of God shall III sing when, de-.
uvered from the bondage Of sin and earth, they
shall have passed over the sea, and sing, not with
timbrel and trumpet, but the sound OF harpers
&arping with ia r harps, and the hallelujah oil the
dnnOmerable throug.
David was the great song writer Of the Hebrews.
Although he was mighty in battle, and spread his
.conquests far and wide. and established 2 pow,
erfuI empire. yet he did more for the people and
tho land he loved, especially for the perpetuty Of
their religious institutions, BY his songs, than by
his sword.
Luther did o better work for Germany and the
truth. when he gave the people songs with which
20 worship, than when he nailed his thesis to the
church OF Nuremberg. Those embraced great
doctrinal truth, which the conscience and judg-
meht Of the people accepted, and which laid o
broad foundation Tor his subsequent work. But
when he gave tlsem hymns in which to worship
God the people gave him their hearts in return.
Indeed, those hy Mns kept alive for long years q
true Gospel evangelism in Germany, and are now
nearly all that survives Of the spirituality OF the
German reformation.
Charles Wesley did, perhaps, as much or more
gion IN England by his hymns as John Wesley or
George Withheld did by his sermons. Indeed
Methodism has suag its triumphs through both
Europe and America. Dogmatically, it did not
differ essentially rom Epscopacy or Presbyterian.
ism. II had no great distinctive feature in doc
trine, discipline or ordinance But it had spiritual
vitality 1t had heart, whose warm beating pulses
touched and moved the hearts of the people, and
Che hearts Of the people answered back with joy.
Religious worship was formal and dead the minis
ters dogmatzcd and the people slumbered.
Methodism sung to the multitudes, and they were
charmed
Such hymns "Jesus, Thy boundless love to
me-" or "Oh, for that tenderness Of heart" or
-s'Depth of mercy, can there be" or "Oh, for o
thousand tongues 70 sing" and especially such as
t'Jesus, refuge Of my soul'' and "Arise, my soul,
srise"-does any one marvel that the spirit of o
true Christian lie loved such words and such wor-
ship! These hymns have become the heritage of
Gods people. There are many others, by other
writer's, no doubt, as good; but these indicate the
secret power which those forms Of worship pos
sess which embraces such elements TO this day
Nethodism sings its way through the land, and
wins more by It's songs than by its sermons. The
ministers sing. tae people sing, the children sing,
them sing, not 80 much for the artistic excellence
Of the music -not much for the poetic charms
Of the verse-but for the warm, gushing heart
worship which il bfeathes. This il vast power,
and the chiefest advantage which Methodism pos.
sesses over other styles OF UNCONVENTIONAL service.