Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-05-05
For the Url ana Union.
NJ u &c
NO. *.

| ing viii be more generally used III pub
lie worship, for it is certainly a pureI
and holier style of praise, to use the
words of the Holy Book, than verses
whether good or bad, which are the work
offaIIen and finite man. They are much
more used than formerly, for like organs
! they were once banished from many
churches some of which have since
adopted them. Some years ago, an organ
ist in New York with the choir, sang a
chant from the Psalms, before the regU-
lar church service commenced; he was
severely repTimanded by one or two of
the DeacOns for it; the impression was
made and a few Sundays afterwards,
one of the same deacons said to him,
''cannot you give US another chant this
morning%' Such prejudices are gradu-
ally giving way, however, and we hope
yet to see the music of America equal
to that of Europe.
Persons may think it not necessary to
attach so much importance to the culti-
vation of music, but we think it will
not be very hard to prove its many uses
even in this age of dollars and cents. 1
have heard that there are many persons
who have no love for music, but I can
scarcely realize that this is so, and am
inclined to think that such persons will
be very uncomfortable, when they go
to the land of the angels, and have to
listen to the grand chorus" Hallelu-
iah, for the Lord God ominipOtent reign
eth" A man may be a good man who
takes no pleasure in a concourse of sweet
sounds, but he must be so unfortunate
as to have a physical defect, which dis
ables him from distinguishing melodious
sounds, just as the blind cannot he said
to enjoy beauty because they cannot see
it, and we must be truly sorry for any
one deprived of a pleasure so exquisite.
Otherwise, I am ready to say with
Shakespeare.
The man that has no music III his soul,
Is fit for treason, stratagem and spOis''
In the family circle, its use cannot be
over-rated. It affords relief and sOothes
the nerves of the tired world worn bust
ness man, it cheers the burdened moth
ers heart, it is q delightful source of rec
reation to the young, and keeps many
a wayward boy from the haunts'of dis
sipation. 1t soOthes the fretfuI infant
and is one of the few pleasures left to
the aged. Who that has reached ma
ture years has not felt the sentiment ex-
pressed in the following beautiful words.
The melodies OF many lands,
Ere while have charmed my car;
Yet there's but one among them all,
Which still my heart holds dear.
heard itfrst from lips loved
Ny tears it then begqiled;
twas the song my mother sang
When was but a child.
Its words wellremember now,
Were fraught with precepts cid:
And every line maxim held,
OF far more worth than gold;
\ lesson twas, tho simply taught,
That cannot pass away;
It's lay guiding star by night,
My comfort in the day.
It told me in the hour of need,
To seek sOlace there,
Where only stricken hearts could find,
Must answer to theirprayer
Oh much I owe that gentle voice
Whose words my tears beguilcd;
Tint song of songs my mother sang,
When vas but child.
No other science so cuItivates the af-
fections and keeps alive the soft, loving
and tender part of our nature. Even
the beasts Of prey are powerfully in
tluenced by music. a case once came
under my observation of a very large
and noble Lion which was exhibited in
England, many years ago. The show
consisted simply Of this animal, which
was so fine a specimen that thousands of
people visited it. One day a man tant-
allied the lion by holdinga a small dog up
near the bars Of the cage, at which it
became furious, and made powerful eff
forts to get loose, though fortunately the
cage was too strong for it. The keeper
made every effort to pacify it, but moth
ing succeeded till the band was called in !
and commenced playing, when the enc
ragged animal became calm, quietly !
and laid down in his cage.
The man came again several-times, on
each occasion the lion again became fu-
rious and could only be caImed 10y the
music. 1t was found necessary at last to
refuse the man admitance, for though he
would come disguised, the lion always
knew him; and would fall into the same
fury.