The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-07-04

sway over nlnoj out MS prlde ONerleaps
ITSELF 1t is said that the Book of Esther
is read through by the Jews at the feast
of Purim, and it is still the custom in
some synagogues, at the mention of
Haman's name, to hiss and stamp and
clench the fist and cry: "Let his name
be blotted out; may the name of the
wicked rot" 1t is said, also, that the
names of Haman's ten sons are read in
one breath to signify that they all ex-
pired at the same instant Of time Even
In writing the names of Haman's sons
in the seventh, eight and ninth verses Of
the ninth chapter, We are told, that the
scribes have contrived 10 express their
adherence OF the race of Haman, for
these ten names are written in three
perpendicular columns Of 3, 2 and 4, as
il they were hanging upon three parallel
cords-one above the other-to represent
the hanging of Haman's sons.
One whose name Is dear to the church,
and who has departed TO sing with the
choir Of heaven, the echo of whose mel
ody he seemed to have caught and en-
chained here below-Wm. b. Bradbury
has put this Bible story into song; and
they tell me that some of you propose to
sing that song this week in the ears of
the people Of this city. If you will sing
II as 1 once heard it sung, say for one,
1 am glad Of it. The songs of Deborah,
Of Miriam, and of the Virgin Mary, of
David and of Solomon, are among the
most beautiful and affective portions of
Scripture. The truth sung has often a
power TO which the truth said cannot
attain. Some one has made a remark
like this: "Let me have the making of
the ballads of a nation and care not
who makes her laws" You can sing
into the character of the people the
fidelity, the patriotism and the piety
which you cannot legisldte into them.
Who will say how much the singing of
our national songs has had to do with
preserving us from the necessity of sta
tioning a string of Custom House off,
GERS along Mason and Dixon's line, and
from having to build forts on the crest
of the Rocky Mountains
When Luther was sent to the Francis
can school at Magdeburg, he used to
sing in the streets for his bread, as his
father was unable 10 support him. 4
year after he removed TO better school
"a hn lot
but they, too, neglected him. Here ii
was that Ursula, the wife of Conrad
Cotea, took compassion on the singing
boy, receiving him into her house,
where for years he had all the comforts
Of home. In that hospitable house
young Martin greatly extended his
knowledge and laid broader the founda-
tion for his subsequent great love of
music and song. Luther was never
ashamed to speak of the deep poverty of
his youth, when at the light of his
greatness he would recall the fact. Yes!
the same voice whose tones had shaken
the empire Of the world, had once in
song melted the hearts of the humble
burghers of Eisenach and won from
them his morsel Of bread.
After Christine Nillson had sung in
the Oratorio of the Messiah In Chicago,
Prof. Saml. C. Bartlett, one of the stout
est defenders of sound doctrine, wrote TO
the n. Y. Independent how rejoiced he
was to hear the good Gospel of Christ
preached so effectively by sweet-voiced
woman, who moved in an atmosphere
of applause, winning the homage of all
hearts; preached, too, to ungodly men
who would never set foot within church
door. In the same way have 1 heard
good sermons in the Music Hall in Bos-
ton when Christine Nillson and others
like her, have sung the stories told in
the Messiah, Elijah and the Creation.
| Therefore I say, am glad you are going
to sing it here, and 1 hope it will be
sung with that same earnestness OF
spirit and fidelity TO the truth which
drew forth such praises from the Chi
cago Professor. Sing with the spirit
which ought TO animate the preacher;
sing to make men receive the truth;
sing to make men better; sing in the
manner of high and holy preaching
only in higher and more moving meas
ures and with the help of "stringed in
struments and organs" To sing at all
you cannot indulge pettlsh and fault
finding spirit; for you have doubtless
tried the experiment Of singing when
you felt unlovely, and found 1t impossi-
BILE. To sing better, you must Danish
all hatred of men from your hearts. TIC
sing best of all, you must have the
spirit Of the Master which would &c
forth 10 seek and to save that which is
lost. II you make prayer prelude to
the song, and go to the concert hal
from the closet, the highest success o.
your singing is assured. Lowell Mason
used to open his choir meetings with
prayer, and you will not cast refec-
ton upon the high success to which
Lowell Mason attained.
How about the rest Of US, who may bt
permitted to hear the singers? You
will hear some of the truest words eveI
uttered, and be swayed by some Of the
nobIest emotions and aspirations thai
ever stirred human breast. You will
hear some Of the most effective sermon:
to which you ever listened. There will
be the bacchanalian song Of the King
and Haman: IA song of joy let naught
IL IL - - Il ,.n,.aI 10 70. then rrh IL