, 1875-10-24
A MEANS OF GRACE.
SINGING DOWN 4 SPEAKER.

| SINGING DOWN 4 SPEAKER.
! 10 the EEncr Of Tie CHICAGO Tribune:
CHICAGO. Oct. z2.-6ang1ug down speake
! whose views are obnoxious to the singers ha.
been defended by some as justiiable-even as
Christian a,t. 1t has m advantage over praying
| down speaker as great MS the voices which sing
| are more than the voice which prays. 1t has An
advantage over shouting to drown anothcr's
voice in that any rabble Of loafers do that aud,
sinca loafers sometimes sing vulgar and patri-
otto eongs for such purpose, only tie singing
OF songs employed By Christians in the worship
Of God can be defended as a Christian means Of
shutting tie mouths Of those who differ IRON MS
II VIC cannot quote the authority OF Christ or
the Apostles tor such work, VIC havo the ex-
amples Of the renowned inqu1k.tors Of the if
teeutA century, who possessed the eanae Jealous
DESIRE ant supposed that Chrise's kingdom was
built up in pEolo.tion as they succeeded. We
have not thh political power, and seem to havc
left only this one means which VIC may freely
use.
II dofensiblc. it is pleasing to God and pro-
dset;Te OF good. Tho Question should thon be-
How can t!1la powell, for good De cultivated aud
used to best 4ad;antage7 Ne caunot talk too
often in love to slen Of THAR souls welfare VIC
cannot hare TOO much preaching BY tho Holy
Spirit We canuoE slug too much, making melody
in our hearts unto Gcd NO cannot p-al3e Him
too much We caIscot !ej jolco too much in Hum
We cannot blass mau too much, even when they
curse; We cannot too strictly do "a VIC would ba
done by. SO of eyery other Christian act aud
exercise. Il 1t be right thou, We should en-
courage aud cnitivaio the uso OF singing to
slleuce the ungodiy.
There might sometimes arise difficulty 10 de-
telminiug who should be go silenced 10 the
right to start 6!eacing hmm should be ro-
strictad to some cool-beaded theoloeian. Ho
might be made regular ofcar..of tho churci.,
like deacon, gestrymap, OF inquIsitor; or the
theological senslnariss might educate men for
tha Office, and confer the degree OF Censor of
Doctrines, D. c. lie should DO assigned o con-
snicuous place in all devotional meetings, and if
thoroughly impartial, ho could exert WONDER
full influence upon the pulpit itself, and insure
right docttinos to whom the Lord sends to preach
the Gospel 1t might be well to give him power
church connections, belief, etc. ; otherwise mis-
takes might be mado, as ell arc liable at times to
axp:e ess themselves ambiguouRly.
There is still q difficulty growing out Of the
wickodness Of the human heart: some mig.lt
think themselves misunderstood, and insist upon
explanation; or from sheer obstiuacy refuae to
be silenced. They might b. able to exhaust tho
vocal powers Of even q trained choir, and thus
drive tho audience to the necessity OF lietening
to contamln2GnE FemaTkB Or OF leaving tho
house. III which case, evil would triumph, Tho
D. c. should be SO empowered to eject from the
room any person who should refuse to succumb
after q reasonable vocal humiliation. If there
should still be found some whu should 80 persist
il evil 81 to rofuse to be cast out, company of
trained athletes might be Kept in waiting, and
even then Government support might be desira-
BILE to infiict de served punishment upon tho re-
sisters OF this ordinance OF worshiping assem-
Llies.
Tho good qf such an ordinance ehonld not be
confined to Christian gatherings. Singing mis-
slonary bands might be organized to attend all I
meetings OF nngodly men in COMPANY with the |
D. C., and there do great good in purifying pub
lie morals and turning nleu 10 righteousnesa.
Satan sometimes influences 60 much physical I
force, it might be necessary to 20 we'll armed, |
sud to ho accompanied by q goodiy number of |
aba-todied special police or disciplined soldiers.
But the details OF ths work would adjust them
selves. We can see its tendencies. B.