The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-06-29
lie SINGING PREACHER.
|HE POWER OF SONG IN RELIGION
ILLUSTRATED.

gave u TtpOTJcI VI tho OoC OHtt
k't6atne an account of his ministry.
"How long have you been engaged
this work, Mr.. Sayles ?" was
'hturally the first question asked.
"Since 1 was nineteen 1 am now
twenty-five" he answered, pleasantly.
u began church work in my native
wn, Davenport, Iowa. My father
as for many years musical director
Henry Ward Beecher's church. My
other is singer and church
orker. 1 firmly believe that the
birit of God led me into this work,
bid is always with me-
"Do you have special songs that
bu use as solos p
"Yes; some of them have done a
Feat work, too One of the strongest
eces sing is Eternity Have you
yer heard it?"
Being answered in the negative, the
bung gentleman went to an upright
ano and, touching the chords, sang
a clear, sweet tenor voice and with
remarkable recitative power, that
ade it both a song and sermon,
lis song:
sob, the changing bells of time,
Night and day they never cease,
We are wearied with their chime
For they do not bring US peace.
"And we hush our breath to hear
And we strain our eyes to see
If thy shores are drawing near.
Eternity! Eternity J"
The refrain of the word Eternity -
as singularly strong and solemn, with
undertone of melancholy sweetness
lat seemed to plead through all the
usic, ranging from fortissimo to
anissimo, words and music blending
a charm that could not be resisted,
! Id which reminded the listener of the
by-singers in old st. Paul's in London,
here the sweet, incisive voice of the
lid soloist would fill all hearts and
! e cathedral with avolume of heaven
melody. With his limited oppor-
mites Mr.. Sayles gave a fair idea of
hat he could do.
There is another favorite that the
fople like" he said, turning the leaves
I'D singing softly:
IT'S known on earth and in heaven too,
/ tbs sweet to me, because It's true,
The old, old, story is ever new
Tell me more about Jesus"
The representative of the Post anil
ibune had heard the young evangel-
] sing" Tell Me More About Jesus"
ffore an audience, many of whom
|ere gray-haired men and women, who
ad bowed their heads and wept as the
Eeet young voice rose and fell on the
|aves of sound, and seemed vibrating
ftween heaven and earth.
What Mr.. Sayles calls a decision
ng" is also a favorite with him in
work:
oh, do not lot the word depart
And close thine eyes against the light,
Dor sinner, harden not thy heart,
Thou would'st be saved-why not tonight?
Thy not tonight? Why not tonight?
Thou would st be saved, why not tonight"
A starring song is, "Who is on the
|prd's Side -
We're marching to Canaan with banner
and song:
ere soldiers enlisted to fight against the
wrong;
1T lest in the conflict our strength should
divide,
ask who among US is on the Lord 5
side?'
oh, who is there among us, the truo and
the tried,
Who'll stand by his colors-who's on the
Lords side?"
An invitation SOM with a pleasing
elody, which Mr.. Sayles uses with
UGH effect, is this
"Why do you wait, dear brother,
Why do you tarry so long:
Your Savior is waiting to give you
A place in his sanctitied throng
-"Why not, why not,
Why not come to him now"
"There is a beautiful hymn which is
So used as a parlor song said the
bung man, which l like to sing t.
hdecided people; it means so much"
hd hesang with thrilling sweetness
e words "There is green hill far
way" "Do you remember" he con-
hutd with a rapt expression on his
pie, delicate features, 1.-The d ad line
the Southern prison? 1 use that t.
Pip me in my work; that dead line is
bing TO run through whole families
will separate them ia eternity if tn ~
e afraid t. cross it. Oh l plead
it'll them to step over that line which
ms through two worlds and divides
le ri lf from the left. Listen to this
oh, tender and sweet was the Masters
voice,
As He lovingly called to me:
)ome over the line, it is only step,
/ am waiting, my child, for thee
FOver the line hear the sweet refrain,
bgels are chanting the heavenly strain;
Dver the line, why should l remain
With step between me and Jesus?'
II is easy to understand how hearts
In be awakened by such methods
hich are so gently persuasive that
ley challenge no resistance, and how
le climax
"Ill not remain,
1 will cross it and 60 to jesus"
eets with a responsive welcome Of
bsolute submission.
The singing evangelist's work i,
rgely sympathetic, and he gives out
S own personal magnetism until al
e end of meeting in which he ha.
ad the Scriptures, sung his two OF