Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-26
CHAT WITH EVANGELIST SANKEY
The Sweet Singer Tells About His Many
Sacred Songs-Their Magic Power

The Sweet Singer Tells About His Many
Sacred songs-Thsir Magic Power.
| Ira ID. Sankey, the evangelist, was seen
by reporter just before he sailed for
Europe. He conversed freely about the
hymnsh he has sung so often and well
There are two classes Of songs he
said, 1two fields, as 1t were, that need not
necessarily conflict, viz, the high classical
music and the simple gospel hymns. One
Is music for those educated In music-it
appeals to their science and knowledge of
harmony; the other Is the pure and sim
pie music, that interests millions of peo-
pie who have no knowlede of music, but
enjoy what they feel The higher grade
OF music serves its purpose. has its vota-
ries, and do not know but what would
be more interested in 1t myself, II my
audience were all good musicians The
outlying masses Of poor humanity are not
educated up TO difficult classical music;
1t takes some sweet and pure melody to
go straight to their hearts. They gather
their impulses from what they feel, and
to move the impulse in the right direction,
to touch 1t with loving and appealing
music, Is the sure way to guide and con
troll. Music that can not do this would
be OF little service to the evangelist.
1T Is the simple, unpretentious reading
OF the sacred songs that Is acceptable,
reaches the feeling and prepares the way
for the sermon that comes afterward and
does the work Why music has magic
that no soul can fathom; it eievates the
untutored; it enraptures the dull; it
thrills with ecstatic joy the weary and
longing; 1t opens the heart of the stony
and sweeps in triumphant waves of mel
ody through the bosom Of the cold and
cherries. Fifty thousand sermons will
not move some minds. The eloquence o.
St Paul, the enthusiasm OF John Knox,
the logic OF Spurgeon, and the magnetic
earnestness Of Mr.. Moody would fail to &C
complish with some people what simple |
and tender strain of music would under |
proper conditions. The charm and power |
OF music can not be overestimated, and it |
Is potent influence in connection with |
preaching the word of God
Were you always musician, Mr.. |
Sankey,"
"Yes, l was borne with music in me. / |
sang from the time / can remember. 1t
came natural TO me; l felt it and 1t came
forth. But l had no idea that / ever
would he preacher and sing with Mr.
Moody. WAS business man at New
castle, Pa. My father was an internal
revenue collector appointed under Presi-
lent Lincoln was his deputy. In 1863
met Mr. Moody at Indianapolis and
after he had heard me sing he said that /
was the man he wanted The music
began TO sing with him is mostly Amer
can. the outgrOwth chiefly Of our social
md political conditions. Very few hymns
hat sing are foreign"
How do you manage to gather the best
ongs,'
when read or hear of a poem that
las beauty and the spirit OF Jehovah
ither in the lines or between, I immedi-
tely buy 1t, even at high price. have j
aid as high as $50 for a few verses that
eemed to have the true ring. We are
new hymns all the time"
Have you anything to say about the
music of the future,"
AS have said before there are two 0
lasses Of musc-the higher or classical. 5
he simple or touching. The hitter will a
more popular. because easily under c
TODD and felt 1t will be many years, il J
yer, when classical music will be under 9
TODD by the masses The experiment
lus far, proved inductively by Mr. Moody L
nd myself during a long number Of
ears, shows that simple, pure music
mas greater response in the average III
uman breast than any other kind. Reas- .
1lng from this basis conclude that the
usic OF the future must appeal to the
cling, must be pure, simple and unpre-
ntious "-New York Mail and Expresa