National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-05-03

thrones and dominions and municipalities,
David, be still, though you were
the Sweet singer OF Israel" Paul,
to that crown Of rejoicing. Richard Bax-
ter, keep still, though this 10 the "Salnts'
Everlasting Rest" Four spirits now do all
the singing. But how long would heaven
be quietly How long9 "Hallelujahw
would cry some glorihed Methodist from
under the altar. itPraise the Lordln would
sing the martyrs from among the thrones.
"Thanks be unto God who giveth us the
victoryr" great multitude Of redeemed
spirits would cry-myriads OF voices coming
into the harmony, and tho one hundred and
forty and four thousand breaking forth into
one reclamation, Stop that loud singingl
Stopl oh, no; they cannot hear me. You
might as we'll try TO drown the thunder of
the sky or beat back the roar Of the sea, for
every soul In heaven has resolved to do It's
own singing. Alasl that we should have
tried on earth that which they cannot dom
heaven, and instead of joining all our
voices In the praise Of the Most High God,
delegating perhaps to unconsecrated men
and women this most solemn and most de-
lightful servicel
Now, in this church we have resolved
upon the plan OF conducting the music by
precentor. We do II for two reasons
one is that by throwing the whole rospon-
sibility upon the mass OF the people, max
ing the great multitude the choir, we might
rouse more heartiness. The congregation
coming on the Sabbath day feel that they
cannot delegate this part OF the great ser
vice to any one else, aud so they themselves
assume It. We have glorious congrega.
tional singing here. People have come
many miles to hear It. They are not sure
about the preaching, but they can always
depend on the singing. We have heard the
sound coming up like the voice Of many
waters" but IL will be done at a better rate
after while, when we shall realize the
height and the depth and the immensely Of
this privilege.
Another reason why we adopted this
plan. We do not want any choir quarrels.
You know very well that in scores OF the
churches there has been perpetual conten-
ton In that direction. The only church
fight that ever occurred under my ministry
was over mclodeon In my first settlement.
Have you never been In church on the Sab
bath day and heard the choir sing, and you
said; 'That lie splendid musicpn The next
Sabbath YOU were in the church and there
was no choir at all. Why2 The leader was
mad or his assistants were mad, or they
were all mad together. Some OF the cholrs
are made up OF our best Christian people.
Some Of the warmest friends | have ever
had stood up In them, Sabbath after Sab
bath, conscientlously and successfully lead
ing the praises OF God. But the majority
Of the choirs throughout the land are not
made up Of Christian people, and three
fourths OF the church fights originate In
the organ loft. take that back and say
nin-eteDths. Many Of our churches are
dying Of choirs.
Let us as a church give still more atten-
ton to the music. II man with voice
enough to sing keeps silent during this ex-
ercise, he commits q crime against God and
| insults the Almighty
Music ought TO rush from the audience
| like the water from a rock-clear, bright,
sparkling. II all the other part OF the
church service is dull do not have the
music dull. With so many thrilling things
to sing about, away with all drawing and
stupidity There is nothing that makes
me 80 nervous as to sit In pulpit and look
off on an audience with their eyes three
fourths closed and their lips almost shut,
mumbling the praises Of God. During my
recent absence / preached TO large audi
ence and all the music they made together
did not equal one skylark People do not
sleep at a coronation. Do not let us sleep
when we come to Saviour's browning. In
order to proper discharge Of this duty 10
us stand up, save as age or weakness or
fatigue excuse us. Seated In an easy pew
we cannot do this duty half SO well as
when, upright, we throw our whole body
into 1t. Let our song be like an acclama-
|
Do not surrenderiyour prerogative.
We want to rouse all our families upon
this subject. We want each family Of our
congregation to be a singing school. Child
ish petulance, obduracy, and intractability
would be soothed II We had more singing
In the household. and then our little onei
would be prepared for the great congrega
ton on Sabbath-day, their voices uniting
with our voices In the praises OF tho Lord.
After shower there are scores Of streams
that come down the mountain side with
voices rppling and silvery, pouring into
one river, and then rolling In united
strength to the sea. So l would have all
the families in my, church send forth the
voice Of prayer and praise, pouring II into
the great tide Of public worship that rolls
on and on to empty into the great, wide
heart of God. Never can we have our
church sing as 1t ought until our families
sing as they ought.
There VIII be great revolution on thit
subject In all our churches God will CONF
down by his spirit and rouse up the ole
hymns and tunes that have not been more
than half awake since the time Of oul
grandfathers. The silent pews In the churcl
will break forth into music, and when the
conductor takes his place on the Sabbath
day, there will BIO q great host OF voices
rushing into the harmony. My Christian
friends, II we have no taste for this servic,
they all sing and sing forever? Let mi
prophecy In regard to any one here who ha
no delight in the worship Of heaven, II you
do not sing the praises OF God on earth, 1 d,
not believe you will ever sing them in glory
would that cur singing to-day might b
like the Saturday night rehearsal for tn
Sabbath morning In the skies, and nigh
begin now by the strength and by the hell
of God, to discharge duty which none o
us have fully performed.
"Let those refuse TO sing
Who never knew our Cod
But children OF the heavenly king
Should speak their joys abroad.
"The hill OF Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets,
Before we reach the heavenly fields
Or walk the golden streets.
"Then let our songs abound,
And every tear be dry;
We're marching. through Emmanueps Sroun'
To fairer worlds OH high"
Come now, clear your throats and ge
ready for this duty, or you will never hea
the end OF this. | never shall forget hear
: ing a Frenchman singing the "Marseille
Hymn" on the Champ Elysees, Paris, jus
before the battle Of Sedan. / never say
such enthusiasm before or since as he san,
that national air Oh, how the Frenehmai
shouted Have you ever in an Englisl
assemblage heard band play "God Saw
the Queen" II you have you know some
thing about the the enthusiasm Of ma
tional air. Now, l tell you that these song
We sing Sabbath by Sabbath are the nationa
airs Of Jesus Christ and Of the kingdom o
Heaven. When Cromwel's army went int
| battle he stood at the head OF them one da,
and gave out the long meter Doxology Il
the tune of "0ld Hundred" and that grea
host, company by company, regiment b.
regiment, battalion by battalion Joined Il
, the Doxology;
Praise God from whom all blessings aow,
Praise Hin all creatures here below:
nrni.n Him nhnNn q hnnunnlN, hnsI