Smyrna times., 1886-12-08
Talmage Turned Prophet.

In his sermon a few SUNDAYS ago on
Zach. 8: 5, DIR. Talmage opens some
hopeful vistas in the good time COM
ing" As a happy contrast to the
present aspect of things generally, he
says:
q" In that better time, also, coming to
these cities, the Church Of Christ will
be more numerous, and they will be
more devoted to the cause OF Jesus
Christ, and they will accomplish
greater influences for good. Now, it is
often the case that churches are envious
of each other, and denominations col
llde with each other, and even minis
ters of Christ sometimes forget the
bond Of brotherhood. But in the time
of which | speak, while there will be
just as many differences of opinion as
there are now, there will be no acer-
bity, no hypercriticism, no exclusive
ness,
" In our great cities the churches are
not to-day large enough to hold more
than fourth of the population. The
churches that are ebuilt-comparative
few of them are fully occupied The
average attendance in the churches of
the United States to-day is not 400.
Now, in the glorious time of which I
speak there are going 10 be vast
churches, and they are going to be all
thronged with wOrshippers. o, what
rousing songs they will sing! O..
what earnest sermons they will preachl
., what tervent prayers they will offer /!
Now in our time, what is called fash
ionable church is a place where a few
people, having attended very carefully
TO their toilet, come and sit down
they do not want to be crowded, thew
like a whole seat to themselves and
then, if they have any time left from
thinking of their store and from exam
lining the style of hat in front of them.
they sit and listen to the sermon war
ranted to hit no mans sins, and listen
to music which is rendered by a choir
warranted to sing tunes that nobody
knows And then, after an hour and
a-half of indOlent yawning, they 90
home refreshed. Every man feels bet
ter after he has had sleep.
In many of the churches of Christ in
our day the music is simply a mocker.
l have not a cultivated ear nor a cult
waited voice, yet no man can do nv
my singing for me. / have nothing to
say against artistic music. The 50 or
S. l pay to hear any of the great
queens Of song is q good investment
But when the people assemble in re-
lglous convOcation, and the HYMN is
read, and the angels of God step from
their throne to catch the music on their
wings, do not let us drive them awav
by our indifference. l have preached
in churches where vast sums of money
were employed to keep up their music.
and 1t was as expensive as any heard
on earth but l thought at the same
time, for all matters practical, l would
prefer the hearty, Outbreaking song of
a backwOOds Methodist camp-meeting.
Let one of these starveling fancy
songs sung in church got up before the
throne Of God. How would it look
standing amid the great doxologies of
the redeemed. Let the finest operatic
air that ever went up from the church
OF Christ get many hours the start: it
will be caught and passed by the ho-
sanna of the Sabbath-schOol children.
l know a church where the choir did
all the singing, save one Christian man
who, through perseverance of the saints
went right on, and afterward a Gem
mittee was appointed to wait on him
and ask him if he would not please
stop singing, as he bothered the choir.