The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
Mu,ic m an Aid to the Gospel.

In the beautiful home Of Mrs. John Crosby
Brown at Orange, in the neighborhood OF
New York, is one Of the most remarkable
collections in America, perhaps in the world.
1t consists of specimens Of musical instru-
ments from the primitive peoples of all quar-
ters of the earth. There are stringed instru-
ments Of every shape and degree Of COM
plexity, from q single cord stretched over
small cup-like resonator to the kanu OF the
Arabs, which resembles the internal struc-
ture OF piano, but is played by plectrum
instead Of key board. There are wind In
strumen:s, from the single reed and metallic
trumpet or whistle to small mouth-organ.
There are drums Of every. shape and size,
some Of them made Of wood, some OF metal,
some Of clay; some simple and others com.
pound; some with barbaric ornaments
or painting, others variously inlaid
and decorated by the higher art Of
India and the Mohammedan lands Of
Western Asia and Northern Africa.
Then there are castanets resonant
metallic bars, and sundry nondescript and
to us unmusical instruments, suggesting an
immense diversity Of tastes. The chief In
terest Of the collection, however, centers in
the idea that music Is an endowment OF the
whole human race and that it "hath charms
sertain the most cultivated Of our kind,
Those who have travelled in the east have
been struck with the universal passion for
such weird music as Asiatics and Africans
love. Muleteers sing by the hour as they
trudge behind their animals over the stony
roads Of Lebanon. The Arabs sing and play
on their rude pipes and drums around the
camp fires Of the desert. The toatmen OF
the Nile row to the melancholy dirges which
have come down to them from the ancient
EGYPTIAN ritual Of the dead. At weddings
aud at funerals, at births and. tetrothals, in
ioy and in sorrow, and especiallyin In religt-
GUS worship, music is the solace and delight
Of the simpler races, even more than OF their
cultivated kindred.
Missionaries have not been slow to per-
ceive and utilize this fact Music has been
one Of the most powerful aids to the spread
of the gospel. Especially is this the case
none more than the Arabs. They have a
passion for music, and long line Of music
loving missionaries has wrought out for
them a system which combines the culture OF
the West with the minor strains ard extra
ordinary intervals Of the East. Many
scholars native and foreign, bave translated
and composed psalms and hymns in the
Arabic language. Dr. Lewis, formerly OF
the Syrian Protestant College, and after him
Rev. Messrs. Jes>up, Ford and Mr.. aallock,
have elaborated complete system of nota.
tiop. adapted to the reversed order of the
Arabic printing, and arranged hundreds OF
the best tunes of the East and the West in
hymn- book which rivals those in use in one
American churches for variety and adapta-
ton to social and church worship,
and is in general use in the
schools, families and churches Of Syria.
Nor has instrumental music been neglected.
A. harmonum is considered necessary part
Of the apparatus Of every eve sGh2ol ss;o. IN fa fns
pipe organ purchased by local subscription.
help OH the chorus of praise from voices we'll
trained in the service Of song. Some. OF the
missionaries carry a small travelling harmo.
MUM with them on their journeys, and lind
it of the greatest service in calling together
an audience n the scattered villages among
which they labor. 1t may encourage those
who have contributed to supply srch lnstru-
ments for schools and churches, to know that
no sum OF money given TO missions does
more permanent good than that spent In sup
plying these simple aids to the collection and
organization of people for the worship or
God.-[Church at Home and Abroad
Good thoughts, like the leaves; give out
swt ct smell if laid up in jar OF memory.
II rich, be not too joyful in having, too
solicitous in keeping, too sorrowfui In losing.
Our own hands are heavens favorite in
struments for supplying us with the nsces-
saries of life
The beginning Of hardship Is Like the first
taste Of bitter fOod-it seems for moment
unbearable; yet, If there is nothing else tc
satisfy your hunger, we taks another bltt
and find it possible to go on
Contentment produces in some measure all
those effects which the alchemist usually
ascribes to- what he calls the philosopher.
stone and if it does not bring riches it doet
the same thing by banishing the desire fol
them-[Add;so
Religion gives to virtue the sweetest hopes
to unrepenting vice, jrst alarms, to true re-
pentance, the most powerful consultations
but she endeavors above all things to inspire
in men love, meeknsss and pity for men,