The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-09-06
uu.ic ~. an Ala ia the Gospel.

In the beautiful home of Mrs John Crosby
Brown NJ Orange, in tho ncighborhood of
New York, is one OF the most remarkable
collections i'm America, perhaps in the world.
IL consists Of specimens Of musical instru.
ments from the primitive people, ot all quar-.
ters of the earth. There nrc Striugcd iustru-
ments Of every shape ard degree Of com.
plcNty, from single cord stretched over n
small cup-liko resonHtOr 10 the knnu of tho
Arabs which re.cmhles the internal struc.
turc Of n piano, but is played 10y "a plectrum
instead Of "a Key board There are wind in
struments, from the s,nglc reed and metallic
truml ct or whistle 10 a small mouth-organ.
There nro drums of every shape aud size,
some of them made Of wood, some Of metal,
some Of clay; some simple and Others com.
pound some with burhHric ornaments
or painting, others variou,ly inlaid
and decorated by tho higher art OF
India and the Mohnmmcdan lands Of
Western Asia and Northern Africa.
Then there are castanets, resonant
metallic bnrs, and sundry nondoscrpt and
10 lis unmuslcal instruments, suggesting an
immense diversity OF tastes. Tho chief in
terest of the collection, however ccnt"rs in
the idea that music IL an endowment OF the
whole human race nni TINT II hath charms
10 suoth the savage breast. as well ns To en-
terlan the most cultivated OF our kind
Those who have Travelled in the enst have
been struck with tine universal passion for
such weird music ns AsluticS and Africans
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 loatmcu ot
the Nile row tu the Welnuc. Oly dirges which
have come down 10 them from the ancient
Egyptian ritual Of the dosd. At weddings
aud at funerals, at births and lctrotIals, IN
joy and IN sorrow, and especially in iouLl.
ou~ worship, music is the su.uce and delight
OF the simpler races, even moro than Of their
cultivated kindred.
Ms,Ionurir, hpyc not been slow - per-
cplyc and utilize this fact. Mu,,c has been
one of the most powerful aid, 10 the spread
uf the gospel E.IyCluIly !, this the case
among the poetlcal races pt A~in aud among
none moro thai the Arabs. They have a
passion for m' sic, and "a long line of music.
loving IN. ~siouHrIoS has wrought out for
them system which O. miino~ the culture u
tho West with the minor strains H.d extra.
ordinary intervals of tho East Many
schulITS, native ard foroi- IN. have trans ut. 4
and cumucsel psalms and hymns IN the
Aranlc language" Itr. L-wls Formerly ot
thc Syrian Protestant College, and after him
Rev. MrSsrs. J'S-up, Ford and Mr. Hallock,
have elaborated a complete system Of notI.
ton, adapted % the reversed order OF the
Arabic printing, and arranged hundreds Il
the best tune, OF the East and the West in a
hymn.hooli which rivals tho,o IN us' in our
American churches for variety and aiapta.
tion u social and church worship,
and is in general use in tho
schools, families and churches Of Syria
Nor has instrumental mus been neglected
A harmonIum il considered a necessary part
Of the apparatus of every school. In the
larger centers pianos, and in Beirut a fine
pipe organ purchased hy local sui scripton,
help on the chorus of praise from voices well
trained in the service Of song. Some Of the
missionaries carry small travelling harmo-
mum with them ON their urneys, md find
IL of the greatest service IN calling together
an audience the scattered villages among
which they labor. Ii may encourage those
who have contributed 10 supply such instru'
nents for schools and churches, to know that
no sum Of money given 70 missions does
more permanent good than that spent IN sup
plying these simple aids TO the collection and
organization OF people for the worship OF
| God. lChurch at Home and Abroad.
Good thoughts, like the leaves, give out a
sweet smell if laid up in jar Of memory
! II rich, he not too joyful in having, too
solicitous in keeping too sorrowtul in losing.
| Our own hands are heavens favorite in
struments for supplying Us with the neces-
/ sarles of life.
The beginning OF hardship Is like the first
| taste of bitter food-it seems for "a moment
unhearable; yet, II there is nothing else to
/ satisfy your hunger, we take another bite
md find Il possible TO go ON.
! Contentment produces in some measure all
those effects which the alchemiSt usually
uscribes to what he calls the philosophers $
stone and il IL does not bring riches IL does
/ he same thing by banishing tho desire for
them Addison.
Religion gives To virtue the sweetest hopes
to unrepentlng vice, just alarms, TO true re-
pentlrce, tho most powerful consultations;