Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-04-13
SUNDAY SCHOOL MUSIC
AN ADDRESS BY REv. J. n.
WILEY
Before the Delaware State Sunday
School Convention at Whining
ton, Delaware, Friday,
April 1e. 1889.
When Alexander Pope wrote The coup

let
Fear not the anger Of tho wise To raise,
They best can bear rcprOof who merit
praise"
he did not have in mind the typical musi
clan. Whether it be as some OF the un-
regenerate have said because singers are
apt to be so full of airs, or as others have
claimed that It is owing to the prevalence
of storms on the high C's, we have no
means OF knowing sure we are that
musicians are dangerous creatures to stir
up, and music, like the unfortunate OF
Hoods poem, must be taken up tenderly
and handled with care. Joshua mani
tested profound knowledge of human
nature as we'll as n good ear for music
when coming down the Mount with
Moses. He stopped moment to listen
to the singing OF the new choir appointed
to celebrate the glory OF the Golden calf,
ard then, turning to Moses, said: "TheTe
is the noise Of war in the camp"
There Is scarcely anything which has
produced as much discord In the social
or religious world as harmony. Alexander
wept perhaps for other worlds to
conquer, but Alexander never at
tempted to lead q fashionable choir.
1t is with fear and trembling, therefore,
that approach this volcanic subject, re-
marking, however, as a sort of prophylac-
tic that my symrathies are usually with
the musieian-as even with my crude taste
and untGained ear the only time | am
ever tempted to lose my temper In the
pulpit is when the congregation persists
iu singing ont of tine and out OF tune.
The subject OF Sunday school music is
q vast one, new continent recently
opened up, new breaking up OF the
fountains Of the great deep A few years
ago this was a very simple matter; half
dozen heavy church tunes, dlguihfd
choral, ditty or two Of the 81 want TO
be an angel" or "When the morning light
drives away the night sort. But we
have seen q great change. Many are now
living who saw the beginnings of this
movement; some indeed who contributed
largely thereto. 1t is the growth OF a
day, and like all other sudden develop
men's has it's weaknesses and demands
Its guards. Jonah's g0urd always comes
pro- erly by its chronological destroyer,
and the vehemt Mt east wind stands ready
To discipline nil paryehucs.
TIE advantages that aC cruc from this
feature of Sunday school work are appar-
eut 20 the most casual Observer. From
r the days OF OrphGus aud the Pied Piper
OF HAmelin the power OF music has been
recognized. DIR, Duryea once said of the
new Tonic Sol ia system that Is was "des'
tined TO accomplish awolk Tor the masses
! second only TO the Christian religion
/ With all due r. spest for the doctor and q
share Of that resp ct for tbs new system
of musical notation, beg leave to dliT r,
and mention the remark merely to illus
trate his estimate of the power Of music,
since this great influence was to be eEer,-
/ ed by the new impulse that would tdut
. be given to the art.
The Sunday school where music is cul'
tvatod will be crowded with vialtort
/ and will be an acknowledged iactol
r Ia the community These free con
Y certs will he well patronize1, and The
!. officers OF the school will be responsible
II they fail to reap the advantages arising
: from this awakening of Int rest. III,
lover Of music who comes as visitor
will remain as a member OF the Bibl'
class aud will graduate into teacher
The children may also be benefited 10y
the mere exercise OF singing. IL is some
thing they can do and something whicl
will be pleasant In the dong. 1t Is :
, portion OF the service IN which they may
engage, and thus become working par
OF the school. II Is corporate affair ant
| each child becomes stockh ldrr. /
| cultivates the feeling of solidarity, dc
' vclops healthy Esprit de corps; to snl
' together ls the taking of salt to- ether
on the bridge of harmony souls nee
half way, and spirits miDgle with tht
mingl ng of sounds This is not an In
significant factor. The captive Jews re
: fused to sing in Babylon. They were no
In the fp!rlt OF their heather masters
they did not wish TO sing thems Ives int
that spirit To sing In Babylon would b,
, equivalent 10 forgetting Jerusalem. IL
order TO keep out of harmony with the
> strange land they must hang their harp,
, upon the willows In the midst thereof
l The children become intcgrant parts o.
the Sabbath school when they are taugh
! to sing with the sabbath echo |. BoLe tc
a lis bone coneth togeth'r at this treatl
from the four ~iuds, us in the valley o
D vision and that which was confused heap
a congercs OF IN scelldneous fra ments be.
: comes an exceeding great army.
a Music possesses a faculty ior Impress
ing truth, which deserves more than q
mere casual mention. No greater preacher
:, has ever lifted up his voice higher than
| the diatunic scale. The thunder mea
4 suros OF the lliad-the kingly hexam
etcrs of the Kneid, the oaorous metrical
theology of Milton are modtstly called
songe in their opening lines. 1t was Q
; philosopher who said Let me make &
n peoples songand | care not who makes IT.
laws" History is full of illustration:
p which prove the power OF music. "Tht
Marseillcs Hymn )" The " Watch on th'
Rhine" ''Seots Who Ilae VIZ Wallac,
0 Bl. cd" and su h like have been thu
/ trumpet notes OF peoples inspiration
q The Peasants War during the reign o
u Richard H., was melted by rude rhyme
J and jlneling melodies sung on the ttree
{. corners. 1t was the music Of the mill
tary band that brought the French Arm,
:, successfully over the ALPS. The whistl
OF the Scottish bagpipe rallied the broker
!, 42nd Highland rs at Wa eriOo and savet
!. the day until Butcher came.
1t is eminently true that
"a verse may find him who sermo'
z fits,
- Aud tnrn delight into a sAcrili CO."
q There is something elevat'ng about tn
mere music II properly guarded, which l
q worth considering. Jean Paul Rlchte
says that "True music can never be bas
nor debasing," while Madame de Stae
n goes still further In asserting tina
"Amoug all the arts music alone can b
e purely religious" We are compelled
=, take both declarations with grain {
y salt, yet they suggest the truth. Musl
will often triumph when all other art
will fall. The words that come wipge
with song are often the arrows that fin
tho heart OF the Kings enemies.
"Truth on these lips prevail wit
, double sway,
And fools who come to mock renal