Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-01
MUSIC FOR THE. SICK.

The Rector and Choir of Trinity Church
Visit the Allegheny General Hospital
Beautiful Service.
A most interesting event of yesterday
afternoon was the service of song and praise
at the Allegheny General Hospital for the
benefit of the sick, many of the inmates be-
ing wounded or disabled survivors of the
Johnstown calamity. The music was given
in an inspirited manner by the choir and
organist of Trinity Church, under direction
of Mr.. G. s. Huntington, and consisted of
the full evening choral service, with appro-
pirate hymns As the melodious strains
penetrated to every ward and room of the
hospital the weary patients turned from the
contemplation of their individual trials and
listened with most unmistakable signs of
appreciation. The choir was partly within
the central hall of the hospital and partly
on the outside, and the volume of sound
produced by 40 well trained voices
was remarkable. A number OF convalescent
patients sat or stood in the hall and paid
the closest attention to the service while q
number of the patrons of the hospital
occupied spaces in the rooms opening on the
hall. The nurses of the institution fitted
back and forth attending to the wants of
the unfortunates in their charge.
The service was conducted by the Rector
of Trinity Church, Rev. Samuel Maxwell,
who read the lessons and prayers in his
usual impressive manner. His address was
most felicitous and although brief, con-
tanned many points of interest. He
said: ga speaker who would address an
audience like this should speak briefly,
tenderly, and with words of bright encour-
agement. Those of US who are blessed with
health can scarcely understand the almost
hopeless physical WEAKNESS and mental
lassitude which se1zes upon those who are
bedridden, either temporarily or perma-
nently. The sick when morning breaks
pray tor night to fall, and when the sun
sinks to rest await his return with i'm
patience. Their impatience is easily un-
derstood, and anything that will alleviate
their pain and smooth the brow contracted
with suffering must be welcome. So our
service this afternoon, with tuneful hymns,
must bring some comfort to those who hear
it. We should all be encouraged to go out
of our way to make others happy, especially
as at any moment disease may PROSTATE
us. We are all mortal, and strouble is
ever present. 1 claim that every one has
some work.to do for God. 1t may not be
trumpeted abroad. it may be unostentatious
and humble, but it is just as important in
making up tne sum OF human happiness.
Suffering is an appointment of God where
by He chastens humanity, and in His good
time He removes the burdens imposed, and
those who suffer must be content and lie
passive in Gods hands and say, "Thy will
be DONE" In my experience, the most
glorious triumphs of grace that l have ever
seen have been in sickrooms, and it seems
to me that as the mortal vision becomes
dimmed the spiritual grows more clear.
The Divine physician must come TO the
bedside. and it is a pleasurable duty that
His ministers perform in bearing the news
of the gospel to the sickroom."
Among those present at the service were
Mesdames George A. Kelly, Alexander and
Huntington and Misses Kelly, Maxwell,
Byram and others.