Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-09-25

Tho great niultitu ID tho choir, we might
rouse more heartiness. The congregation
coming on the Sabbath day feel that they
cannot delegate this part OF the great serv-
ice to any one else AMI 50 they themselves
assume it. We have hal a glorious congre-
vational singing here. People have cone
many miles to hear it. They are not surJ
about the preaching but they can always
depend on the sin ring. We have heard the
sound coming up like THE voice OF many
waters" but it will be done at better rate
nfter awhile. when we shall realize the height,
and the depth, and the immensely oil thi'
privilege.
adopted this plan. That is, we do not want
any choir quarrels. You know very well
that in scores Of churches there has been
perpetual contention in that direction. The
only church fight that ever occurred un Ter
my ministry was over meoieOH, in my
first settlement. Have you never been Ill
church on the Sabbath day and heard the
choir sing. and YOU sail, THAT Is splendid
music" The next Sabbath, you wers in
that church. AMI there was no choir
at all Whyg Tho leader was mad,
or bis assistants were mad, or they
were all MAD together. Somo Of the
choirs are made up Of our best Christian
people. Some Of the warme5t friends have
ever had stool up IN them, Sabbath after
Sabbath. conscientiouslY AMI successfully
leading the praises Of Col. But the majority
of the choirs throughout the land are not
made up of Christian people, and three
fourths of tn church fights orr gin lte in the
organ loft. / take that back and say nine
tenths. A great many Of our churches Te
dying Of cho;rs..
We want to rouse all our fanilicI to tho
duty of sacred song. We want each family
of our cUngre cation 10 be n singing school.
Childish petuance, 5luracy AMI intracta-
bility would be soothe IL we had more sing
ing in the house holl, an then our little ones
would be prepared for the great congregl-
ton on the Sabbath day, theryOice uniting
WITH our voices in the praises Of the Lord.
After q shower there are scores Of streams
that come down the mountain side with
voices ripping and silvery, pouring in one
river and then rolling in united strength 70
the sea. SO would have all the families In
our church send forth the voice of prayer and
praise pouring it into the great tide or public
worship that rolls on and on to empty into
the great, wide heart of Col. Never can we
have our church sing as it ought until our
families sing as they ought.
There will be a great revolution on thiI
subject in all our churches, God will come
down by His spirit and rouse up the old
hymns and tunes that have not been more
tnan ns.it awake sinco the time or our gran :.
fathers. The silent pows in the church will
break forth into music, AMI when the con-
ductor takes his place Oh the Sabbath day
there will be great host of voices rushing
into the harmony. Ny Christian friends il
we have no taste for this service on earth,
what will we do in heaven, where they III
sing, and sing forever
want 10 rouse you TO a unanimity in
Christian song that has never yet been ex-
hibited. Come, now, clear your throats
aud get ready for this duty or you will never
hear the end of this. l never shall forget
hearing a Frenchman sing the 'Marseil-
laiso" on the Champs Elyseas. Paris, just
before the battle of Sedan in $50. | never
saw such an enthusiasm before or since. As
he sung that national air OH how the
Frenchmen shouted Have you ever in an
English assemblage heard the ban play
God Save the QueenT II you have, you
know something about the enthusiasm Of
n national air
Now, ] tell you that thase songs we sing
Sabbath By Sabbath are the national airs of
Jesus Christ and OF the kingdom Of heaven,
and if you do not learn to sing them here,
how do you ever expect 10 sing the song OF
Moses and the Lamb, | should not be sur
prise1 at all if some Of the best anthems Of
heaven were made up o, soms Of tho best
songs on earth. May God increase our rev.
erence for Christian pslmoly, and keep us
from disyraciny it by our in liTerenc, AMI
frivolity. When Cronweipsarm went into
battle, he stood at the head Of them one day
and gave out the long meter doxOlogy 10 the
tune Of the "Old Hundrcith, and that great
host. company by company, regiment by regi-
ment, battalion by battalion, joine in the
dOxoloZy:
Praise God from whom al blessings flOI,
Praise Him, all creatures here below:
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host,
Praise Father Son aud Hoy Ghost.
And while they sang they marchet and
while they marched they fought, and while
they fought they got the victory. Oh men
and women of Jesus Christ let US 60 into al
our conflicts singing the praises Of God, sld
then instead Of falling back, as we often do
from defeat - defeat we will be marching
on from victory 10 victory.
Glory to the Father AMI to the Son and to
the Holy Ghost, as it was in tho beginning,
L i l.. ~ 4 ...t