Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-09-26

e0undsl
Now, I say, when God has 90 con-
structed the human voice, and when he
has filed the whole earth with har-
mony, and when he recognized IL In the
ancient temple, l have right 70 come
To the conclusion that God loved music.
] propose, this morning In setting apart
this organ for sacred use, to speak
about sacred music; first showing you
its Importance, and then stating some
OF the obstacles to its advancement
| draw the first argument Tor the Inn
portance OF sacred music from the fact
that God commanded It. Through
Paul He tells us to admonish one an
other in psalms. and hymns. and
spiritual songs: and through David He
cries out: Sing We 10 God. all We king
doms OF the earth" And there are
hundreds OF other passages might
name. proving that II is as much a
mans duty TO sing as 1t Is his duty 10
pray. Indeed, think there are more
commands in the Bible TO sing than
there are to pray. God not only asks
for the human voice but for instru'
ments of music. He asks for the Gym
bal, and the harp, and the trumpet, rs
well as the organ. And suppose that,
in tho lust days OF the church. the harp,
the lutte. the trumpet and all the in
struments OF music. whether they have
been in the services of righteousness or
sin. will be brought by their masters
and laid down at the feet OF Christ, and
then sounded in the church's triumph,
on her way from suffering into glory.
PRAISE ye the LOrdm Praise Him
with your voices. Praise Him with
stringed instruments and with organs
| draw another argument for the i'm
portance OF this exercise, from the i'm
pressiveness OF this exercise. You
know something o! what Sec
ular music has achieved. You
know 1t has made its impression on
governments, upon laws. upon litera-
ture. upon whole generations. One in
spiriting national air is worth 10000
men as standing army. There comes
u time in the battle when one bugle is
worth a thousand muskeis.
have to tell you that no nation or
church can afford TO severely economic
In music. Many Of you are illustra-
tiOns OF what sacred song can do
Through it YOU were brought into the
kingdom OF Jesus Christ. You stood
out against the argument and the warn
ing OF the pulpit: but when. in the
sweet words OF Isaac Watts, or Charles
Wesley. or Jonn Newton, or Toplady,
the love OF Jesus was sung TO your soul,
when you surrendered. as armed castle,
that could not be taken BY host, lifts
its windows to listen to harp's trill.
There was Scotch soldier dying In
New Orleans. and Scotch minister
came in to give him the consultations Of
the gospel. TIE man turned over on
his pillow and said: Don't talk to me
about religion" The Scotch minister
began 20 sing familiar hymn OF Scot
land that was composed by David Dick
anson. beginning with the words:
o. mother. dear Jerusalem,
When shall come TO thee: -
He sang It TO the tune Of "Dundee, I"
and everybody in Scotland knows that,
and As he began to sing the diving SOL
der turned over on his pillow and said
to the minister: "Where did you learn
that?" why" replied the minister,
my mother taught me that" so did
mine," said the dying Scotch soldier,
and the very foundation OF his heart
was upturned and then and there he
Welded himself to Christ. D. it has an
irresistible power. Luthei's sermon
had been forgotten, but his Judgment
Hymn" sings on through the ages and
will keep on singing until the blast OF
archangel's trumpet shall bring about
that very day which the hymn cele-
brates. / would to Cod that those who
hear me. to-day, would take these songs
of salvation OF messages from heaven;
for Just as certainly as the birds brought
food to Elijah. by the brook OF Cherith,
so these winged harmonies. GOd-sent,
are flying to you soul with the bread OF
life. Open your mouths and take it, o,
hungry Elijah's!
In addition to the inspiring music Of
our own day, We have a glorious in
heritance Of church psalmOdy which
has come down fragrant with the dovo-
tiOns OF other generations-tunes no
more worn out than they were when
our grandfathers climbed up on them
from the church pew to glory. Dear
old souls how they used to
sing. When they were cheer
full. our grandfSthers and grand
mothers used to sing Colchester. Z"
When they were very meditative. then
the board meeting house rang with
south street" and st Eamond's. ="
Where they were struck with great
tenderness, they sang Woodstock. g"
Were Photographed in visions OF the
glory of the church. they sang 'ZiOn. I"
Were they OverbOrne with the love and
glory OF Christ, they sang 'Ariel. Z"
And in those days there were certain
tunes married to certain hymns, and
they have lived in peace a great while,
these two old people, and we have no
right todivOrce them. What God
hath Joined together let no man put as
under.h But how hard hearted we
mustbe II all this sacred music OF the
past, and all the sacred music of the
present does not start us heavenward.
l have also noticed the power Of
aoo,ad a0nn IN eOnkh Vnarft,rhafion