The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-16
Christ" And then that angel of hymnology
manned the words:

penned the words:
o, for a thousand tongues TO sing
My dear Redeemer's praise.
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace.
Jesus, the name that Gains our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
'Tis music in the sinners ears
Tis life and health and peace.
While much of the modern music is a re-
ligious doggerel, a consecrated nonsense, a
sacred imbecility, would like to see sOme
great musician Of our time lift the baton
and marshal Luther's Judgment Hymn,
Yarmouth. Dundee, Ariel, Brattle street,
Uxbride, Pleyels hymn, Harwell, Antioch,
Mount Pisgsh and Coronation, with fe W
regiments OF mighty tunes made in our own
time, and storm Asia, Africa and America
for the kingdom of God. But the first thing
to do is to drive out the dumb devil of the
text from all our churches.
Do not, however, let us lose ourselves in
generalities. Not one OF US but ashad our
lives sometimes touched by the evil spirit of
the text-this awful dumb devil. We had
just one opportunity of saying Christian
word that might have led man or woman
into Christian life. The opportunity was
fairly put before US. The word of invita-
ton or consolation Of warning came to the
inside gate of the mouth, but there it halted.
Some hindering power locked the jaws to-
gether so that they did not open. The
tongue lay fiat and still in the bottom OF
the mouth as though struck with paralysis.
We were mute. Though Godi hadkgiven
us the physiological apparatus for
speech. and our klungs were filed
with air which, by the command of
our will, could have made the larygeal
muscles move and the vocal organs vinrate
we were wickedly and fatally silent. For all
time and eternity we missed our chance.
Or 1t was prayer meeting. and the service
was thrown open for prayer and remarks,
and there was a dead halt everything
silent as a graveyard at midnight. Indeed
1t was a graveyard and midnight. An en-
barrassng pause took place that put a wet
blanket on all tie meeting. Men, bold
enough on business exchange or in
worldly circles. shut their eyes as
though they were praying in
silence. bat they we're not praying
at all. They were busy hoping somebody
else would do his duty. The women
flushed under the awful pause and made
their fans more rapidly futter. Some
brother. with no cold, coughed, by that
sound trying to fill up the time, and the
meeting was slain. But what killed it,
the dumb devil. This is the way l
account for the fact that the stupidist
places on earth are some prayer meetings.
10 uob see now man Keeps any grace
if he regularly attends them. They are
spiritual refrigerators. Religion kept on
ice. How many of us have lost occasions
of usefulness. In a sculptor's studio stood
q figure Of the god Opportunity. The
sculptor had made the hair fall down over
the face Of the statue so as 60 completely
cover It, and there were wings to the feet.
When asked why he so represented Oppor-
tunity. the sculptor answered: 1.-THE face of
-. 4
recognize Opportunity when 1t comes, and
the wings to the feet show that Opportunity
is swiftly gone"
But do not let the world deride the church
because Of all this, for the dumb devil is
just as conspicuous in the world. The two
great political parties will soon assemble to
build platforms for the presidential candi-
dates to stand on. A committee of each
party will be appointed TO make the plat
form. After proper elaboration, the COM
mittees will come in with a ringing report:
Whereas" and Whereas" and "Where-
as.n Pronunciamentoes all shaped with
the one idea Of getting the most votes. All
expression in regard TO the great moral
evils of the country ignored. No expression
about the liquor traffic, for that would lose
The rum vote No expression in regard to
the universal attempt at the demolition OF
the Lords day. No recognition of aGod in
the history of this nation, for that would
lose the vote OF atheists. But "Whereas, :"
and Whereas" and whereas" Nine
cheers will be given for the platform.
The dumb devil of the text will put
one wing over the republican plat
form and the other wing over the
democratic platform. There is nothing in
volved in the next election except offices.
The great conventions will be opened with
prayer by their chaplains. If they avoid
platltudes and tell the honest truth in their
prayers, they will say: 10, Lord we want
to be postmasters and consuls and foreign
and United States district attor-
neys. For that we are here, and for that
we will strive till the election next Novem~
Der. Give us Office or we die Forever
and ever, Amen" The world, to say the
least. is no better than the church on this
subject Of silence at the wrong time. In
other words, is it not time for Christianity
TO become pronounced and aggressive as
never beforea Take sides for God and
sobriety and Righteousness. "If the Lord
be God, follow him; IL Baal, then follow
him" Have you opportunity of rsbuking
a sins Rebuke it. Have you a chance to
cheer disheartened soul2 Cheer it. Have
you useful word to speakl Speak 1t.
Be out and out. up and down for right
eousness. II your ship is afioat on the
Pacific ocean of Gods mercy. hang out
your colors from masthead. Show your
passport IL you have one. Do not smuggle
your soul into the harbor of heaven. Speak
out for God! This morning close up the
chapter Of lost opportunities. and pitch it
into the East river, and open a new chapter.
Before you get to the door on your way out
this morning shake hands with some one.
and ask him to join you on the road to
heaven. Do not drive up to heaven In two
wheeled 'suiky" with room only for one,
and that yourself, but get the biggest
gospel wagon you can find, and pile
1t full Of friends and neighbors, and shout
sill they hear you all up and down the skies,
" Come with us, and we will do you good
for the Lord hath promised good concerning
Israel" The opportunity for good which you
may consider insignificant may be tremend-
Gus for results, as when on the sea, Capt.
Haldane swore at the ships crew with an
oath that wished them all in perdition, and
a Scotch sailor touched his cap and said,
Captain! God hears prayer, and we would
be badly off il your wish were answered"
Capt. Haldane was convicted by the sailors
and converted. and became the
means OF the salvation of his brother
Robert who had been an infidel, and
then Robert became a minister of
the gospel, and under his ministry the god
less Felix Neff becamelthe world renowned
missionary of the cross, and the worldly
Merle D'Aubigne became tue author of the
History of the Reformation" and will be
the glory of the church for all ages. Perhaps
you may do as much as the Scotch sailor
who just tipped his cap and used
one broken sentence by which the
earth and the heavens are still resembling
with potent influences. Do something for
God, and do it right away, or you will