Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-07-01
REV. DR.. TALMAGE.
iha Eminent Brooklyn Divine's Sun.
day Sermon.
Subject: "The Song of Birds =

ing music by human voice or about music
sounded on instrument by finger or breath
We're put together, volume by the side OF
volume, it would I'LL hundred alcoves of the
national libraries.
First, remark that which will surprise
many, that the song of birds is a regulated
and systematic song, capable OF being written
out in note and staff and bar and clef as
much as anything that Wagner or Schumann
or Handel ever put on paper. As we pass the
grove where the fiocks are holding matin or
vesper service we are apt to think that the
sounds are extemporized. the rising or falling
note Is a mere accident, II is flung up and
down by haphazard. the bird did not know
what 1t was doing. it did not care whether it
was long meter psalm or a madrigaI. What
q mistake
The musician never put on the music rack
before him Mendelssohn's elijah" or Bee
thoyens Concerto" in q or Spohr's B fiat
symphony with more definite idea as to
what he was doing than every bird that can
sing at all confines himself to accurate and
predetermined rendering. The oratorios. the
chants, the carols, the overtrres, the inter-
ludes, the ballads, the canticles that this morn.
Ing were heard or will this evening be
heard in the forest have rolled down through
the ages without d variation. Even the
chipmunk's song was ordained clear back in
the eternities. AT the gates of paradise it
sang in sounds like the syllables "Kuk p
.'Kukm ''Kukp Just as this morning in
Long Island orchard it sang ''Kuk r''Kukr ~
"Kuk y The thrush at the creation uttered
sounds ikethe word Teacher p Teacher p
"IeacherH' as now it utters sounds like
"Teacber !" Teacher p "Teacherp p
In the summer OF the year l the yellow
| hammer trilled that which sounded like 'sIf p
"u.' III y as in this summer it trills ''If r.
IF. "If" The Maryland yellowthroat in
| herits and bequeaths the tune sounding like
] words ura ma nit ba
white sparrows "Tseep, tseep' woke our
great grandfathers as it will awaken our great
| grandchildren. The "Tee-ka-tee-ka-tee-k a"
OF the birds in the first century was the same
as the Observation-Disclosures" of the nine
teenth century.
The goldfinch has for 5000 years been
singing "De-ree-dee-ee-ree But these
sounds, which we put in harsh words,
they put in cadences, rhythmic, soulful
and enrapturing. Now If there is this
order and systematization and rhythm
all through Gods creation does it not
imply that we should have the same
| characteristics in the music we make or
try to maker Is it not wickedness that
so many parents give no opportunity for the
culture of their children in the art of sweet
sound9 If God stoops TO educate every blue
bird, oriole and grosbeak In song, how can
parents be 50 indifferent about the musical
development ofthe immortals in their house
hold?
We want hemisphere campaign of hosan-
mas. From hearing blind beggar sing Mar
tin Luther went home at forty years of age
to write his first hymn. In the autumn /
hope to have congregational singing school
here during the week which shall prepare
the people for the songs of the holy Sab
bath. II the church OF God universal is go
ing to take this world for righteousness
there must be added a hundredfold of more
harmony as well as q hundredfold Of more
volume to sacred music.
Further, l notice in the song Of birds
that 1t is q divinely taught song. The
rarest prima donna OF all the earth could
not teach the robin one musical note.
| kingfsher flying over the roof of tenn
pie aquake with harmonies would not
catch up one melody. From the time
that the first birds throat was fashioned
on the banks of the Gihon and Hiddekel
until to-day on the Hudson or Rhine the
winged creature has learned nothing
from the human race in the way OF carol or
anthem. The feathered songsters learned
all their music direct from God. He gave
them the art in q nest of straw or moss or
sticks and taught them how to lift that song
into the higher heavens and sprinkle the
earth with its dulcet entertainments God
fashioned, God tuned, God launched, God
lifted music And there is a kind of music
that the Lord only can impart to you, my
nearer.
Songs like that which Paul commended to
the Colossians when he said, 'Admonish one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing, with grace in your hearts, to
the Lord" Songs like Moses sang after the
| tragedy OF the Red sea- songs like Deborah
and Barak sang at the overthrow of Sisera,
songs like Isaiah heard the redeemed sing as
he came to Zion. Oh. God, teach US that
kind OF song which Thou only canst teach
and help us to sing it on earth and sing it in
heaven. 1t was the highest result of sweet
sound when under the playing of Paganini
one auditor exclaimed reverently. son,
| God !" and another sobhed out, sob, Christ ~
| Further remark i'll regard to the song Of
birds that it is trustfu and without any fear
! of what may yet come. VIII you tell mo
how il is possible for that wren, that spar
row that chickadee, to sing SO sweetly when
they may any time be pounced upon by q
/ hawk and torn wing from wing? There ara
cruel beaks in thicket and in SKY ready to
Stay the song birds. Herods on the wing
! Modocs of the sky. Assassns armed with
iron claw Murderers of song floating up
and down the heavens How can the Dir =
| sing amid such perils2 Besides that how ia
the bird sure to get food2 Millions of birds
without any certainty of breakfast or dinner
or supper. Would it not be better to gather
Its food for the day before vocalizing.
Besides that, the hunters are abroad.
| Bang goes gun in one direction. Bang
goes gun in another direction. The song
will attract the shot ana add 10 the peril
! For every bird thousand perils and dis2s-
tiers lowering and sweeping round and round.
Yet there it sings and it is trustful song
The bird that has it tine hardest sings tae
sweetest. The lark from the shape of her
claws may Aot perch on q tree In the grass
her nest is exposed to every hoofthat passes.
One of the poorest shelters OF all the earth is
! eli q pf MI vii
expect her to render the saddest of threno-
dies. No, no. She sings exultingly an hour
! without pause and mounting 5000 feet with
| out losing u note.
Further, in the sky galleries there ara
! songs adapted to all moods. The meadow
lark is mournful, and the goldfinch Joyous.
and the grosbeak prolonged of note. But
the hbretto of nature is voluminous Arc
you sad? You can hear from the bowers the
| echo OF your grief. Are you glad? You can
hear an echo OF your happiness. Ara
| you thoughtful? You can hear that
which will plunge you into deeper
profound. Are You weary2 You
may catch q restful air. So the songs Of
birds are administrative in all circumstances.
And we would do well to have hymnoIogy
for ali changes OF con iition. You may sing
your woes into peace and rouse your joys
into greater attitudes. Upon every condition
! OF body and soul let us try the power Of song.
: ihV AiulAlAulillOuS ulItTaIceS OIL grove ana
orchard and garden and forest suggest most
delightful possibilities.
Some OF the most deeply impressive songs
/ we ever sing are family songs. They havo
come down from generation to generation
! You were sung to sleep in your infancy and
childhood by songs that will sing in your soul
4 forever. Where was it, my brother nv or SIS
! ter, that you heard the family song-on the
/ banks OF the Ohio, or the Alabama. or
! the Androscoggin. or the Connecticut,
/ or the Tweed or the Thames. or the
/ Rartan? That song at eyentide. when YOU
were tired out-indeet too tired to sleep,
| and you cried With leg ache. and you were
I rocked ami sung to sieep-you hear 1t now.
/ the SOFT voice from sweet lips. she as tired
! perhaps more tjrel than you but she rocked
I and you slumberad. Oh, those family songs
( Mothers, be careful what YOU sing your
! children to sleep with. Let it be nothin.
frivolous or silly. Better have in it some
! thing OF Christ AMI heaven. Better have in
it something that will help that boy thirty
I years from now TO bear up uni der the
bombariment OF temptation. Better have in
it somethin; that viii help that daughter
/ thirty years from now when upon her come
( the cares Of motherhood and the aGonies OF
bereavement and the brutal Treatment OF ono
who swore before high heaven that he would
cherish and protect.
These family songs are about all we keep
of the old homestead. The house where YOU
were born will go into the hands OF strangers
! The garments that were carefully kept as
/ relics will become moth eaten. The family
/ Bible can go into the possession of only one
| of the family. The lock Oh gray hair may be
lost from the locket, and in few years all