Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1893-07-06
REV. DIR. FAshMAGE.
THEeBR0DKs4iFKaBDFv4EEsS SUN
DAY SERMON.


IExT. shall the fouls of the
neacen haDe their ha6itation, sohich sinq
among the branches. Psalms, civ, 10.
There is an important and improving SUBJ
lect to which most peo I've given no
thought and concerning s. this IS the
nrst pulpit overwhelmingly. s"The Song Of
nlus. II all that has been written concern
ing music by human voice or about music
sounded on instrument by finger or breath
were put together, volume by the side of
volume, It would fill hundred alcoves ofthe
national libraries.
FIRST remark that which will surprise
many, that the song OF birds is regulated
ana systematic song, capable OF being written
out in note and staff and bar anSfSlef "a
mucn as anything that Wagner or Schumann
OF handel ever put on paper. AS we psss the
grove where the Hooks are holding matin or
vesper service we are apt to think that the
SOUNDS are extemporized, the rising or falling
9oee y q mere accident, it is flung up and
what It was doing, it did not care whether il
mistake
The musician never put on the music rack
pe1ore him Mendelssohn's ''E1ijah1 or Bee
tnoven's Concerto" in G or Spohr's B fiat
ympnony with more definite idea as to
what ne was doing than every bird that can
sing at all confines himself to accurate and
predetermined rendering. The oratorios, the
cnants, the carols, the overtures, the inter
iudes, theballads, the canticles that this morn
ing were heard or will this evening be
neard N the forest have rolled down through
the ages without variation Even the
chipmunk's song was ordained cleur back in
the eternities. At the gates of paradise it
sang IN sounds like the syllables ssKuk p'
'kuk = 'Kukp p just as this morning in a
Long Island orchard it sang ''Kuk p s.Kuk P'
"Kuk r The thrush at the creation uttered
sounds ike word "Teacher p Teacher p
Teacher as now 1t utters sounds like
Teacher y Teacher % ssTeacher!"
In the summer OF the year / the Yellow
hammer trilled that which sounded like "If !''
III .If!' as in this summer it trills "If ~
FIT "Ifr' The Maryland yellowthroat in
merits and bequeaths the tune sounding like
Ene words PITY me, pity me, pity mer' The
white sparrow's "Tseep, tseep' woke our
great grandfathers as it will awaken our great
grandchildren. The ssTee-ka-tee-k a-tee-ka''
OF the birds in the first century was the same
as the Observation-Disclosures of the nine
teenth century
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 make? Is it not a wickedness that
30 many parents give no opportunity for the
culture OF their children in the art of sweet
sound? If God stoops to educate every blue
bird, oriole and grosbeak in song, how can
parents be SO Indifferent about the musical
oeveiopment 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 I
hope to have congregational singing school
here during the week which shall prepare
me people Tor the songs OF the holy Sab
bath. Ii the church of God universal is 60
Ing to take this world for righteousness.
there must be added hundredfold of more
harmony as well as a hundredfold OF more
volume to sacred music.
Further, notice in the song of birds
that 1t IS divinely taught song. The
rareSt prima donna of all the earth could
not teach the robin one musical note.
kingfisher 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
rom che 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 a 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
hearer
Songs like that which Paul commended TO
the Colossians when he said, "Admcnish one
n n IN an ot,x,e 4
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 cansr teach
and help us to sing it on earth ana sing it IN
heaven. 1t was the highest result OF sweet
sound when under the playing OF Paganini
one auditor exclaimed reverentiy. son,
God y and another soDoed out, "Oh, Christ p
Further, remark in regard to the song OF
birds that it is trustful and without any lear
OF what may yer come. WIN you tell mo
now 1t IL possible tor that wren, that spar
row. that c5ickadee. to sing so sweetlv when
they may any time be pounced upon by n
<hawk and torn wing from wing? There ARD
Vuel beaks in thicket and In sky ready 10
Gay the song BIRDS Herods on the wing.
Mpdocs OF the sky. Assassins armed with
iron claw Murderers OF song floating up
and DOWN the heavens. How can the birds
sing a9id such perils? Besides that. how Is
the bird sure to get food? Millions Of birds
have beeu starved Yet 1t sings in the dawn
without any certainty OF breakfast or dinner
pr supper. Would 1t not be better to gather
" food for the day before vocalizing.
<eB@tdes that, the hunters are abroad.
OK goes gun In one direction. Bang
~ gun In another direction. The song
3tract the shot and add to the peril