Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-06-30
REV. DR.. 7ALMAGE.
The Eminent Brooklyn Divine's Sun.
day Sermon.
subjects "Iho Song of Birds. :


There is an important and improving sub
iect to which most people have given no
thought and concerning which this is the
first pulpit discussion-namely, ''The Song oil
Birds" 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 oil hundred alcoves ofthe
national libraries
First, l 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 flocks are holding matin or
yesper service we are apt to think that the
sounds are extemporized, the rising or falling
note is a mere accident, il is flung up and
down by haphazard, the bird did not know
what it was doing. it did not care whether it
was long meter psalm or madrigal. What
a mistake
The musician never put on the music rack
before him Memberships elijah" or Bee
thoven's 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 oyertures, the inter
Iudes, 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 q 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 !"
''Kuk ~ ''Kukw' just as this morning in
Long Island orchard it sang 'kuk y "huS !"
"Kukr The thrush at the creation uttered
sounds likethe word Teacher ~ Teacher.
Teacher as now it utters sounds like
Teacher !" Teacher p Teacher. -
In the summer OF the year the yellow
hammer trilled that which sounded like IF y
'If!" "If!" as in this summer it trills 'If!
'Ifr' '1fr The Maryland yellowthroat in
herits and bequeaths the tune sounding like
the words "Pity me, pity me, pity ne I" The
white sparrOws "Iseep tseep woke our
great grandfathers as il will awaken our great
grandchildren. The "Tee-ka-tee-ka-tee-k8"
Of the birds in the first century was the same
as the 'Tee-ka-tee-ka-tee-ka of the nine
teenth century.
The goldfnch has for 5000 years been
singing 'De-ree-dee-ee-ree.V 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 1t not
imply that we should have the same
characteristics in the music we make or
try to make? Is 1t not a wickedness that
so many parents give no opportunity for TIE
culture of their children in the art OF sweet
sound? II God stoops TO educate every blue
bird, Oriole and grosbeak in song, how can
parents be so indifferent about the musical
development ofthe immOrtals in their house
hold?
We want hemisphere campaign OF hosaR-
mas From hearing blind beggar sing Mar
tin Luther went home at forty years OF age
to write his first hymn. In the autumn l
hope TO have a 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 10 take this world for Righteousness,
there must be added hundredfold of more
harmony as we'll as a hundredfold OF more
volume TO sacred music.
Further. l notice in the song of birds
that il is a diyinely taught song. Inc
rarest prima donna Of all the earth could
not teach the robin one musical note.
kinghsher 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 sonSsters learned
all their music direct from God. He gave
them the art in a nest of straw or moss OF
sticks and taught them how to lit that song
into the higher heavens and sprinkle Inc
earth with its dulcet entertainments. Goa
fashioned God tuned. God launched, God
lifted music. And there is kind OF music
that the Lord only can impart 70 you, my
hcerer.
the COIossians when he said. ''AdmOnish one
another in psalms and hymns and spirltual
songs, singing, with grace in your hearts, 70
the Lord.S Songs like Moses sang after the
tragedy OF the Red sea, songs like Deborah
and Barak sang at the overthrow OF Slsera,
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 II ID
heaven II was the highest result Of sweet
sound when under the playing Of Paganini
one auditor exclaimed reverently, "On,
God :" and another sObbed out, ION, Christ
Further. I remark in regard to the song oil
birds that it is trustful and without any lear
of what may yet come. VIII you tell mo
how it is possible for that wren, that spar
row that chickadee, TO sing so sWeetly wDen
fhey may any time be pOuncef upon by
hawk and torn wing from wing? There are
cruel beaks in thicket and in SKY ready Ia
STAY the song birds. Herods on the wing
Modocs of the sky. Assassins armed with
iron claw. Murderers Of song floating ur
and down the heavens. How can the birds
sing amid such perils? Besides that. how /;
the bird sure to get foody Millions OF birds
have been starved. Yet it sings in the dawn
without any certainty Of breakfast or dinner
or supper. Would 1t not be better 10 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 and add 10 the peril.
For every bird thousand perils and disas-
tiers lowering and sweeping round and round.
Yet the=S a sings and it is a trustful song.
Thes ID that has It the hardest sings the
sweetest. The lark from the shape OF her
claws may not perch on tree. In the grass
her nest Is exposed to every hoOfthat passes.
One OF the poorest shelters Of all the earth is
the la-k's nest. If she sings at all. you will
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 note.
Further, in the sky galleries there ara
songs adapted 70 all moods. The meadow
lark Is mournful, and the goldhneh Joyous,
and the grosbeak prolonged of note But
the librettO Of nature is voluminOus. Arc
you sad2 You can hear from the bowers the
echo Of your grief. Are you glad? You can
hear an echo Of your happiness. Are
you thoughtful? You can hear that
which will plunge you into deeper
profound. Are you weary? You
may catch a restful air. SO the songs Of
Dirds are administrative in all circumstances.
ana we would do well TO have a hymnology
ior all changes Of condition. You may sing
your woes into peace and rouse your joys
INTO greater attitudes. Upon every condition
Of body and soul let US try thepower Of song.
Inc multitudinOus utterances OF grove and
orchard and garden end forest suggest most
delightful possibilities.
Some Of the most deeply impressive songs
we over sing are family songs. They have
come down from generation to generation:
You were sung to sleep in your infancy and
childhood by songs that viii sing in your soul
forever. Where was it, my brother my or SIS
ter, that you heard the family song--on the
banks Of the Ohio, or the Alabama. or
the ADdroscoggin, or the Connectie9s,