The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1894-02-23

deeply stained with crimson blood.
Itwas evening, and the eircling hills,
grimly planted with canons, looked
sternly down upon the listless camp
and silent town, made golden by the
evening sunset. Suddenly, on the
fervid air, there came a soft and sa-
cred strain of music, now rich, now
tender, and which seemed ahane
with the splendor of departing day.
No unresponsive soul heard that
plaintive and appealing note, but
so deeply had it stirred feelings hid
den fount, that the soldiers, wheth-
err wearing the blue or the gray, sees
only as by fairy,s wand, the cot
tage meath the oak or cabin on the
broad prairie. Aud whether cold or
warm, his native skies bend over
him in beauty, and through tear dim
med eyes, he catches glimpses of
familiar scenes, and well beloved
faces are before him.
Thus memory, awakened by mu-
sizes art, subdued, softened for a mo-
ment banished hatred, deceit, malice
and victory, from the hearts of the
contending armies.
Among all nations music has
always formed a part of public wor-
ship. 'Praise" it has been aptly
said, sis the appropriate language of
devotion" A fervent spirit of de-
votion instincvtely seeks to express
itself in song.
On the banks of the Red Sea, Mo
SEES and the children of Isreal sang
their triumphal song of deliverance
from the hosts of Egypt, and Mi
Ram in celebration of the same event
led a procession composed of the
women of the camp, who chanted in
chorus, the burden to the song of
Moses, "Sing ye to Jehovah, for he
triumphed gloriously.'
The use of musical instruments in
the church, has during past years
had considerable opposition on the
grounds that the New Testament
does not warrant it and they were
excluded from the primitive church.
1t is not, however, sufficient to
show that such performances were
not customary or known in the sacred
music of the early church; if we
would authoritatively exclude them,
we must first prove that the New
Testament positively forbids their
use.
Our Savior and his Apostles did
not deem it necessary to discuss
these immaterial questions with the
church. If the Old Testament saints
could profitably employ instrumental
music as a means of grace, why
should it be denied the Christian?
If David's soul took wing with
celestial vigor as he strung his Tyre
in accord with his deyout lays, why
should not the modern saint re-
fresh his soul with the ravishing
harmony of the organ?
The language of the heart is
swept up to God through the swell
ling symphonies of music, hence the
need of variety.
God, forbid that Christians should
longer stand in mournful attitude,
chanting in solemn and sepulchral
notes, over the graves of buried
hopes, while, in the mean time, Sa-
tan is marching forward with shouts
of multitude, beat of drum and
sound of trumpet, leading down to
death and destruction his multiplied
thousands.
But may the day soon dawn when
all instruments of music shall be
dedicated to the services of God
instead of the evil one, as many now
are, and may all the people join in
the singing with enthusiasm and
heartipess, remembering that music
upon earth is but rehearsal for the
choir of heaven.
Let us as Epworth Leaguers en-
deavor to send forth such songs
of prayer and praise to our divine
Creator as shall nourish our souls
and bring peace to our hearts.
Such as comes not from the lips
alone, but rising from the deep re-
cesses of the human heart shall be
waited higher and higher, until final
ly tits echoed and re-echoed by the
white robed angels of the celestial
city, the entire host of heaven swell
ling the chorus, reverberating
throughout every mortal and inn
mortal soul, passing from heaven to
earth and from earth to heaven and
causing all creation to rejoice with
"Joy unspeakable and full of glory"
Seine Mere Observations.