The San Francisco call., 1896-03-09
A SUNDAY SONG SERVICE.
Sankey and Stebbins Attract
Large Congregations to
the Y. M. G. A.
Rev. H. c. MiDton Draws a Telling
Lesson From the Parable of
the Prodigal Son.

"Come, now, this is congregational sing
ing," said Ira D. Sankey, as he announced
the opening hymn at the song service for
men at the Y. NJ. G. A. auditorium yester-
day afternoon. ~ want you all to sing
now. After while Mr.. Stebbins and Will
sing for you, but it is your turn now"
And then everybody sang. The audito-
rum was packed to its fullest extent and
the big audience responded, but it didn't
suit Mr.. Sankey. He divided and subdi-
vided the audience. He had them sing in
rounds and line at time until the spirit
OF competition apparently inspired every
man in the congregation and the volume
of song swelled notably.
"Now we will have good meeting" de-
clared the great master of sacred song.
And the events of the afternoon made good
his word.
1t was essentially an afternoon OF music.
Mr.. and Mrs. Stebbins sang Though My
Sins Be as Scarlet" in manner well calcu-
lated to bring tears to the eyes.
1t is Mr.. Stebbins' aim to express by his
singing the sentiment of the words more
than to produce the greatest amount of
melody. though he succeeds admirably in
both.
lion llSteu TO the SlHRlUS1 Try anu
understand the beautiful truth conveyed
in the sentiment of the song," he said
before singing, to music which he
has recently written, the old hymn, 81
Was Wandering Sad and Weary" The
air which he has composed is soft and
plaintive, admirably suited to the tender
pathos of the song, and the hymn prom
ises to become in its new arrangement one
of the popular Sunday-school songs of the
day.
OF all Sankey's songs probably none has
attained the popularity of 1.-THE Ninety
and Nine" and when the great song
writer announced that he would accede
to numerous requests and sing it there
was a futter of anticipation. Before tax
ing his seat at the organ he explained
the circumstances under which he wrote
the now famous hymn. 1t was written in
the highlands of Scotland when he felt
perplexed for a song that would reach the
hearts of the shepherds of that region.
From the first it met with remarkable
favor and is now sung wherever the
Christian religion and English language
prevail.
Mr.. Sankey's rendition of the hymn was
a revelation to those who have hitherto
heard it sung only by unframed congrega-
tions.
Rev. II. C. Minton made brief address
of welcome to the visiting evangelists and
OF admonltlon to the young men. The
parable of the prodigal son, which he pro-
nounced as one of the most striking pic
lures in the Bible, was his theme. 81
believe" he said, there is just enough OF
the Bohemian in each of us to have con-
siderable sympathy with the younger
brother, and there is enough meanness in
most of us to give us some fellow-f feeling
for the elder brother" In telling phrase
he applied the trials and characteristics of
the younger son to the enterprising but
foolish young man of the present day,
who, having reached the cigarette stage,
disdains the wisdom and the religion of
his father.
Mr.. Sankey sang in conclusion "My Ain
Countree."
In the evening the Y. M. C. A. audito-
rum was again crowded to the doors. On
this occasion the service was for both men
and women, and in addition to the singing
Mr.. Sankey made an address.