The Yale expositor., 1896-04-03

mas OFTEN DeTn dragged into the uses
OF superstition and dissipation, we all
know 1t may be the means OF high
moral culture. Oh, 1t is a grand thing
to have our children brought up
amidst the sound of cultured voices,
and amidst the melody OF musical in
struments.
There is In this art an indescribable
fascination for the household. Let all
those families who have the means to
afford it. have flute, or harp, or piano,
or organ. AS soon as the hand Is large
enough to compass the keys, teach 1t
how to pick out the melody. Let all
our young men try this heavenly art
upon their nature. Those who have
gone into 1t fully have found In 1t
illimitable recreation and amusement.
Dark days, stormy nights, seasons Of
sickness, business disasters, will do lit
tie toward depressing the soul which
can gallop off over the musical keys.
o" soar in jubilant lay. 1t will cure
pain. It will rest fatigue. 1t will quell
| passion. 1t will revive health. 1t will
reclaim dissipation. 1t will strengthen
the immortal soul. In the battle of
| Waterloo. Wellington saw that the
Highlanders were falling back. He
said, What is the matter there?" He
was told that the band of music had
ceased playing. and he called up the
pipers and ordered them to strike ND
an inspiriting air; and no sooner did
| they strike the air than the Highland
ers were rallied, and helped to win the
day. Oh ye who have been routed in
the conflicts OF life, try By the force
of music to rally your scattered bat
taiions.
! am glad TO know that in our great
cities there is hardly night in which
there are not concerts, where, with the
best musical instruments and the
sweetest voices, people may find enter
tairment. Patronize such entertain
ments when they are afforded you.
Buy season tickets, If you can, for the
philharmonic" and the Handel and
Haydn" societies. Feel that the dollar
and half or two dollars that yoa spend
for the purpose OF hearing an artist
play or sing is profitable investment.
Let your academies of music roar with
tho reclamation OF apprcciative audi
ences assembled at the concert or the
oratorio. ...t....
Still further, | commend. as worthy
of their support, the gymnasium. This
institution is gaining in favor every
year, and / know of nothing more free
from dissipation. or more calculat-
ed TO recuperate the physical and men
tel energies. While there are a good
many people who have employed this
institution, there is q vast number who
are ignorant OF its excellences. There
arc men with cramped chests and weak
sides and respondent spirits who
through the gymnasium might be
reused up to eXuDerance and exhi!ara-
ton of life. There are many Christian
people respondent from year to year.
who might, through such an institu-
ton, be benefited IN their spiritual re.
lations. There are Christian people
who seem to thinl, that 1t is a good
sign to be poorly; and because Richard
Baxter and Robert Hall were invalids,
they think that by the same sickliness
they may come to the same grandeur OF
character / want to tell the Christian
people Of my congregation that God
will hold you responsible for your in
valdism If 1t is your fault, and when.
through right exercise and prudenca.
you might be athletic ana we'll The
effect OF the body upon the soul YOU
acknowledge. Put u man OF mild dis
position upon the animal diet Of which
the Indian partakes, and in lttlc
while his bleed will change its chcmi-
cal proportions. 1t will become like
unto the blood of the lion, or the tiger.
or the bear, while his disposition VIII
change. and become fierce and -unre-
lenting. The body has a powerful
effect upon the soul.
We shall have the smooth and rrassy
lawn, and we will call out peonle az
all occupations and professions and
ask them 10 join in the ball-player's
sport. You will come back from these
outdoor exercises and recreations with
strength in your arm and color in your
cheek and fash in your eye and corr
age in your heart. In this great battl,
that is opening against the kingdom
of darkness. we want not only a con-
secrated soul, but strong arm and
stout lungs and mighty muscle. / bless
God that there are so many recrea-
tons that have not on them any faint
Of iniquity; recreations in which we
may engage for the Strengthening Of
the body, for the clearing of the intel
lect, for the illumination of the soul,
There is still another form of recrea-
tion which | recommend to you. and
that is the pleasure of doing good.
have seen young men, weak and cross
and sour and repelling in their dispoci-
ton, who by one heavenly touch have
awakened up ard become blessed and
buoyant, the ground under their feet
and the sky over their heads breaking
forth into music. "Oh," says some
young man in the house to-day. IL
should like that recreation above ell
others, but have not the means"
My dear brother, let us take an account
of stock. You have a large estate. IL
you only realize it. Two hands. Two
feet You will have perhaDs during the |