The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-25
THE MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
DR.. Blanchard's Sermon at Congress
Square Church Yesterday.

people praise thee, oh God let all the
people praise thee.
In his introduction, DR.. Blanchard said
| sThe great art of music has brought
blessing to the city of Portland, during
the past week, and, in the days to come
| will bring blessing to the whole State o
Maine. Gladly do ]. recognize music a
the ally of the church. Confident am
that the recent festival will do much t.
increase the Ilove of music. Sure am
| that we. need its help to make US give t.
music the reverence which 1t deserves il
| the services Of the church. When thu
Irish missionary started forth upon hi
journey he took with him his harp SO tina
it's music might give him power to speak
When Elisha the prophet desired to giv'
a message from God, he asked for {
minstrel, and as he listened to his music
he was inspired to give forth his word
When Saul was sadly ILL., it was Dayid'i
harp which brought him back to sanity.
Well may the servant OF the church recog'
nize music as the ally Of the church. and
gladly ought he to cooperate with itf
leaders," sa
DR.. Blanchard then spoke of Prof.
Henry L. Chapman of Bowdoin, who
sang In the chorus, and who wrote an in
PRODUCTION to the festival souvenir pro-
gramme. He should speak OF the festival
under three heads-the preparation for it
Its series of meetings; it's possible results,
In doing this, he should show the re-
ligious lessons of the festival.
The preparation showed what conviction
and courage can achieve. The suggestion
| for the festival came from one of Names
| famous singers. Mr.. W. N. Chapman
gladly responded. But he found little to
encourage him in undertaking to arrange
for the festival Those who loved music
most were the most incredulous of sue
cess. The man had appeared, however,
who could lead. The success shows the
constant need of leadership. He sum-
moned and received assistance. He held
meetings.; he trayersed the state; he
established new organizations or invigor
ated old ones.
We always need to see what conviction
and courage can achieve. We have prob
lens in the home life, in Sunday schools
and churches to consider. Once there was
much music in homes. Now, the clubs
| take away from home and lessen music.
Clubs have done and will do good. Even
amusement clubs may serve. But there
is danger that all these may take away
too much from the home. Let music be re-
| instated there! The Sunday school needs
more and better music. We cannot expect
to interest the young merely by teach
ing. We want music's help. In the
church. we want all the people to praise
God, The festival may we'll inspire US to
do more for music. Its lesson of convic-
tion and courage and their achievement
will give US power.
| The series Of meetings give us the
lesson that the most impressive soul
stirring music is the religious music-the
music in praise of God.
| He had attended the five regular meet
ings. He had enjoyed solos and duets.
Excelsior and Kotzschmar's composition,
Miserere from Trovatore and sextette
from Lucia Tender memories of the
singers Of other days had come to him.
But he was amazed to find that it was the
chorus which moved him most profound
". Its noble music, in praise of God, had
stirred all the audience. Its "Hallalujan
Chorus was magnificent.
Too much music is only pleasing. This
Find has it's place. We cannot always be
upon the heights. But sweet and delight
fnl az much music is, this festival will
be,n lis all to hunger and thirst for the
highest music.
| The possible results are important.
First let us have strong festival associa.
tiou covering the whole state. Let it's
headouarters be in Portland and let us
assist its president. Then let US have local
organizations enlarged or established, and
LEFT strenuous help be given to their con-
ductors. Soon shall we learn the great
lesson that music can bring unity among
;ts followers. In the chorus were all de-
nominations. Catholics, DR.. Blanchard
was informed after the sermon, were
among its members. Consider what music
can DO III CouAoly p1aCoS IN securing
unity. Even Portland needs greater
unity. Still much has already come, and
more is coming. In country towns and
villages, the musical organization may
unite the people more than sermons on
nnitv can With this shall come develop
ment of mind and soul. To study the
great oratorios will enlarge. They who
sing should learn of the great tone
masters, they should catch something of
their great ideas. To learn Beethoven
and Handel and Wagner will enlarge and
so shall great blessing come.
In conclusion DR.. Blanchard spoke
earnestly of the great lesson that all study
of music leads to the reyerent recognition