The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-02-18
sONG OF THE DRUNKARDS
nav. DR., Talmage breaches a Tenn
peranoe Sermon.
w..t NJ the Music of tho World and of the
Church 10 Old Music. But 1t Does
Not Antedats tho Song OF
tho Drunkards.

,.mperance discourse was delivered by
R.y. T. Dewitt Tslmage before his
Washington congregation. 1t was
based on the texu
was the song OF the drunkards.-Psalm
uix., IL
Who said that? Was it David or was
n Christ? 1t was both. These Mes
,i.pic Psalms are like telescope. Pull
the instrument to . certain range, and
Il shows you an object near by. Pull
Il TO another range. and it will show
Won objects far away. David and
Christ were both, each in his own
time, the song of the drunkards. Holi-
mesa Of doctrine and life always did ex-
ete wicked merriment Although
David had fully refored and written q
psslmody in which all su bseQuent ages
have sobbed out their penitence, has
enemies preferred to fetch up his old
career, and put into metric measures
sins long before forgiven. Christ, who
committed no sin, was still more the
subject of unholy song, because the
better one is the more iniqulty hates
him. OF the best Being whose voice
ever moved the air or whose foot ever
touched the earth it might be said:
The byword of the passing throng
- The rulers soon. the drunkards song.
The earth fitted up for the human
race, in congratulation the morning
stars sang a song The Israelitish
army safe on the bank of the Red sea
snd the Egyptians clear under the re-
turned water, Moses sang a song. One
Of the most important parts Of this
rreat old Book is Solomon's song. At
the birth of our Lord the Virgin Mary
and old Simeon and angelic prima dom
mas in lowering clouds sang a song.
What enrichment has been given to
the worlds literature and enjoyment
By the ballads, the canticles, the dis
cants, the ditties, tho roundelays, the
epics, the lyrics, the dithyrambs. But
my text calls attention TO a style Of
song that think has never been dis
coursed upon. You sometimes hear
this style of music when passing a sa-
loon, or a residence in which dissipa-
ton Is ascendant, or after you have re-
tired at night you hear it coming out
Of tho street from those who, having
hrried long at their cups, are on their
way home-the ballad of the inebri-
ste, the serenade of the alcoholized, or
what my text calls the song of the
drunkards.
For practical, and saving, and warm
Ing, and Christian purposes, will an
nounce to you the characteristics Of
that well-known cadence mentioned in
my text First, l remark that the
Song of the Drunkards is an old song.
Much of the music of the world and
Of the church is old music First
came the music of percussion, the
elapping cymbal, which was suggested
ey hammer on an anvil, and
then the signing Of the wind across
the reeds suggested the flute, and then
the strained sinews of the turtle
scross its shell suggested the harp.
But far back Of that, and nearly
back as far as the moral collapse of
our first parentage, is the Song of
the Drunkards. That tune was sung
at least 4,243 years ago, when. the
delage past, Noah came out of the ark
and as II disgusted with too much
prevalence of water, he took to strong
drink and staggered forth, for all ages
the hrst known drunkard. He sounded
the hrst note of the old music of in.
eoriacy. An Arab author of A. d.
asio wrote: Noah, being out of the
srk, ordered each of his sons to build
house. Afterward they were occu-
pied in sowing and in planting trees.
me plppins and fruits of which they
naa found in the ark. The vine alone
was wanting, and they could not dis
cover It Gabriel then informed the m
thst the devil had desired it, and in.
aeea had some right to it. Hereupon
moan summoned him to appear in the
nsaa, and said to him: o, accursedl
"ng hast thou carried away the vine
aom me" Because replied the
ussl, 1t belonged to me- Shall
psH u Tor you? said Gabriel. i con.
.eat said Noah, and will leave him q
.oafth. That is not sufficient for
alm said Gabriel. Well, will take
nsil' replied Noah, and he shall take
vac other That is not su fficient yet,
.ssponded Gabriel. He must have
~o-thirds and thou one, and when
Wy wine shall have boiled on the fire
susai two'thirds are gone, the remain
ss1 snail be assigned for thy USE"
aoie that illustrates how the vine ha.
oeen misappropriated.
again, this song Of the drunkards il
~ expensive song. The Sontags ant
lne farepa Rosas and Nillsons and tn,
oeaer renderers of elevated and divin,
,otos received their thousands of dol
la1s per night in coliseums and acad
s.oies OF music. Some of the peopl,
- small means almost pauperizet
suenaseives that they might sit few
ssenngs under the enchantment O
snoss angels of sweet sounds. l pal,
sssen dollars to hear Jenny Lind sin,
aen II was not very easy to affor,
s0e seven dollars. Very expensive i
socn music, but the costliest song OF
sA.'n Is the drunkard's song. 1t cost
rum OF body. 1t costs ruin of mind
y coats ruin of soul Go right dow
smong the residential streets of an
e'.y and you can find once beautiful
sae luxurious homesteads that wes