The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-29
CHRISTIAN SONG"
And It's Power the Topic of a Dis
course by Mr. speers
AT TIE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH SUNDAY MoRNTNG-THE
MINISTER gLoouENTY RE-
CALLS INSTANCES OF THE
POWER OF soNG-MosT CHRIS
T1AN SONGS THE RESULT OF
OPPRESSION AND wAR-A VERY
INTERESTING DISCOURSE.

Rev. Joseph speers, pastor of the Sec
ond Presbyterian church, preached an
eloquent sermon yesterday morning on
the subject "The Power OF Christian
Song" He spoke of the good effect OF
Christian song and told many incidents
of interest where song had inspired per-
sons with feelings of patriotism and
lofty sentiment
Speaking Of Paul's writings, he said a
Arat reading seems very Rrosalc. This
IS not the case; when we study them we
find that while they are written
in prose they have given birth 70
some of the grandest songs OF earth.
Paul was not without the spirit Of song.
when we remember that he was a He
brew trained in the full service OF the
temple, we will readily see that the
musical and patriotic spirit was not
neglected. This is readily seen when
Paul and Sllas were cast into prison;
ne relieved the loneliness with songs of
praise upon God, and well has the poet
expressed the sentiment of this in 'The
Day is Done" whore he says:
"And the night shall be filled with mu-
sic,
And the cares, that lnfest the day.
Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away"
The text selected simply turns the
mind to the subject of christian
Song" 1t does not explain either the
power or influence. or the character or
life of man; only our own experience can
explain It Thoroughly. II we would
fully understand and appreciate what
it truly means, we must know of its
eject in the past. and we can only ex-
plain its effect in the future by what
we experience in the present.
1t is true the times change; our time
Is no more peculiar in this respect than
the time in which Paul or Moses lived.
Every age has been an age Of transit
ton, and the Apostle Paul lived In the
midst of transition which has given
us so many blessings, and as we ponder
upon the things which have come to
pass, thought naturally dwells upon the
history of the church and the Influences
which have made It what 1t is. AS We
review the history of the church., and
study the Word OF God, how clouded
and tangled the thoughts become; but
gradually, like the landscape before the
rising sun, they take their proper form
and place, and eventually stand out In
bold relief, a pleasure to the mind, a
Joy to the soul. and we are filled with
the spirit of our subject, which makes
melody in the heart to the Lord"
Church history, which is generally
considered very prosaic, is, as a writer
has said, "The story of the life which
has pierced through and outlIved the
corruption and decay of states; the echo
of the accents of truth and love pene-
trating like musical tone, through the
market-din and battle-tumult of the
world" Yet paralleling this story in
prose is the voice of song, relieving the
secular ambitions of man in his strug-
giles between selHshness and Divine
love.
AS we watch and sing and pray,
studying the eternal word, much is e.
vealed to US, new beauties, new
thoughts, new hopes, new aspirations
come into our souls each time we loo,
into the Great Book" Day by day we
see the expanding love of God, in COM
pound and individual acts Of love and
self-sacrifce between men, and we trace
st In Its direct manifestation OF love to
God, which finds Its expression in
breathing out the soul OF God in SONG.
Who can measure the influence OF a
good song, especially Christian song?
We are told that in the carly days OF the
civil war there was no greater influence
Brought to bear upon the people than
the patriotic songs which made their
appearance at the beginning Of the
strife, inspiring patriotism in the hearts
OF men during the fierce times OF the
rebelllon's first inclpiency
True, the sound OF music harmonious,
from many instruments. sent the blood
flowing faster and thrilled the souls OF
the listeners, but 1t was the songs, pa
triotlc and courage-insplrlng, voiced BY
brave men that made staunch soldiers
stauncher and drew men into the ranka
for the cause which they thought was
right. "Dlxle' set the heart OF southern
chivalry afame, Rally Round the Flag,
Boys" brought the northern heroes by
tens Of Thousands A few months ago
Dixie" and Rally Round the Flag
made the blue and gray grasp hands in
a warm fraternal clasp, which meant
that
"The Star spangled banner
Should long wave
Der the land Of the free
And the home Of the Brave"
And you can say Brave with big b,
for when in the din of battle on the
heights Of San Juan or before the
trenches at Manila. the blue and the
gray shouldcr 10 shoulder in the cause
OF humanity and freedom, hearing the
familiar strains Of homely old Yankee
Doodle" up Ieapt the spirit OF the free
men, which they are, and Yankee cour-
age and Yankee yalor planted the
stars and Stripes we all love" DER the