The times., 1899-09-03
a Discussion ON Hymns.

A discussion on the so-called gospel
hymns" is going on in the New York
Tribune" 1t seems that Massachusetts
clergyman, with more taste than timidity,
has committed the offence of telling what
he thinks about these alleged hymns, and
a Northampton man has made an indig
nant protest. Upon careful reading, the
indignation seems to be about all that
there is in the protest Logic. arguments,
and facts are conspicuously absent.
One of the things to which the critic
took exception was the reiteration of the
word blood" in these hymns The ef-
feet of such reiterations to sensitive per-
son who thinks of the meaning of the
word is much the same as would be that
of a tour through a Western packing
house. 1t may be said that metaphors as
strong as any in the hymns" are used in
the Bible, but it is doubtful if, in any part
of the New Testament, the believer is in
formed that in order to be saved he must
be soused In a quantity of blood. 1t is
difficult TO feel any reverence for such a
metaphor. There is no naturalness, no
beauty, and no truth in it anywhere. 1t is
especially regrettable that such language
should ever be translated into. foreign
tongues, especially in lands where the Bud
dhist faith prevails. To a Buddhist the
idea of regeneration through a bath of
blood would be inexpressibly shocking, and
it is not especially desirable that he should
be taught to regard it in any other way.
hwy, rac'f he
writers seem positively to have reveled in
the idea of streams-nay, rivers-of blood.
1t reminds one of Rider Haggard's witch
hunt in Kukuana- land. 1t is barbarically
suggestive.
Another thing to which the clergyman
objected was the. jingle of the tunes, most
of which have not as much melody, to say
nothing of solemnity, as the average coon
song" In fact, several of the rag time
songs of the day, if played in the proper
time, and with appropriate surroundings,
would make excellent religious music OF a
sort To this the defender of Moody and
Sankey replies that these songs have saved
souls. With all due respect for the gen
tleman's veracity, we doubt this exceeding
ly. The saving of a soul is not joke, nor
is it a thing OF a moment; and it is not
done by any magic repetition of inane
tunes. Nobody was ever yet hypnotized
into religion. The probability is that in
some cases where it looked as if the soul
was saved by the music, it was really
saved by some person or persons unknown
for whose sake the owner of the soul con-
sented TO listen TO the music. Also. it
should be remembered-and the thought is
pathetic one-that there are some young
creatures in this country who are so mu-
sic-starved that they will take almozt any
thing in which there is the shadow of a
melody, and find ii beautiful. But it was
never yet proved that a soul could be at
tracted to any place more quickly by bad
music than by good. OF course, there are
grades in music, and person who would
appreciate Scotch ballads might not care
for Wagner, but almost everyone who can
tell the difference between a song and a
discord would be suited with something OF
other in the way of harmony. Why, then
should not the people be given beautiful
tender, and stately religious music, in
stead of tunes which sound as if the CON-
poser had written them while doing a cake
walk?