The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-20
EIGHT CHRISTIAN GRACES
COMPARED TIC 4 CHORUS.
The Reverend J. Il. Bloom Supplies the
Pulpit at the Maple Avenue lie
formed Church.

The Reverend ]. B. Bloom preached YES
terday morning at the Maple Avenue Re
formed Church on The Harmony of the
Christian Graces.'' taking for his text IL
Peter j. 81. He said. in part:
1.-The word in the Greek text translated in
our version add is very pictorial term.
Ii suggests the dancing chorus of trained
musicians which played an important part
in the Greek drama.
The idea that this picture brings to the
text is that while the singers eacn suppiiec
his special part, all together combined in
one perfect unicn of sound SO the grown
o. Christian character, embracing the eight
Christian graces. should be accomplished pS
harmonious development.
This musical illustration of Christian
growth is profound and far-reaching ons:
Music is not only addressed TO the ear in
audible sounds. 1t belongs to the eye as
well. Architecture some one has said. is
frozen music The harmony of architecture
Is appreciated by the soul through the eye
Heard melodies are sweet. but those I'M
heard are sweeter. says Keats. meaning
that there IS music which appeals to the
soul finer than anything that can be eN-
pressed by musical instrument.
Beethoven was deaf. He could not hear
his own compositions: But the soul OF
music was in him, and with his inner ear
he heard the divine music to which all
things are attuned.
'All allure is Gods harmony. The music
of the spheres Is scientific well as
poetic phrase. Light comes to US in musical
vibrations. The scent of flowers forms
chords and octaveS OF fragrance Streams
and rocks have a musical rhythm. With
this universal harmony the Apostle wishes
the growth of the Christian character 10
correspond.
I'VE may add to our faith in two ways
We may add the virtues of the soul like
builder adds stories TO the foundation. or
like the plant adds cell to cell The Greek
10 faith. but in faith. There must. however.
In either case. be linking of one virtue
in the other. one an outgrowtn of the
other. and vice versa.
The chorus best illustrates the proper
use of each grace separately, and all to-
gether- The first singer is faith furnishing
the foundation or prologue of the great
Christian drama. 1t is the fundamental
tone of our Christian Sraces.
Faith is not only condition of saliva.
assent merely. Ii is much more. 1t Is the
very principle of spiritual life. Living
faith cannot remain single. 1t must take TO
and bring forth all the fruits Of life To
this grace comes the second to accompany
In the harmony: Viz virtue. by which We
mean wead ynl9f vgG % gowgr manness The
beauty of strength and valor gained FOR
him the victory. So must We have courage
slaught of the evil one. Pretty is not weak
ness. Piety in the proper sense is strength
andtmanliness.
Next in the chorus is knowledge an
nouncing TO us all strength and faith in
searching for truth. Faith can be strong
only when accompanied by the handmade
knowledge. In the past ignorance was
mark of piety and pure faith. But purer
and firmer faith can give Christian
strength only when. by knowledge OF things
both religious and secular. We are freed
from the bondage of superstition Knowl-
edge is not complete without temperance.
Temperance is the voice of the chorus in
sober mindedness. which is broader than the
word usually applied 1t is the virtue OF
ruling oneself. Knowledge tends 20 puff up:
hence temperance is necessary in checking
cold intellectualiSm.
ITO this self-government is added pa
thence. the pears of virtues Patience is
Is success in the Christian life. Goodness
is the next voice sumInoning the grace of
Eod.likeness: The Christian must like
gives all the rrecciiii-: rracrs strength and
beauty. Goodness is not denying the world
Ike the Ascetics of old. II is the recognition
ness. Without the one you have not the
other The love of God conditions the love
OF brother. ard vice versa. Inasnuch rs
W have done it unto the least of these my
brethren. We have done il unto me- Hut
hrot.crlv Kindness Is apt to be restricted to
friert.S only. or thoSn OF class or sect:
hence comes the last and climactic voice in
CHARITY or better 'lCvp' which IS broader
than b-otnerly kindness THIS voice enters
TIE stage foins hands with faith and broth
er!y kindness. and the chorus is complete.
and they circle about in one hymu of praise.
Every Christian is an instrument Of
eight strings-faith. virtue. knowledge. tenn
perance. ratlence. gcdliness. brothe-iy kind
ness and love. Each string has its tone and
all together. when in tune. make harmony.
Many people go about with or more
strings out of tune. ard hence the discGr,f
Let the divine Master Musician attune our
strings to tie hsrrnonv of Gods symphony
and our souls will then throb in unison and
in harmony and in time with the stroke Of
his baton.