Democratic messenger., 1904-12-10

In the new song which we should sing
during our coming holiday season.
What said David in reference to this
new sOng-make u sad sopg unto the
Lord? No. In seven distinct places In
the Psalms the great singer of Israel
cries. Make Ii joyful noise unto the
Lord" The first great essential of our
coming Christmas song should be
cheerfulness. We should hear 1t in ev-
cry sound that Is uttered; we should
scar IL In the loud notes; we should
hear II in the soft notes as well.
Cheerful Message.
The new song OF Moses and the
Lamb should he d cheerful song. And
yet the strange fact is that many peo-
pie. when they try to sing their gospel
songs. have the chargers which they
harness to their musical chariots walk
with .eaden feet instead of flying with
the wings of the song birds. No min
lister of the Lord Jesus Christ, no Sun
day school teacher. no Christian teach
er. will ever make the new songs for
Christ truly tuned songs when they
start them In the minor key. The
great success of your fathers minis
try" said Dr. Reed, the president Of
Dickinson college. TO me some months
ago. was his unbounded cheerfulness.
/ remember one day. some years ago,
we did not have any service in the
Hanson Place Methodist church. Of
which was the pastor. determined
to go over to the Brooklyn Tabernacle
1t was stormy winter night, yet the
church was practically filled with
about 5000 people. l took seat In
the gallery and looked over that vast
audience. wanted to study the faces of
the people. As far as could make out,
when first looked at them. they were
a discouraged and tired and weary
set of faces. Your father first gave
out some bright. inspiring hymns. The
faces of the people began to change.
Then he arose and commenced to talk.
He talked Oh and OH about home and
the sweet influences of the younger
days, when their fathers and mothers
were alive. Then he talked about their
duty to live like the old folks. Then
he talked about the reunions that were
ahead in heaven. And as he talked,
the faces. under his cheerful gospel
preaching. became more cheerful. Your
father sent those people away with the
conviction that God would help them
in their battle of life" Then DIR. Reed
said. in kind of a soliloquy. "Oh, that
all gospel messengers could make
their sermons cheerful message for
tired men and women
1es. the new song we sing ought to
have the keynote of cheerfulness. That
is the first great essential. Why should
1t not be cheerful: If we believe In
God. II we believe in what Christ has
should uplift every heart into the high
est realms of Christian joy? Suppose
am an artist. Suppose | send one of
my pictures to the worlds fair at st.
Louis or to the salon Of Paris. Sup
pose I today receive letter from the
authorities of that art exhibit some
thing like this:
"Dear Sir-We are glad to inform
you that your picture has received the
first prize in the class of portrait paint
ing. You will not only receive a med
al for the same. but also check for
5000. which is to go to the winner of
that prize. We congratulate you on
your success, and We are glad that your
state will hereafter be known as the
home Of one of the greatest artists of
this generation"
What would I do II received such
a letter as that? Would put that let
ter away and say nothing! Would |
walk around with sepulchral counte-
nance and dolorous voice. saying, II
have won a $1,000 prize and interna-
tional fameY' No: my eyes would
fash. my cheeks would flush. my
nerves would tingle with glorious eX-
element l would go home at once to
my wife and children and say: Loved
ones. my artistic position is now as
sured will be able to earn for us all
the money we need" II the news that
we have won an earthly prize makes
us 90 happy. how ought we to feel
when we realize that heavenly and
eternal blessing has been conferred
upon us? Shall we not sing cheerful
song when we realize all that Christ
has done for us and ours?
The Coming Holiday Song.
Our coming holiday song should sing
the JOY of our salvation. 1t must do
more than that. II should sing about
the happiness of some one else. There
fore our new song should be helpful
song. Jenny Lind. the great Swedish
nightingale" regarded her voice as a
gift from God. bestowed that she
might help her fellow men. May we
look upon our new song to be sung to
God as song to help those who are
In physical mental or spiritual dis
tress
Oh. that we In our coming holiday
song could have the beautiful purpose
which 1.-The human thrush" Jenny
Lind. had In her gentle. consecrated
Christian heart. She was always doing
some kindness to others. Lablache. the
great Italian basso. when he first
heard her. said. Her voice is so true
that each note is like perfect pearl"
Jenny Lind heard what her great Ital-