The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-09-14
Lover of NV sou:." and Toplady,

taiHanlSt, ROCK OF ages. ana SiraH
| Adams. a Unitarian. Nearer My God
10 Thee" and Whittier. Quaker.
The Eternal Goodness" and Faher.
Roman Catholic. There's Il Wide
reSS in Coils Mercy" and Doddridge.
Il Baptist. IT. Happy Day" To-day
these well-known hymns are sung 10y
ali and claimed by all. In spite of con-
troversy and unhclief, the music Of
the Christian Church is saving the
! world for the Christian Christ. The
hymn and the singer are often Il iorG
way in advance of the sermon and
bearer in evanSeliZing influences.
Music rclineS and enrobles. In the
days of chivalry the sir knights
studied music because Of its elevatin%
and purifying influence. Music bright
els life'S dark places and sootEeS the
| heart in trouble. Many prison doors
have opened and manacles burst aSun-
der when troubled hearts have sing
songs in tie night. Music was believed
bv the ancients 10 have healing power.
and was used rs Il therapeutic. Many
4 weary soldier tired and footsore. mas
| leaned on to victory under the magic
| spell Of fife and drum.
| There is q quaint belief that singing
preceded speaking. Alas. perhaps one
| of tic rntailmcntS Of sin is that sing
in- has degenerated into diScordant.
| raSnirC speech. Perhaps. when man
sha! have reached his highest earthly
estate the means Of communications
will he in the soft tones Of chastest
| music.
Music. 4 not more perfectly than
printing. the art preservatire of ali
art. is surely the best interpreter of
of aIl art and science. The mystery
and miracle of truth reveal their open
sesame When studied through the at
mosphere Of music. The minister.
graceful with gothic beauty, or
massive with RomancsNue magnif-
cpncc. can only be filled to Sroined
srches and spreading dome by music's
swelling tones. Music gives 4 motif
10 architecture. Tie art gallerT'S cor
r!iors. or be.vedereS only reveal the
masters secret in marble or canvas
as divinest music fills up ali the inter-
st;ccs Of finiteness. And poetry never
reveals its most exquisite tints of
beauty and truth except when in the
companionship Of music. its twin Sis
ter. Theology would have ncEe but
affairs to the unknown God il music
lid not dream. and prophesy. aud feel.
in the priestly office. Music j; what
Waiter Pater called 1.-The great AnderS-
Strcben-reaching forward Of all art
/, is the soul Of man endeavorinS 10
come to its own-to express and realize
and fulfill itself. vt helps BrowninG's
grasp to acquire its reach.
Music is thus an intellectual FACTOR.
!, is not so much 4 truth seeker as 1t
Is = truth finder 1t Goes not delve
among the rocks, but it comes down
Ike y dove from above. singing. This
IS Ny Beloved Son. 1t dwells in the
heights ard shouts Excelsior" from
real; 10 peak. and makes life's dizzy
Nniae uplauds echo with hope.
Granting that music furnished to cul-
tarc IFS initial impulse. and that music
more than any other factor suStaInS
the quest of mans nature for the high-
est and holiest achievements. l dare
20 submit the deliberate conclusion
that instrumental. and we'll as vocal,
musi, should be part Of the public
school curriculum for every child.
Alas. that the children whom posterity
affords the opportunity of musical
study often so little appreciate these
privileges, while many who crave these
facilities are deprived Of them by pow
crty. Even the boys and girls who are
compelled to leave school to enter upon
the problems of making living. would
live larger and more hopeful 'ife II
their musical instruction had Included
familiarity with an instrument.
AS is his Maker. so man is spirit.
Muscle and brain are merely temporary
exne.licnts by which man. rs spirit.
shall for brief season tarry upon this
earth When painting. and sculpture.
and architecture. and. perhaps. even
poetry. shall have ended their earthly
ministry. music will be revealing the
fa.homlesS mysteries Of spirit and life.
Music is the language Of celestial
throngs. True eloQuerce is thought
winged with music. The Infinite God
is moro perfectly worshiped with mu-
seal accompaniment because music
goes beyond language and logic and
onens up the vistas of faith through
which can be seen the King in His
beauty. Do you ask me which is the
iniehticr agency for culture. Bacon
or Beethoven? Spencer or Schumann:
Kant or Mendelssohn? and l will an
Swer that science and philosophy have
their own important places in the
foundation of intellect and character.
a.d are as necessary to the soul as
feed to the body; music. however. not
only has its mission side by side with
these. but when the present conclusions
OF men shall be abandoned for the
completer revelations Of the all truth
of Him who is the Way, the Truth and
the Life. then music. which was never
anything but divine in its nature and
| influence shall be Cur old familiar
| friend increasing in divinity as our
| OWN evolving souls are permitted tO
comprehend and participate in that
divinity.