Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-10-18
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.


Topic Sacred songs that have helped
sne.-Espss. :. Is-zo, Col ill., 1s-iT. "a praise
service.l
When Moses and the Israelites were
delivered from the Egyptians and had
successfully esossed the Red sea, they
expressed their gratitude TO God in
song. The S0'fr-G-.of Moses" was sung,
and Miriam. the sister OF Moses. at
the head II the women, responded to
1t. From that day TO this sacred song
kas had an important part in the serv-
fee Of God. and praise has been given
an important place in the worship OF
God. Ii there IS any criticism upon
sais part Of the public worship today
il would be rather that too much time
Is devoted 10 music. especially TO that
OF trained Quartets and ehelrs. and
slat some of the jingling tunes fire.
quently heard ia religious services are
not sacred. but have been aptiy de.
scribed as ecclesiastical ragtime
For the true worship Of God eongre-
gational singing should be given the
supreme place. and only songs that find
their suggestion In the inspired word
q tsod es ia religious experiences, sim
liar to those OF the Scriptural compos-
ers, should find place In eur re
hgions hymn books.
/ Sacred songs should he sacred.
and If they are the number OF books
and hymn writer's viii be more
limited than they are today. Gods
people for centuries used practically
$50 psalms, composed by very lin
ited number of men. The man who
can set them TO such tunes as John
Browns Body" etc. was never called
Of God 10 such a work. They are sac
religious songs and not sacred songs.
They inspire irreyerence and not wor-
ship and should be cast aside without
the least consideration. We are cou0-
ssssd TO sing psalms" the sacred
songs of the Bible; hymns songs
praising the divine Being. and spirit
nal songs, songs expressing religious
experiences which have been inspired
By the Holy Spirit and which He wants
Us to sing Such music will be sacred
sza helpful. and God win accept it as
praise To Him
2 Sacred songs are TO be used In pr
waite and public worship The use OF
the hymn in connection with family
worship IS fast passing away. In Eph.
v. 10. Paul refers to social worship in
the home Speaking 10 yourselves"
or, rather, TO one another, In psalms.
hymns and spiritual songs" The Idea
u that one would start song and then
another second hymn, and no method
OF praislag God is more helpful than
this In Colossians ii is teaching ana
admonishing one another in psalms and
hyrsxAa and spiritual ssasz" TAlx So
plies TO public worship. Sacred music
here is most helpful. II leads TO the
conversion Of souls. il oe.nforts the
Hearts OF the burdenei ara it cheers
the downbearted and the discourn gea.
Thszefore let Us always add our voices
TO the singing Of the congregation.
Sacred songs 10 help us spiritually
must have their origin in the heart.
Heart singing is effective singing. In
both Ephesians and Colos SLAMS Paul
emphasizes this fact His expression
TO the former is. Singing and making
melody on your heart to the Lsrd;" to
the latter, Singing with grace In your
heart te the Lord" Professional sing
ers make no greater mistake than
when they sacrifice the soul in their
singing to the artistic. This Is especial
y true IN rendering sacred music.
The singer who attempts to praise Gsi
o. to lead congregation in public
praise with artistic finish rather than
With melody from the heart shows him
sail or herself to have absolutely no
conception Of the first principle Of rem
daring sacred music. Instead Of being
artists they are ignoramuses. When
we praise God. whether Il be with the
trained. cultivated voice land these
sbould be used in His praise or with
he unsteady, trembling voice ql the
aeed servant Of God. LET Us praise Him
From the heart, singing with grace In
cor hearts unto the Lord"
BIBLE REApiSos.
Ex ". 1. .; Judg. v. Is; Ps. xxxii,
IS: xxxiv. Is: Xvi, /. ?; xxx. II;
xc.i. 10: Matt XVI. 30: Acts xvi. %.
26; Rev. Y, 8. 10; xiv. Is: xy, I-3.