Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1905-04-15

my favorite musician Beethoven, my |
favorite novelist Thackeray, my favor
ite artist Rubens and my favorite poet |
Longfelow or Tennyson. | like what /
| like and dislike what dislike, and |
cannot help It. Now, If | dislike to as /
sociate with the class of people who
make up our distinctively religious
gatherings, such as are found In the
missionary society, am not to blame.
am no more to blame than | am be-
cause | dislike Goldfish or mackerel and
like apples and grape fruit"
All, yes, my brother you are to
blame. You are individually RESPONSE
bic for your likes and disllkes. If you
do not care to associate with Christian
people in Christian gatherings, then II
is high time that you learned to enjoy
their society. and the quicker the bet
fer. Because | do not love them now
that Is no excuse why | should not
learn to love these people. Supposing
l was Il dyspeptic, supposing mad FOR
years been living on lobsters and veal
and ham and pork and cabbage and
highly seasoned salads and rich pas
tries, supposlng on account of my dys-
pepsia | was sent to a sanltarium,
what would be the first order Of my
physicians? Put that man on the
simplest diet" Because | tell my
physician do not like plain toast and
milk and cold bread and good, whole
some beefsteaks and potatoes would
that make any difference? No. My
physician would reply: "Then the soon
er you learn to like them the better.
You have a diseased appetite. You
must develop a healthy appetite for
good, wholesome, simple foods"
Supposlng l go to a great musical
genius like Theodore Thomas, lately
translated to the harmonies Of heaven,
and say: MIR. Thomas, | want your
orchestra to play music that l can sing
and understand. Please do not play
| for me so many Of those musical rig
maroles which l cannot grasp" Mr.
Thomas would reply: Young man, If
then the sooner you learn it the better
You have a diseased appetite for mu-
sic. | will develop for you a healthier
musical appetite" Thus the great mis-
sion Of Chlcagos late musical genius
was not so much to render good mu-
sic as to educate the taste of the peo-
pie up to the high musical standards
when they could appreciate and de-
mand good music. God bless the life's
work, well fulfilled, Of Theodore T'hom-
as. who taught mankind how to appre-
ciate good musicl
Now, my Christian friend, by the
same law you may have a diseased
spiritual appetite for spiritual associa-
ton. If you cannot find enjoyment In
communion with Christian people, then
the sooner you learn how to enjoy their
society the better. You are exactly In
the position Of the frivolous girl or the
dissipated boy growing up in a Chris
tan home. Such children are never
happy unless they are off at some par
ty or visiting some nelghbor or attend
ing some theater. But after awhile
they will find that the sweet, gentle
fellowships Of a Christian home offer
the best kind of enjoyment. The quiet
reading of book by the glowing hearth
in the sitting room is one. The loving
caress Of q mothers or wife's hand
is another. The playful prattle of
| Dr1inf fln CWppf
memories of long years that are past,
are others. The hopes Of the years to
come being talked over, offer the high
est Joys this side Of heaven. 0 man,
do not think that assocating with men
of the world offers to you the acme of
pleasure. If you cannot find any en-
ioyment in the fellowship Of Christian
people, then the sooner by the grace Of
God you kill your diseased spiritual
appetite the better for your own en-
joyment and the better for your life.
Learned to Love Music.
That you can govern your love for
the good and your dislike for the bad
or the Indifferent was Illustrated to
me by the experience Of lady men,
Der Of my church who Is very fine
musician. Her brother was a happy
20 lucky young man who seemed to
have no ear for good music. Every
popular air, every music hall Jingle,
every negro melody that had jolly
ring to It, he knew by heart. All the
noted college songs he could sing until
, the very rafters echoed But the deep
, er, sweeter, holier calls of the great
musical masters fell unheeded upon
his dull ears. This brother, who was
a fine athlete had his leg broken and
! was brought home from college and
had to lie in bed for about six weeks.
, During those six weeks his sister mad
| to continually practice for a difficult
performance which she was about to
! give before a famous musical society
Of the city. At first the brother pro-
, tested. He wanted to hear her play
l some of the popular airs. But as the
!, language Of the musical masters kept
[ pouring their thoughts into his mind
and heart through the vestibule or his
ear there was born in his soul love
for the truly great music. The Ole
. songs which he once loved he now
despises. The truly beautiful music
he once despised now he loves. My
friends If you do not love the society
{ Of Christian people there is something
+, wrong in your life. You have dis
eased spiritual appetite. The sooner
Q you 90 with the truly consecrated peo
4: pie the sooner you will learn to love
their society. Do not make the prayer
/! Of my text, Restore unto me the Joy
Of thy salvation" unless by constant
association with Christian people yol
do all in your power to develop tha
: spiritual Joy.
But in order to fully grasp the beau
d ty of the psalmist's prayer you mus
: remember that 1t Is given with the ab
= solute knowledge that in his owl
- ,,,oe pothfpO bilt that In