The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-09-13

Lover Of My Soul" and Toplady, a
Calvanist. Rock of Ages" aud Sarah
to Thee" and Whittier. a Quaker,
"The Eternal Goodness" and Faber,
a Roman Catholic, There's Wide
ness in Gods Mercy" and Doddrldge.
a Baptist. 20, Happy Day" To-day
these well-known hymns are sung by
ali and claimed by ALL In spite of con.
troversy and unbelief, the music of
the Christian Church Is saving the
world for the Christian Christ. The
hymn and the singer are often long
way in advance of the sermon and
hearer in evangelizing influences.
Music refines and ennobles. In the
days Of chivalry the sir knights
studied music because OF its elevatng
and purifying influence Music bright.
ems life's dark places and soothes the
heart in trouble. Many prison doors
have opened and manacles burst asun.
der when troubled hearts have sung
songs in the night. Music was believed
by the ancients to have healing power,
and was used as therapeutic. Many
a weary soldier. tired and footsore. has
leaped on to victory under the magic
spell of fife and drum.
There Is quaint belief that singing
preceded speaking. Alas. perhaps one
of the entailments of sin Is that sing
ing has degenerated into dlscordant.
rasping speech. Perhaps. when man
shall have reached his highest earthly
estate the means of communication
will be in the soft tones of chastest
music.
Music. II not more perfectly than
printing, the art preservative of all
art, Is surely the best interpreter of
of all 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 Romanesquc magnifi-
cence. can only be filled to groined
rrches and spreading dome by music's
swelling tones. Music gives n motif
to architecture. The art gallery's cor
ridors, or belvederes only reveal the
masters secret in marble or canvas
as divlnest music fills up all the inter-
stices of tiniteness. 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 mere but
altars to the unknown God il music
did not dream. and prophesy, and feel.
in the priestly Office. Music IL what
Walter Pater called 1.-THE great Anders-
Strcben-reaching forward of all art"
Il is the soul of man endeavoring to
come to its own-to express and realize
and fulfill itself. It helps Browning's
grasp to acquire its reach.
Music is thus an intellectual factor.
/, is not so much truth seeker as it
is n truth finder. 1t does not delve
among the rocks but it comes down
like dove from above. singing, "This
Is My Beloved Sonw 1t dwells In the
heights and shouts "Excelsorw from
peak to peak, and makes lifes dizzy
Alpine uplands echo with hope.
Granting that music furnished to cul-
ture its initial impulse, and that music
more than any other factor sustans
the quest of mans nature for the high
est and hollest achievements, / dare
to submit the deliberate conclusion
that instrumental, and we'll as vocal,
music should be a 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
erty. 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 life if
their musical instruction had included
familiarity with an instrument.
AS is his Maker, so man is spirit
Muscle and brain are merely temporary
expedients by which man, MS spirit
shall for n 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
fathomless mysteries of spirit and life
Music is the language of celestial
throngs. True eloquence is thought
winged with music. The Infinite God
is more perfectly worshiped with mu-
slcal accompaniment because music
goes beyond language and logic and
opens up the yistas of faith through
which can be seen the King in His.
beauty. Do you ask me which is the
mightier 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.
AID are as necessary to the soul as
food 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 MS our
own evolving souls are permitted TO
comprehend and participate in that
divinity.
The dxts