The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-10-04

1.-THE Eternal Goodness" and Fabar
Roman Catholic, There's n Wi'-e
ress in COTS Mercy" and DoddridFei
Baptist. 80, Happy Day." To-day
these well-known hymns are sung by
all and claimed by all. In spite of con
troversy and unbelicf, the music OF
the Christian Church is saving the
world for the Christian Christ. The
hymn and the singer are often q long
way in advance of the sermon and
hearer in evangelizing Influences.
Music refines and ennobies. In the
days of chivalry the sir knights
studied music because Of its eleYatinG
and purifying influence. Music bright.
ems life's dark places and s9othes the
heart in trouble. Many prison doors
have opened and manacles burst asun
der when troubled hearts have sung
songs in tie night Music was believed
by the ancients to have healing power.
and was used as therapeutic. Many
q weary soldier. tired and f00tsore, has
leaped on to victory under the magic
spell of fife and drum.
There is q quaint belief that singing
preceded speaking. Alas! perhaps one
of the entailments OF sin is that sing
ing las degenerated into discordaDt,
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. If 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 RomanesGuc magnit-
cence. can only be filed to groincd
"rches and spreading dome by music's
swelling tones. Music gives motif
to architecture TIE art Sallery's cor
r,dors, or beivederes only reveal the
masters secret in marble or canvas
as divinest music fills up al the inter-
stices of tiniteness. And poetry never
reveals its most exquisite tints OF
beauty and truth except when in the
companlonship of music. Its twin sis
ter. Theology would have nCEe bnt
affairs to the unknown God If music
lid not dream, and prophesy, and feel,
in the priestly Office. Music j: what
Walter Pater called "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 1t
is a truth finder. II Goes not delVc
among the rocks, but it comes down
like a dove from above. singing, "This
Is My Beloved Sonw 1t dwels in the
heights and shouts "Excelsior" from
peak to peak, and makes !ife's dizzy
Alpine nDlands echo with hope.
Granting that music furnished to cul-
ture its initial impulse, and that music
more than any other factor sustains
the quest of mans nature for the high
est and, holiest achievements, / dare
to submit the deliberate conclusion
that instrumental, and we'll rs vocal.
music 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 pov-
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 life II
their musical instruction had included
familiarity with an instrument.
AS is his Maker, so man is n spirit
Muscle and brain are merely temporary
rXpedieEts by which man. as spirit.
shall for a 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.
fathOmlPss mysteries Of spirit and life.
Music is the language of celestial
threngs. True eloquerce is thought
winged with music. The Infinite God
3 more perfectly worshipPd with mn-
Sical accompaniment because music
goes beyond language and logic and
opens up tile vistas Of faith through
which can be- seen the King in His
beauty. Do you ask ME which is the
mighter agency for culture, Bacon
or Beethoven? Spencer or Schumann?
Kant or and will all
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, tut when the present c0nclnslous
Of men shall be abandoned Tor the
rOmpleter revelations Of the ~ truth
of Him who is tile Way, the TruRh and
the Life, then music. which was never
anything but divine in its nature! and
influence. shall be cur old famla
friend increasing in divinity as our,
own evolving souls are permittedi to-
comprehend and participate in thHt
divinity.
The One Strong Support