Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1908-04-04

the hard shell Baptist were just as
bigoted In their way as their Episco-
oaliap brothers. But no sectarian big
otry has been able to monopolize the
makers of sacred song. In the secta-
rian churches we have spite fences
for every one except for our poets and
hymnologlsts. Read over, II you WILL
the biographies Of the greatest of our
GOSPEL composers. They belong to all
churches.
Charles Wesley may never have been
allowed to preach in Westminster aD'
hey. but his great hymn. Jesus, Lover
of My Soul" has been sung there
thousand times. And Charles Wesley
was q Methodist. Who was Ray Pal-
mer. the author Of "My Faith Looks
Up to Thee" A Congregationalist.
Who was Horatius Bonar, the author
Of 81 Lay My Sins on Jesus" A
Scotch Presbyterian. Who was James
Montgomery, the author of Hail to
the Lords Anointedw He was the son
of a Moravian preacher. Yet all these
singing evangelists, with their many
different sectarian creeds, have their
names and their hymns printed side
by side in every church hymnal. The
church of Bishop Heber may believe
I'm apostolic succession for the pulpit,
but 1t does not believe In apostolic
succession for the choir loft, for Hen
ry Newman the Catholic and John and
Charles Wesley the Methodlsts and
Horatius Bonar are allowed to sing
there even though they were not al
lowed to preach there. Oh, why do
we not extend the hand Of gospel fel-
lowship to all the members of the dir-
ferent churches as we extend the hand
of Christian love to all the sweet sing
ers who bring to US their gospel songsf
MAY God give to us a nonsectarian
pulpit and pew as he has given to us
a nonsectarian hymn book.
/ No Ordination For Hymn Writers.
But God honors sacred music for still
another reason. The divine harmonies
of sound place the hand of holy ordina-
ton upon all those who are willing 10
lift I'D their voices In his praise. In
order to become a minister one has to
spend years In study. Then presby-
terry puts him through the most rlgld
examinations to determine whether ne
is fit to preach. Some Of my minis
terIal brethren may be In doubt about
letting him pass at that time; but,
though some presbyteries may make
mistakes in allowing a candidate 10 en-
ter the pulpit when not properly pre-
pared. no such barriers can keep the
true gospel evangelist from singing the
praises Of God. Ira D. Sankey not only
led thousands into the kingdom by bis
tuneful voice, but he sent a host OF
singing evangelists to win other multi
tudes for the cross. In other words
as the good Ananias was commanded
TO open the blinded eyes Of Saul In Da
mascus. this modern Asaph has beer
ordained to loosen the dumb tongues ol
men who could have had no part II
winning souls except by sacred song
! The Most Powerful Music.
And here let me state something
which has been on my mind for SOM
time. In order to preach the gospe
by song q man does not have to be
|, master of classical music. All that ~
J needs to have is a pure heart, clear
; lips and an ordinary sweet, true voice
and when he sings the plain, slmpl'
: GOSPEL songs from the heart God vii
, bless his singing. even as he blesse
the simple prayers that come from
deyout heart. Mr.. Beecher well formu
} lated this thought when he proteste'
in the following words against tn
pharisaism Of sacred song: Music
| not simply a vehicle for carrying
&. hvmn. 1t is something IN itself. n
{ tune is fit to be sung to hymn whlc
? would not be pleasant in itself withou
G words. In selecting music we shoul
not allow any fastidiousness In tast
: TO set aside the lessons Of experience
e A tune which has always interested
/. ngregation-which inspires the youn
y and lends to enthusiasm a fit expre
s sion-ought not to be set aside becaus
l. II does not conform to the reignin
8 fashion and follow the whims Of tecl
: nical science. There is such thing
l. pharisasm in music. Tunes may
d very faulty in structure and yet col
l. vey a full hearted current that WI
l. sweep out of the way the WORTHLESS
It heartless trash which has no mer
X except literal correctness. And whe
upon trial a tune is found to do got
70 work It should be used for what
t. does and can do. Congregational sin
G. ing will never become general and pc
r manent until the churches empl(
1t tunes which have melodies that cliI
e. to the memory and touch the feeling
le or the Imagination" What did NJ
s Beecher mean by all this? l Will Il
+ you.
t. A gospel hymn is a sermon. A &c
re pei hymn is a prayer When you i
" ten to q testimony in prayer meetil
in YOU do not listen to oratory. You i
le ten to a man pleading for Chri
le When you listen to gospel hymn, y
n: listen to disciple of Christ pleadil
is for the Master in the same way, an
~ though your voice may not be music'
r. " trained, yet when you sing Cox
" praises in q simple gospel song q
Mt will bless you as he does when y
is nrise to testify for him in a meeting
or prayer.
W. The consideration Of this subject 81
gests to me three practical lessor
- First, want to impress upon all Chr
"a - tan people that the church which &c
o, O. not put great emphasis upon its n
a. a. sic is making a fearful mistal
:, "Why do you give out so many hym
-, - In your prayer meetings and chur
;, services?' a friend said to me Sol
Il time ago Because cannot give