Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-04-11
Caln1ase
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmage, D. ID.

New York. March .J.-ln this ser
mon the preacher tells OF the power OF
song as IN influence on human life and
character and especially of gospel song
MS Il means Of winning men from sin
to righteousness The text Is Chron.
vid set over the service of song in the
house Of the Lord"
well remember Sunday | once
spent upon the roof of the cathedral at
Milan. | had been away from home
for many weeks and was very lonely
and homesick Furthermore | was
hungry for an old fashioned Christian
service Of the type of the American
meeting house. | had been SO long
Witnessing the European Dissertation OF
tie Sabbath that ycarned for the sim
pie service Of my own home church.
entered the cathedral of Milan that
morning hoping that my longing for
Worship might he gratiiied but. alas.
none of it WAS there, That huge ca
tAA'hAttt - 'hlftAftf " iAbthAnE tNtttV
worshiperS Thousands OF people were
Ia the building that morning. but only
Il little handful were seated about the
pulpit Most Of the people inside the
church were tourists wandering about
examining statue here. Il tomb there.
Il beautiful column beyond. Sick at
heart. turned away and began TO
climb the stairs which led up to the
roof. Higher ana higher | went until
seemed to have left the world behind.
Alone | Was walking upon those lofty
heights amid the marble statues when
from everywhere and yet from no.
where In particular the sweetest an
them was rising in the upper air.
Like the summer wind which kissed
my cheek | could not tell from whence
1t came. Then as the voices rose and
tive whisper | said to myself. THAT
must have been like the singing at the
old temple of Jerusalem 1t seemed as
though choir loft was taking up the
refrain Of choir loft, and the great
Asaph himself, the chief Of all the nu
sicians ana singers whom David ap-
pointed. was leading in the service of
song
Sitting there that Sunday afternoon
on that Milan roof | thought OF that
service OF singers IN Jerusalem 5000
years ago and OF the singing Of the
oil f,t
OF singers that in the Christian church
have won their triumphs during the
past centuries. Il seemed as II they
were all united in one great service %
song in stupendOus harmonies. for
wherever you go you find the love Of
music. The English plowboy sings rs
he drives his team. The Scotch high
lander makes the glcns and gray
moors resuund with his beautiful
songs. The muleteer OF Spain cares
not who sits on the throne Or stands
behind it il they will let him have his
Sicily has his evening hymn even be-
side the tire OF the burning mount
The fishermen OF Naples has his boat
song 10 which his rocking boat beats
time on that beautiful sea, and the
goudolier Of Venice still keeps up his
midnight sercnade So when travel
Ing 10y land or 10y sea we find the in
nate love of music waving her magic
wand over the cradle as well rs in the
evening twilight OF the grave. Aud in
spircd poets and musicians of the past
aud the present have merely harnessed
up that innate love OF the heart of man
aud used 1t for God aud FOR heaven.
A Talk About Music.
Today. God willing. want 10 lead
you away from pulpit aud lectern.
want TO lead you away from altar and
chancel and out of the church audi
forum aud have you sit with me as
sat that day upon the roof OF the Milan
cathedral and give your thoughts 10
the sweet sounds in which the church
In all times has given praise 10 God
want to have a little quiet talk with
YOU upon the influence OF gospel song.
Aud after this talk is ended | want
YOU to 20 home and rcverently take
down your hymn books and gather
your children about you and teach them
10 Sing praises TO God and utter In
tuucfu words the love Of Christ for
al men. And these are they whom
David set over the service OF song in
the house OF the Lord"
Now. why did David appoint must
clans over the service of song In the
temple? First. because music is COM
bination OF beauties In sounds. and no