Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-04-03


or Christian loyeeto an the sweet sing
ers who bring to us their gospel songs ?
May God give to us nonsectarian
pulpit and pew as he has given TO us
nonsectarian hymn book
No Ordination For Hymn Writers.
But God honoTs sacred music for still
another reason. The divine harmonies
OF sound place the hand of holy ordina.
ton upon all those who are willing to
lift UP their voices In his praise. In
order TO become n minister one has TO
spend years in study. Then presby-
terry puts him through the most rigid
examinations to determine whether he
is fit TO preach. Some OF my minis
terial brethren may lie In doubt about
letting him pass at that time; but,
though some presbyteries may make
mistakes in allowing a candidate to 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 his
tuneful voice, but he sent 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 i'm Da-
mascus. this modern Asaph has been
ordained to loosen the dumb tongues of
men who could have had no part I'm
winning souls except by sacred song.
The Most Powerful Music.
AMI here let me state something
which has been on my mind for some
time. In order to preach the gospel
by song Il man does not have to be n
master of classical music. All that he
needs to have is Il pure heart. clean
lips and an ordinary sweet, true voice.
and when be sings the plain, simple
gospel songs from the heart God will
bless his singing. even as he blesses
the simple prayers that come from n
devout heart Mr.. Beecher well formu-
lated this thought when he protested
in the following words against the
pharisaiSm of sacred song: "Music is
not simply u vehicle for carrying n
hymn. 1t is something In itself. No
tune Is fit to he sung to hymn which
would not be pleasant In itself without
words. In selecting music we should
not allow any fastidiousness in taste
to set aside the lessons of experience.
A tune which has always interested a
which inspires the young
and lends to enthusiasm a fit express
sion-ought not to he set aside because
1t does not conform to the reignlng
fashion and follow the whims of tech
nical science. There is such thing as
pharisaism in music. Tunes may be
very faulty In structure aud yet CON
vey n full hearted current that will
sweep out OF the way the worthless.
hcartleSs trash which has no merit
except literal correctness And when
upon trial tune IS found 10 do good
work 1t should I've used for what IL
does and can do. Congregational sing
Ing will never become general and per
manent until the churches employ
tunes which have melodies that cling
TO the memory and touch the feelings
or the Imagination" What did Mr..
Beecher mean by all this? will tell
you.
"A gospel hymn is sermon. A Cos
pel hymn Is prayer When yon lis
ten to testimony in prayer meeting
you do not listen 20 oratory. You lis
ten to man pleading for Christ.
When you listen 10 Il gospel hymn. you
listen 10 disciple of Christ pleading
for the Master in the same way. and,
though your voice may not be musical
ly trained, yet when you sing Gods
| praises in simple gospel song God
| VIII bless you AS he docs when you
arise to testify for him in n meeting OF
prayer.
The consideration OF this subject sug
gests TO me three practical lessons
First, want TO Impress upon all Chris.
tian people that the church which does
not put great emphasis upon its mu.
sic is making fearful mistake
why do you give out so many hymns
In your prayer meetings and church
scrvlcesf" Il friend said TO me some
time ago. Because ! cannot give out
any more hymns" answered. Il be-
lieve' that the singing OF church is
more important than the preaching
Indeed, know that what say is true
for many a church is &yistlng in spite
OF poor preaching, but you never saw q
strong church that did not have fine
church music. Church members, be.
ware how you trihe with the music.
| Get the best hymn books. Ministers
and officers. prayerfully select the
hymns that ali people can sing Do not
make your singing a mere accessory to
the church. God is watching you when
he says. let everything that hath
breath praise the Lord"
The Church Choir.
The next great fact TO which / would
call your attention Is that of your
church choir. Sacred singing Is an i'm
portant part OF church worship. There
fore we should be careful whom we
select us the mcmbers of our cholrs to
lead us in that song. II is essential
| that those leaders he living sweet, pure.
Christian lives. care not how bril-
liant minister might be. you would
not knowingly select him for your
pastor If you knew he was immoral
or drunkard. Why should not the
same purity of life he required OF the
members OF our church choirs? 1t is
a shame TO see some people rising In
the choir lofts TO sing the most sacred
words In our hymn books when every
one knows that they are living lives
that contradict the words they are
singing. have had men and women
In my choirs who never made any pre-
tense to religion. These members OF
the choirs never attended prayer meet
Ing They never put their foot inside
the Sunday school. They did what
they were paid to do, and they did
nothing else. They sang psalm tunes
on Sunday and. as far as can make