The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-05

sheep who do not belong to our sectarian fold. In olden times the Episcopalian rector would not allow the Presbyterian pastor to enter his chaneel. And the Presbyterian and the hardshell Baptist were just as bigoted in their way as their Episcopalian brothers. But no see- tarian bigotry has been able to monopo- lize the makers of sacred song. Tn the seetarian churches we have spite fences' for everyone except for our poets and hymnologists. Read over, if 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 ab- bey, but his great hymn. Jesus, Lover of My Soul' has been sung there a thou sand times. And Charles Wesley was a Methodist. Who was Ray Palmer the author of My Faith Looks Up to Thee? A Congregationallst. Who was Horatius omar, the author of q Lay My Sins on Jesus"? A Scotch Presbyterian. Who was James Montgomery the author of Hail to the Lords Anointed'2 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 si1e in every church hymnal. The church of Bishop Heber may believe in apostolic
 
 believe in apostolic succession for the choir loft, for Henry Newman, the Cath ollie, and John and Charles Wesley, the Methodists, and Horatious Bonar are all lowed to sing there, even though they were not allowed to preach there. Oh, why do we not extend the hand of gospel fellowship to all the members of the diff fe ent churches as we extend the hand of Christian love to all the sweet singers who bring to us their gospel songs? May tod 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 stal another reason. The divine harmonies Of sound place the hand of holy ordinl- ton upon all those who are willing to lift up their voices in his praise. In order to become a minister one has to spend years in study. The preSbytery puts him through the most rigid examinations to determine whether he is fit to preach. Some of my ministerial brethren may be in doubt about letting him pass at thar tune: but, though some presbyteries may riake mistakes in allowing candidate to enter the pulpit when not properly pre- Iared. 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 tunef Il voice, but he sent a host of singing evangelsts to win other muititudes for the cross. 1n other words, as the goot Ananias was commanded to open tn" llinded eyes of Saul in Damascus, this modern Asaph has been ordained to loosen the dumb tongues of men who could have had no part in winning souls except by sacred song.
 The Most Powerful Music.
 And here let me state something whica has been on my mind for some time. ln cider to preach the gospel ny song mar does not have to be master of classical music. All that he needs to have is lure heart, clean lips and an ordinary sweet, true voice, and when he sings tha piain simple gospel songs from the heart God will bless his singing, even as He blesses the simple prayers that come iron. a devout heart. MT. Beecher well formu lated this thought when he protested in Il following words against the pharisa- ism of sacred song: Music is not simply a vehicle for carrying hymn It is something in itself. No tune is fit to be sung to a hymn which would not be pleasant in itself without words. In se lecting music we should not allow any fastidiousness in taste to set aside the les sons of experience.
 A tune which has always interested a congregation-which inspires the yourg and lends to enthusiasm a 1t express sion-ought not to be set aside because it does not conform to the reignfng fash ion and follow the whims of technical science There is such a thing as phar- isaism in music. Tunes may be very faulty in structure and yet convey a full