Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-06-15
zASATURDAY
g. NIGHT
! \ SERMONS
BY
sA MNMuELW pUkfElh
THE GOSPEL OF SONG.

In psalms. hymns and spiritual songs"
David cries out. "Sng ye TO God, all
We Kingdoms Of the earth" Fifteen
sermons and sixty prayers recorded in
the Bible and 800 psalms and songs.
Possibly that should he our proportion
Song is the language OF worship and
triumph. Even In sorrow and grief OUT
song may be minor chord clothed In
sackcloth but when hope triumphs the
soul sings In bold and major numbers.
Not all forms of thought can sing. Law
courts. houses OF legislation, senatorial
halls, meetings OF trusts. do not begin
nor end their sessions with song. a tacit
admission perhaps that their business
may he too low set for song. Some
transactions have no need for wings;
they belong 10 the dust OF the earth.
But the love OF man and maid make
them sing the story OF their hearts pas
sion, the harvesters sing amid the rus
tie of yellow leaf and patter OF falling
grain, nations sing when the people are
thrilled with deep voiced patriotism.
and religion must sing or stihe.
Christianity 10 TunsfuI.
Christianity Is naturally n singing re-
llgion. l often wonder that no artist
has given us picture OF the Saviour
standing up to lead the singing In that
last hymn sung at the feast OF the
passover Immediately before the dark
ness and agony OF Gethsemane, the
song OF sacrifice. no doubt the one hun.
dred and eighteenth Psalm.
Paul and Silas, scourged and bleed
ing In dungeon. made the midnight
ring with their songs OF praise till
prison walls rocked and doors were
loosed. The volunteer soldier can sing
but not the drafted one.
Christianity has developed music OF
its own. Search heather countries the
world over. there Is TO be found no such
emotions that crave musical expression.
Mere word energy Is not enough. The
words have TO he touched into music.
A singing church Is a triumphant
church. You cannot defeat II. Power
ty. persecution. martyrdom, are forgot
ten In song. Cardinal Newman said
the reason Mcthodlsm gained such
enormous numbers to her fold was be.
cause she knew how 10 sing. Many
are won to Christ through song who
cannot be touched by preaching. Re
ligion simply has TO sing. At the Gre
alton the morning stars sang together.
At the Saviour's birth the angel sang
TO the shepherds. Christ sang on his
way TO death. The early church sang
under fire and sword.
infidelity is Mute.
There is no church anywhere with
out music and song. The infidel makes
himself foolish trying to account for II.
There Is nothing In his philosophy to
explain II. Atheism Is songless; inhdel
fly has nothing 10 sing about Cnbe.
lief has nothing to sing about. no hope.
no Joy. no resurrection. Did you ever
attend the Sunday services OF any OF
the liberal leagues in our cities? i
have. II is funny-no. IL Is pitiful. still
It Is reasonable enough. The usher 10
whom | spoke about the singing said
rather sayagely. too. why should we
slng?" True enough, thought. Why
should they: Neither have ever heard
OF Brahmanic hymnal or Confucian
psalmody. The meters OF heathen-
dom or savagery. so far as paganlsm Is
vocal nj all. are not TO be compared
with the heartiness. fullness and depth
OF Christian song There are n spon-
taneity and IN abandon 10 the singingoi
Christians that are sadly lacking In any
OF the musical exercises OF paganism
Ancient Judaism said. "oh. come. let
us sing unto the Lordv' The modern
Christian explains his own songfulness
In the conclusive question. How can
keep from singingT'
Singing In Heaven.
know no reason why the songs OF
earth may not be sung In heaven.
When William c. Fisher stood in my
choir circle shortly ago looked at his
fine old face and said. Some day you
will lead heavenly choir. as we sing
4 love TO tell the story.
"And when IN scenes OF glory
| sing the new. new song
Twill be tho old old story
That have loved so long"
And well hear the sweet voice OF
Florence Nightingale and Jennie Lind
and Ira u. Sankey and Robert Lowcry.
and Cowper will sing:
Then In n nobler. swceter strain
III sing thy power 20 save.
When this poor lisping siainmering tongue
Lies silent In the grave.