davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

editor of the Organists Journal said
while listening to the roar of Niagara
he detected every tone of a great or
gan, from it's most flute like cadence to
its deepest diapason." To his cultured
was disclosed.
l repeat with Byron, Music is strange
thing Carlyle asks "Who is there that
can express in logical terms the effect
that music has upon us? A kind of in
articulate, unfathomable speech which
leads US to the edge of the infinite, and
let's us for a moment gaze into that"
In addition to the effects of music that
Carlyle had in mind, there are many
others which BATTLE our analysis We
know that it softens anger; that il quets
the disturbed nervous system; that 1t
melts the hard heart into tenderest pity;
that it subdues violent hatred. and that
it inspires to the attainment of loftiest
achievements. These things we know
but who is able to explain why music
acconplishes these results, and how :?
Cowper essays the effort of explanation
in The Task, a poem which, | suppose
nobody reads in these days, although
when it was first published it had a
powerful effect upon the literary taste of
the time. In The Task the sixth Book
opens thus,
"There is in souls sympathy with
sounds,
And as the mind Is pitched, the ear is
pleased
With melting airs or martial. brisk or
grave;
Some chord in unison with what we hear
Is touched within u.s. and the heart re-
Plies
Now, this is good poetry. but 1t is not
satisfactory philosophy. If we say that
there is a hidden, latent, harmony in the
soul which requires an expressed har
mony outside of us to awaken it into
vibration, we do not thus clarity the sub
ject We only confuse physical and
psychological mysteries, and are as far
as ever from Carlyle's demand that we
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

then the principal thoroughfare of the
city, past the federal building where Con-
gress was in session, then to the home
of the President with that pomp and
ceremony of which Washington was very
fond. Each member of the deputa ton
was presented to the President, while the
eyes Of the enchanted chiefs fairly gilt
tered with delight as they unceremoni-
ously gazed on the scenes about them in
the mansion of the President. Washing
ton could not outdo Colonel McGillivray
in conventionality in the exchange of
greeting. Both We're men of splendid
physique. MeGillivray being just six feet
nigh with broad shoulders, well proper
toned, and as straight as flag staff
From the home of the President, the
procession filed to the office of the Sec
retary of War, thence to the mansion of
Governor Clinton. all of which being over,
they We're marched for entertainment to
the principal hostelry of the city, The
city Tavern, where Il banquet was spread
Tor the unique deputation. when the fune-
lions Of the first day We're closed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

Other notable attentions charmed the
visiting chiefs whose elation over the
novel scenes of which they were the prin-
eipa recipients was equaled alone by the
concern of Colonel McGillivray regarding
what all this might mean for him. The
chiefs of the wilds were easily beguiled
by these profuse attentions, but not so
the willy McGlllivray. With sedulous care
he kept the chiefs we'll under his thumb,
lest they might fall into other hands by
means of which they might be alienated
from himself.
After some days negotiations were en-
tered on between McGllivray and the In
dian chiefs on the one hand, and Henry
Knox. the chosen representative of the
government on the other With cautious
vigilance on the part of both Knox and
MeGillivray each step in the proceeding
was taken. Knox knew his man, and
McGilivray knew what he wished, and
all else was made subservent to that
purpose. McGillivray was as free in the
ply of his art in the metropolis as he
was beneath the native oaks of his tribe
on the distant Coosa Nothing daunted
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

thereby commits sin? I have no desire
to hear at my church service "The Last
Rose of Summer" nor "Believe Me If
All Those Endearing Young Charms"
nor Thine Eyes So Blue and Tender"
Not because I believe any of them less
sacred than many songs that are sung
in some churches. 1t is simply a matter
of the fitness of things. But while
do not think that similar songs should
be sung in the churches, I fail to see
that 1t is wrong to sing them elsewhere
on the Lords day. Sacred are the melo-
dies called Federal Street" Ariel"
"Balerma,' Scotland" Dundee" Cor
tonville," and many others which one
hears from time to time in church
from the operas of Norma, II Trovatore,
Martha, and others; and from Parsifal,
Lohengrin, Tannhauser, and similar ones.
The man who attends church serv-
ice and at its close is not a better
man. and the man who hears the music
of great master and does not become
better man, has each lost a great oppor-
tunity. In the first, he is taught that
the tfuest life is lived In condition
of obedience, of harmony and sympa-
thy; and these same elemental and es-
sential qualities of life music teaches. 1t
takes man out of the chaos of ma
terial things, into harmony and restful-
ness, and into the sphere of the spir-
itual among things that are not seen,
but are eternal" A philosopher once
said: Good music tells us what we
are. or what we might be- and again,
ut bespeaks a noble, magnanmous striv-
ing after a far off goal the fulfillment
of which is eternal" This was said by
him whom Wagner regarded as the first
philosopher who assigned to music its
true place and Junction. The Judi
cious Hooker whose immortal work on
eccelestical polity is best known to theo-
logians. and is the bette noir of divin-
ity students. writes Of 'the most divine
part of man being touched and
moved by the harmony of music
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

things. but to be things not to accumu-
late, but to assinlilate; not to add to our
bank deposit, but to add to our char
acter deposit.
The object of life is soul growth, ad-
vancement toward fullness of being, ex-
pansion in divine consciousness What
ever contributes to these ends is worth
while. Whatever does not so contribute
is wasted effort.
We should be able to say at each night
fall that we have made progress, that
We are a little higher on the upward path
than we were at the morning
In climbing a mountain we keep in our
minds the final summit. In ascending the
mountain of life we should keep in view
the whole path. not only up to the veil,
but beyond It, II we once see this entire
glorious ascent, how triviaDseem the ac-
cidents and troubles that before disturbed
us, Poverty, disappontments, separation
from friends, death itself, all become lit
tie things of no moment We suddenly
understand that they are but the mists on
the slope. Whatever we may encounter,
however black may be our despair. the
one supreme object of life remains-to
climb the path.
Up, up. up foreyer-up to the fulness
of our own lives up to a broader vision,
UP above the desires that enslave us. up
into the freedom of TRUTH up to the goal.
In this age there Is a certain hippant
tendency to underrate the Puritan.
That is because we do not understand
him. We are too materialistic, too world
IL. to appreciate his character. But in
this did it ever occur to us that he was
right and we are wrong?
He looked at the eternal, we at the
evanescent. lie was closer to God than
we. In spite of what we in our superior
way term his fanaticism he was ruled
by principle. He was attempting to fol-
low Gods voice in his soul rather than
old customs. He was rebelling against
the Journalism, the immoral standards and
the unfaith of his age.
He was moved by powerful spir-
itual impulse. SO powerful that it has
been felt in the world from that day to
this. II drove Charles | from the
throne and gave the world a Cromwell,
a Milton and a Hampden. 1t finally
resulted In transferring the govern
ment of England from the crown to
the parliament. IT sent the Mayhowef
across the sea. 1t generated the spirit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

But the evangel? The evangel? The
gospel of the kingdom of God? As
much money is, spent in one week in
the moving picture shows in this city
as would comfort all the clients of tho
associated charities and put the neigh
borhood houses and the Fairgrounds
movement on their feet. 1 wish I had
for the Anti-Tuberculosis movement the
Indulgence bills of Birmingham for
single day.. all payable into the asso-
cations treasury. So with every such
work. Thus, though loving hearts
and generous gifts have come to
there is still need of the old message.
Repent ye and believe the evangel"
1 may close with this truthful and
yet most amazing statement that those
who most generally seem to believe it.
in Birmingham and in other cities too.
are our neighbors the Jewsl They may
not call 1t the gospel of the kingdom.
and they do not call 1t charity. Their
word is Justice" 1t Is Just" that the
wounds of the world should be healed.
And sometimes catch myself doubt
Ing whether the Jews will not outrun
the Gentiles into the kingdom of God.
Yet l. cannot even seem to depreciate
the goodness and Kindness and earnest
churches and in none. On the other
hand we have more resources today
than the five loaves, counted SO care
fully on our fingers and the two fishes
mere sproats in comparison with the
haul men make today
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

that threw the tea into Boston harbor
and fought Lexington and Bunker HILL
And its work Is not yet done.
1t was robust, courageous, virile
movement There was no milk and
water about it. 1t not only announced
the right. but was prepared to fight
for it. Singing psalms and praising
God, it went into the battle Its con-
science was behind it's sword stroke
and for that reason 1t won.
We have no stones to throw at the
men who carved our freedom. We
need their spirit in the world today
We need their love of the wholesome
fervor, their spiritual impulse. their
awakening to the presence and leading
of God. Never in all the worlds his
tory has been seen more divnely in
spired movement than was theirs, new
er one that SO blessed after ages, never
one that so lifted mankind to spiritual
ity and liberty.
May 1t not be that We are on the eve
of another such awakening? May 1t
not be that here in our own land is to
be re-enacted in a larger and more
peaceful way that world shaking and
world shaping drama? The cause of
God does not go backward, and Just
now the race needs another mighty i'm
pulse to lift it out of its selfishness and
upward toward the freedom that is of
him.
The Optimist club of Sunshine Cor
ners was about to hold its monthly
meeting. tOn taking the chair Presi-
dent Uplift jenkins said:
Since our last meeting l am pleased
to report that only seven members
have been fined-four for having
grouches, two for complaining about
the weather and one for running down
the town. This shows improvement
and reveals a decreasing per capita of
faultfinding. There remain a few of
us who indulge in the useless, weak
ening and time wasting habit of peev-
ing about the inevitable and some 9TH
ers who grow morbid in regretting
| things that are over and can't be
helped. The only good In regret Is In
making us resolve not to commit the
| same foolishness again. When it goes
beyond the point of self amendmen!
1t becomes peevish at things beyond
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
%EDNESS OF MUSIC-By Dr. W.. E. Evans

frame. takes me to pieces, dilates me
out of myself, and by degrees, me-
thinks, resolves me into heaven" The
Celebrated and learned DR.. Channing
In a letter to Blanco White, said of
music. Nothing In my experience is
more mysterious, more inexplicable. An
instinct has always led men to trans
fer 1t to heaven; and 1 suspect the
Christian under it's power has often at
tanned to a singular consciousness of
his immortality" Coleridge, at once
poet and philosopher. said, Every hu-
man feeling is greater and larger than
the exciting cause-a proof, | think
that man is designed for a higher state
of existence and this is deeply i'm
piled in music. in which there is al
ways something more and beyond the
immediate expression"
Therefore. l ask, what renders one
piece of music sacred. and another sec
ular? One piece religious, and an
other profane? What is the essential
difference? Why may a certain mu-
sical work be rendered on Sunday
without adverse criticism, while if an
other be given on the same day loud
protests against 1t are pronounced? :?
What makes one pious, and the other
wicked? Is not this distinction stand
ing monument to the influence of
Puritanism? An influence which at one
time had the organs removed from the
churches in England because there was
no Bible authority justifying their use,
and enforced the substitution of Psalm
singing for other music. The early
Puritans in this country did the same
Cotton Mather argued that God re-
1ects all which He did not command in
His worship; and he now therefore in
effect says to us. L will not hear the
melody of thy organs"
But 1 repeat the question; what makes
one work of music quite moral, and an
other immoral? 1t is readily conceded
that the words of some songs would not
be Appropriate to church service. But
because of this fact are they not to be
sung elsewhere on Sunday lest one
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

x01 e hear little nowadays of the
M leader of the French Hugue-
nots who. though in high
position, espoused a despised cause,
made several Intellectual attempts to
colonize America, practically won the
battle for religious liberty in his own
land and lost his life in the dreadful
massacre Of st. Bartholomew.
Admiral Coligny had little to do with
the French navy, but was one of the
stoutest soldiers his nation ever knew.
He was of those rare and noble old
characters who stood high both with
the court and common people. He re-
formed the army in much the same
way that Cromwell afterward reformed
that of England He drove out low
forms of debauchery and immortality,
incucated religious spirit, made the
soldiers respect the rights and property
of private citizens and disciplined his
forces in a way that became model
to the nation for years to come
Coligny's character was so high that
he had the genuine respect of all fac
tions, although partisan rancor was so
Iefce llat IL was well HlSH iIHpOsSlolt
for one side to do justice to the other
His integrity was worth a regiment of
soldiers. His own men loved and
trusted as much as the opposition
feared and hated him.
Had the French been as good col
onists as the English Coligny would
probably have planted strong colonies
of Huguenots in America that might
have had an influence on the subse-
quent history Of the United States sim
liar to that exerted by the British
puritans. That the plan failed was not
his fault. He had the vision and took
the necessary steps toward its fulfil
ment.
There is no better reading in the
world than the biographies of noble
men and women. and OF them all there
are few who bear scrutiny better than
this great hearted French soldier who
sacrificed throughout his life for a
righteous but unpopular cause who
was greater in defeat than victory,
who won against overwhelming odds
and who in the end took his place
among the martyrA
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

progress spiritually as we have made
in physical things?
Why leave out the most important
half OF the scheme of things?
l cannot define God but | believe in
and love Him. Without.that belief and
love, which go with me through all my
days and nights, life would not pe
worth living.
What is the end of all our progress
except in progress to Him?
What is the value of all our achieve
ments if we achieve not His grace?
What boots all our knowledge il we
know not Immortality?
With all my mind and heart and soul
I believe we are on the way to better
civilization, but l also believe that we
will only reach it through following
Him.
The chief satisfaction of climbing a
mountain is not in the view it affords.
beautiful as that may be, but in the
sense of surmounting obstacles.
1t is battle with the boulders and
the force of gravity. 1t is a victory
won. 1t is the action of conquering,
Of rising, of overcoming.
All mountains are not made of earth
and rock. Some are constructed of
passions and the very substance of hu-
man life The difference is that the
physical ascents we scale occasionally,
while the moral heights we are climb
ing forever.
We climb by setting our feet upon
vanquished temptations. Every un-
worthy desire overcome is a stepping
stone Thus our very evil propensities
NAV be made to become our helpers.
They are for us to conquer, they are
for us to surmount and each one lifts
us higher and nearer to the goal.
We are here to accomplish. to prog
ress. to evolve. The constant urge of
the soul pushes US forward. The di.
vine impulse is in us to continue NOV.
ing.
Aspiration Is of God, and 1t keeps the
race ever mounting from boulder to
boulder of achievement. This ascent of
the mountain of life we call achieving
success Anything is success which brings
us higher in the scale of being and OF
consciousness. And even though we rise
on seeming failures the victory Is as
great
The object Of life is not SO much to have
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
HEART TO HEART TALKS-By James A. Edgerton

water mark of the rebellion. but the
high water mark of heroism.
Who can measure the power of the
suggestion carried by its story? 1t is
like seed sown in the heart of the
future that will grow to a crop of high
resolves and noble deeds. Already it has
inspired one of the classic orations of our
tongue. Lincoln spoke here, and his
name will ever be linked with that Of
Gettysburg.
The outlook before the world was
never so hopeful.
There never was so much real kindli-
ness. individual self reliance efficiency.
progress, knowledge and moral uplift.
We think less of forms but more of
facts than In any age of the past
We are healthier, longer lived, cleaner.
have better hSgienic regulations and
saner standards of living than our fore
fathers.
These are not boasts. but demonstrable
facts They should not breed in us a
false self complacency however. but
should rather inspire us to continue in
the paths toward better things
We have proved that progress is possi-
BILE. which should cause US to redouble
our efforts to improve
Our achievements are great but their
chief value lies 1.-The promise they hold
of yet greater achievements to come.
From my own viewpoint the one erea.
lack of the world today is true spirit
uality.
In material ways we are far in ad-
vance OF any age in history.
Yet the great spiritual voices. the
prophets. the poets. the divine teachers
seem strangely dumb
1t Is these We need We have hu,
half civilization without them.
We have the aeroplane, but no Isaiah
no Augustine, no Thomas Aquinas. nc
Savonarola, no Luther
We have the railroad, the steamsbin
the telegraph, the wireless, but nc
Dante, no Shakespeare, no Goethe.
We are becoming so we'll contented
with this life that apparently we think
of no other
We have those among us. indeed
who profess to believe in no other life
That Is the prattle of children. Ave
even children know better.
Why should we not make AZ srea,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

Willett's in arranging for the proposed
council in New York, where the Indian
chiefs were invited by the great Presi-
dent to meet him
with the mastery of skilled disputant
Colonel Willett addressed the assembled
chiefs, including. of course, Colonel Nc
Gillivray. The pith of his speech was
that "our great chief, George Washing
ton,' had sent him to convey to them
a message of cordial affection and to In
vite them to his great council house. in
Now York, where he wished to sign with
his own hand, along with Colonel Nc
Gillivray, a treaty OF peace and of al
lance He assured them of the high
regard entertained for them by ''our great
Chief who did want their lands, but
wished to see them happy, contented and
protected He further assured them that
Washington would make treaty "as
strong as. the hills and as lasting as the
rivers" Ills tone of address and assur
ance of sincerity greatly pleased the as
SemblN
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

l came away humming some of her
songs, and as l have gone about my
simple employments on the farm, have
caught myself unconsciously singing
| many old melodies which l had quite
forgotten.
l have thought, too. of her question,
do you prefer sacred music?' My
answer. "All music is sacred, If in real
ity it be music" was not given i'm
promptu- l had seriously thought of
the subject many times, and am con-
WINGED that my reply to her question,
in the main, was correct OF course,
there are combinations of notes and
sequences of bars that compose certain
melodies which appeal to a class of peo-
pie, but musicians with high appre-
citation of their art and its lofty pur-
pose have often told me. MY dear, sir,
this stuff they call ragtime is not mu-
sic" Therefore, / was within the
boundaries of musical canons when
said, "All music, If it be music in
reality, is sacred"
] have scant sympathy with the ad-
vertisements which invite the public to
"a sacred concert" to be given on a
Sunday. AS a rule the music to be
rendered is the same as that given at
any other time; while the pious pub
lie is led to understand that they will
hear only church hymns, dirges, req
uiems, and such like. If the con-
cert is an occasion of high class mu-
sic, of course, it is sacred-be it given
on Sunday or on Monday. The selec-
tions need not be from the class of
music just mentioned, nor from "the
Creation" nor from Elijah" to make
them sacred.
Sir Thomas Browne, In that pre-em-
fnently philosophical work of his,
'Religio Medici," says, For myself, not
for my Catholic obedience. but my par
ticular genius, am obliged to MAIN
tain 1t, for even that vulgar and tav-
ern music, which makes one man merry,
and another mad, strikes in me deep
fit of devotion and profound con-
temptation of my Maker there is some
thing of divinity in it more than the
ears discover" Further on he says, ut
(music) unites the ligaments of my
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

~ ONE weeks ago ] was In a coun
ty adjoining this in which ! live,
~ and heard of a marvellous singer
Said one to me. Il could spend my life
in listening to her, and could die peace
fully if she sang to me as | passed
away from earth. Her voice has been
most highly cultivated, for she has had
the very best teachers" 1 asked to
be taken to the home of this wondrous
singer for I yield first place to no one
who loves music. Her home is most
beautiful one, and everything about 1t
is suggestive of an artistic tempera-
ment. In the drawing room were mu-
steal instruments and stacks of sheet
music The lady herself was physically
and mentally attractive, and was graci-
ously courteous and hospitable. Her
two fine collies furnished the subject
for conversation at first. but as they
were most too affectionate in their no.
tice of stranger they were dismissed.
and we began to talk of music.
found her quite familiar with the works
of the great composers and able to
talk intelligently of the eminent sing
ers of the day. Finally l asked her to
sing. Knowing me to be a clergyman,
and my visit being on Sunday night,
she asked If 1 preferred sacred music.
answered, "All music, IL it be music
in reality, is sacred" She smiled and
said, That's my opinion, Also
She seated herself at the piano, and
after her nimble fingers had made
few runs. she sang selection after Sc
lection to my intense delight. Her
voice was indeed wonderful, and 1t cer-
tainly disclosed the rare culture of
which had heard. AS l had heard no
really fine music since my departure
from Birmingham, her singing
Game DER my ear like the sweet sound
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing, and giving odor"
do you know Alma Gluck's fav-
orlte, The Land of the Sky Blue Wa
ter?' / asked. She did know it. and
sang the weird Indian melody. How
this beautiful song moves the heart!