Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-02-26

Yet He SNaketh His Hearers TO See
Things That Strangely He Himself Sees


''How the organ seemed to speak -
''Yes, it fairly breathed the words
of the hymn
Seated in comfortable Centenary
church at Chattanooga Sunday, though
crowded by a mass of those seeking
admittance, the auditors were at once
impressed by the skill of the new or
ganist, the blind musician-Daniel
M. Coleman.
| A Daniel who, perhaps, in the light
of modern times, has had his faith
tested and successfully passed through
an ordeal as severe as that impos ID
| upon the Daniel of ancient days, for
Daniel Coleman, sightless, but courag
eOus, has achieved most remarkable
series OF successes which 20 perm ate
/ his individual ty that one forg Is his
physical affection in admiration for
the man who haa made a place for
himself in tue world
Without ability to see even the glim
mer of note in book, he seems to
have substituted himself for the print.
ed page, and when ne plays it is not
the curiously formed black note that
comes from the pipes of the organ,
but Daniel Coleman himself comes
is the result of necessity, but that it
exists viii be realized when one sees
and hears him
This sightlass orgauist has nothing
but himself TO give to his art, and
what he produces and gives to the
world bears his own stamp. Further
more, it is good
He played "The Ninety and Nine,
and the first notes were heard Then
gradually one lost consciousness that
the organ was playing. Sheep were
seen on the bills. There were ninety
uine Of them Coleman told you so
with the organ The flock seemed
undisturbed, for the notes of the Or
gan faily breathed contentment. Then
one heard an agonizing strain rather
mournful lament and the one sheep
that bad strayed was seen away on the
mountains, while thunders crashed and
lightnings could be discerued as fierce
storms ragged and the defenseless sheep
vainly sought protection in a wild un
known country. Back to the peaceful
fields again you follow the sentiment
of the organ, and the shepherd is leav
ing the flock which is safe and start
ing on a perilous journey to find tue
one sheep which is lost Emphatioally
you almost hear him say that be will
face any perils to bring the strayed
one back to the fold How real the
next step in the drama seems, a. the
shepherd, often SCARED and bruised
by rocks and mountain pitfalls, per-
sists in his task; and how delightful
you feel when you think you see him
stoop and lift from the ground torn,
bleeding lamb and carry it with all
tenderness to the sheepfold Then the
organist translates you to the very
gates of heaven which open then a
little and you bear songs of rejoicing
over q souls salvation The organist
lifts his bands from the keys an the
last note in TIE parable of the strayed
and redeemed soul has sounded
The lesson fingers with you even to
the quiet hour of the home Perhaps
sometime you will realize that it was
only a man that played the story on
Centenary's organ, but more piobably
you will prefer to remain in dream
land and think only of the beautiful
love scene presented in music AID tue
blind man saw it, real and inspiring
So this organist talks through the