The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-26

grips a community 1t sets hearts to
singing. God put a new song into the
mouths of the redeemed on earth; and
when they are redeemed in heaven He
gives them a newer song, the song of
Moses and the Lamb which IS sung
about the throne.
when morning gilds the skies,
NY heart awaking cries
May Jesus Christ be praised:
Alike at work and prayer
May Jesus Christ be praised.
BE this while life is mine,
My canticle Divine.
May Jesus Christ be praised:
Be this the eternal song,
Through all the ages on,
May Jesus Christ be praised"
A mind charged with the great
hymns of the church is refined and
educated and ennobred. When these
lofty lines are menorized the whole
fibre of ones thinking IS affected. Not
only SO; the mastery of the great
hymns imparts the essential body of
Christian doctrine. To know the
hymns is to know the Gospel More
persons get their practical theology
through hymns than through sermons.
Some hymns, possessed alike by all
branches of the Christian Church,
Protestant and Catholic, are freighted
with the precarious accretions of CEN
turtles. They seem to come down
through years fragrant with memories
of the devoted souls that have sung
them; and we can almost see the robed
monks in clustered monasteries, the
peasants in village churches, the
prosecuted Christians on the moors
and in caves the great companies of
worshippers in stately cathedrals, SOL
diers drawn up in battle array, modern
college students in conventions, all
singing, in the same spirit, such songs
as ancient Bernard Of Cluny's,
Jerusalem the golden
With milk and honey blest'
Disputation promotes disagreement;
song creates unity. All the diverse
branches of Christendom sing the
same songs. The attempt at a con-
troversial hymnody has always failed.
True. Rock of Ages was written by
Toplady to clinch a sermon against
the Methodists; and Charles Wesleys
Jesus Lover of My Soul was penned
as a reply thereto. AS arguments they
were futile; for they both are now
found in the hymn books of Episco-
palfans and Methodists. They belong
to the common faith of all Christen-
dom. When the church sings togeth-
er she gives the truest exhibition of
essential unity that the world knows;
for
I'VE are not divided, all one body we,
One in faith and doctrine, one in charity"
The popular gospel songs" are is
sued in new editions every few
months; for ninety-nine one hun
live long. But the Psalms of Israel
are still being sung after three thou
sand years. In songs as in the other
things of life, one should choose only
the best. The tested hymns of the
church should not be set aside for
the more ephemeral melodies.
Brighten the Corner" is good
marching tune, but MY Faith Looks
Up to Thee" is good music to live and
die by. Young peoples societies
should make a place in their worship
for the grand old hymns, as well as for
the lesser songs of current interest
Every noble hymn embalms the
Such songs have power to quiet
And come like the benediction
That follows after prayer.
A true hymn is an attempt to ex-
press the inexpressible. The vastest
emotions are vague. The spirit OF
alteration and communion surpasses
words. No great love has ever been
fully expressed. So it is that in wor-
ship we turn to the hymns and sing
with old Isaac Watts,
Come, that love the Lord
And let our joys be known:
Join In song with sweet accord,
And thus surround the throne.
Let those refuse to sing
That never knew our God;
But children of the heavenly king
May speak their Joys abroad"
SEVEN SENTENCE SERMONS.
He knows not his own strength that
has not met adversity.-Ben johnson
Sorrow and silence are strong and
patient endurance is Godlike.-Long-
fellow.