Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-04
Song and Its Meaning
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMKINs.
Text: Psalm xaaiii. Is.


David's time they were accustomed to
sing, for the Psalms are simply hymns
of the Jewish period. Even in Mosess
time they sang, for we are told that
after the crossing Of the Red Sea Mir
lam and the other women sang In cele-
bration OF the great victory. Then we
remember how our Lord Himself sang
with the disciples in the upper room the
night before He died. We have Paul
and Silas singing when they were In
prison. And in the book of Revelation
We have many declarations concerning
the music or heaven. Surely. then. we
may look upon our personal love Of
music and singing Of hymns, as vel!
rs the singing in our church worship,
AS associated with God and heaven and
all the history Of Gods people here and
hereafter.
1t may not be amiss for us TO realize
that when sing it should be with
the spirit as we'll as with the under
standing. Our hymns ought TO come
from our hearts.
GREAT DIFFERENCE
IN PUBLIC SINGERS
What difference there is in public
singers You can detect II Immediate
-. One singer will be very exact and
faultiess SO far as the letter of music
is concerned. and yet her song will not
move YOU. Another singer may have
far less musical ability and yet the
tcAi- come to Your eyes as she sings.
The difference Is that the one let's her
heart go out into her song and the
other is simply mechanical One Of the
finest things l ever heard was a song
sung by a noted Swedish singer Chris
tine Nilsson. She was singing at con-
cert and being called to the stage and
asked 10 sing again. she sang The
Last Rose Of summer. Although ] was
only hoy, II WAS revela tion. had
never known before what il meant 10
put the heart into sound and words
alike. The great audience was simply
thrilled The emotion could ne felt. We
want TO have something like this heart
devotion when we sing TO God In
church. otherwise our music will be
very poor
We might venture word here about
choirs. Those who lead the singing
IN Gods house should certainly be
Christians. and should realize that they
not singing for money or for praise
but for the glory of God Moreover,
they should realize that they are min
listers carrying message in song.
Many time hymn Will lead TO con-
version where perhaps the sermon has
only prepared the way. u is good
plan for choir 10 have a little PRAYER
before going into the church. asking
God TO bless their singing and to ac
cept II as tribute TO Himself.
SHOULD STUDY MEANING
AND PURPOSE OF HYMNS
The meaning Of hymns should lead
us to study somewhat the author and
the circumstances under which ne
wrote. This is not always possible and
yet II Is moro possible. perhaps, than
we realize. Nearly every hymnbook
gives the name Of the writer of the
hymn. and there are books which tell
about the lives Of those writer's and
vi rel nh ~
cumstances under which they wrote
certain hymns. II helps a great deal
when we sing Nearer. My Cod. TO
Thee" TO remember that the story of
Jacob is here told, and that the au-
nor was woman whose father was
), in jail in England for defending the
French Revolution and criticizing the
political conduct Of a certain bishop.
II one reads the hymn through he sees
running from one end TO the other an
expression OF faith In God under try
Ing and heavy circumstances. SO. too.
the associations of certain hymns will
make their singing more real Many
l.. OF the old familiar hymns have clus-
tered about them stories OF those who
have sung them in hours of special
need. And from this atmosphere has
come an influential power which seems
to be a very part OF the hymn and
sometimes Of the tune. 1t all goes TO
show how these hymns of praise and
tory of humanity, and so they lead us
to realize Gods love and care
HIMNAL SHOULD CONTAIN
MANY KINDS OF HYMNS
There are different kinds of hymns
| and there are varied measures of ap-
probation. Some prefer both music and
| words to be strictly classical others
fnd help in devotional hymns which
are very simple and perhaps have little
i. poetical merit, and yet which touch
\ the heart. We must not be narrow and
think that only one style of hymn and
music is to be accepted. The really
useful hymnal is that which has in It
not only such hymns as I'm the Cross
Of Christ Glory" and Jerusalem. the
Golden" but also dear hymns such as
My Jesus, Love Thee" and The
: that we need both kinds of hymns
those which are magniiicently exuitant
in their alteration and praise, and
those which are the simple childlike ex-
preston of the hungry soul.
Just one word more. Let us remem-
Der that those who think they cannot
= sing can. nevertheless. follow in spirit
the singing of others. 1t is the devo-
ton Of the soul which. after all and
above all. is acceptable to God. The
outward observance in voice or tone Is
Of little value unless It has back Of 1t
and running all through 1t loyalty OF
heart to Christ. Therefore. when we
= sing let us realize that we are singing
to our King, and If we cannot make a
joyful and harmonious noise let us at
seast lift up our hearts unto the Lord.
Singing for Jesus. and trying to win
Many to love Him and Join in the
song;
Calling the weary and wandering in,
Rolling the chorus Of gladness along.
Singing for Jesus, our Life and our
Light:
mark:
:inrtng for Him when the morning Is
bright
Staging. still singing. for Him in the
dark"