The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-12-23
THE MESSIAH


II wish I could hear the Messiah
with my eyes closed from beginning
10 end, so that I should have nothing
10 distract my mind from the great
thoughts breathed forth in the
music"
The Messiah ought TO be printed
with sub-heads TO guide one through
its program OF emotions; First is the
proclamation of good will and the
prophecy of q reconstructed earth
Every valley shall be exalted, ant
every mountain and hill made low
the crooked straight, and the rough
places plain: And the glory Of the
Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh
shall see il together" As we hear
these words we see poverty allevi.
ated, crooked politics reformed, JUS
tice established and an ideal world
slowly ushered in.
Then the thought turns from the
public aspects Of Gods kingdom u
the personal one. How do ! stand
toward this great kingdom Of right
eousness9 "Who may abide the day
Of his coming9 and who shall stand
when he apeareth? for He is like
reflners fire."
Then comes the prediction and
fulnllment of the birth at Bethlehem
told with infinite tenderness.
Then again come the glories which
Christ is TO bring on earth-"Then
shall the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears OF the deaf unstOpped.'
So we see the perversities Of men
change, the stupidity Of the world
cured. and all men and women ex.
panding in the proper use OF their
powers as God intended.
In part second part follow the
emotions which are fitting for the
closing part Of Christs life. The
suGerings contemplated are not
those Of his body on the cross but
those Of his heart. "He was despised
and rejected Of men,"
And then come the two great vic.
tories: First the victory Of the king
dom, and then the victory Of the in
dividual soul.
The victory OF the kingdom means
the defeat of all tyranny and error
and perversity and meanness, how
ever strong such things may seem
today. HE that dwelleth in heaven
shall laugh them TO scorn; the Lord
shall have them in derision. Thou
shalt break them with q rod Of iron;
thou shalt dash them in pieces like
a potter's vessel. Hallelujahl for
the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.'
This Hallelujah Chorus Of many
voices rejoicing in a perfect earth is
properly followed by the solo set
ting forth the victory of each soul
II know that my Redeemer liveth-
for this corruptible must put on in
corruption. and this mortal must
put on immortality.
And so we close with an anthem
of universal praise. worthy is the
lamb that was slain-blessing and
honor and glory and power be unto
Him that stitch upon the throne
and unto the land forever and ever"
The Music Department and all
who contributed TO the annual rem
dering of this great oratorio have u
right TO a feeling of joyful satisfac-
ton. This has always been Berea's
chief musical Offering. Professor
Rogers had parts Of ii rendered in
the time Of the Civil War, and 1t
never meant more than then. Prof.
Walter Wright, whose dwelling
house stands on the Academy cam
pus, secured several renderings OF
the work in his time, and each mus
ical director since-Lodwick, Thurs
ton, and Observation-Disclosures to
the development of the Harmonic
Society and this its chief work. Prof.
Rigby presented il this year for the
ninth time.