The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-08-10
JESUS Of NAZARETH
By DR.. GEO. p. RUTLEDGE
DELIVERED THE PEOPLES AUDITORIUM. ST. PAUL,
WEDNESDAY EVENING. AUGUST lat
Preacher Lecturer Author Journal.

, and Beethoven, each scared higher in
his oratorio exalting the Christ than
in any other production. Anna w
Patterson, in the "Story of Oratorio,'
says Of Handers contribution:
"He found in The Messiah theme
above every theme whereon to base
the oratorio of his own and subse-
quent times-for the day seems far
distant when. we can point to q tone
cathedral more magnificent and sub
lime than that which the great Saxon
erected in honor Of the Son Of God"
Even the air of secular music that
lives is caught from the young
Nazarene. It is quite evident that
the tune to which "My Country T'is
Of Thee" is sung, although it's origin
cannot be traced, has for It's soul the
vibrations started and perpetuated by
the militant tread of that young man
down through the centuries.
Jesus and Music
Prof. Waldo Seldom Pratt, of Hart
ford, is on record as follows: "It is
worth remembering that the art of
music is what it is today largely in
consequence of what religion has
done for it. The demands that re-
ligiont has put upon music, the OPP
portunities and incentives for its de-
velopment that religion has afforded,
and the basis of knowledge and
character that religion has supplied
for musical culture--I mean that
these have furnished to music The
necessary atmosphere and nutriment
for its growth to the stature of a
great and famous art"
/ shall also quote Edmond Dickin-
son, Professor of the History of
Music is Oberlin College:
I'm the very nature of the case, q
new energy must enter the art of
music when enlisted in the ministry
OF Christ. A new motive, new
spirit, unknown to Greek or Roman
or even to Hebrew, had taken posses
sion of the religious conscieneeness.
To the alteration of the same Su-
preme Power, before whom the Jew
bowed in awe-stricken reverence, was
added the recognition of gift which
the Jew still dimly hoped for; and
this gift brought with it an assur-
ance and hence felicity, which were
never granted to the religionist Of
the old dispensation." ...
I. shall again refer to Professor Pratt.
In his book, Musical Ministries in
the Church." he AYERS that music
found it's center between the 18th
and 10th centuries, and that this was
accomplished by religious composers.
Summing it all up, he says:
The result was the formation of
certain laws of musical grammar
and rhetoric that have never since
been abrogated, though their applica-
tons have been extended and multi
piled. Every composer today must
follow the lines Of procedure once
for all established by tedious expert
ment and toll some five hundred
years ago."
Thus it appears, is even declared
by an eminent authority, that Jesus
OF Nazareth presides in every studio
OF music today, that he has his hand
upon the pen of every composer,
whether religious or secular, and that
he says to them, one and all: II am
Master here. Use my grammar and
my rhetoric. Follow my instructions"
Were Jesus removed from the realm
OF music, the melody Of the world, SO
far as human fundamentally is
concerned, would be hushed. AS
Jesus directs the composers pen,
so does he guide the painters
brush. The Masters have all hung up
their pictures of the Christ. This to
say nothing of the innumerable
paintings that reflect His influence up
ION people and occasions. "The Head
OF Christ" two, one by Hoffman, the
tother by Raphael; "The Last Judge
ment,D by Michaelangelo; "The Last
Supper" by Davinci; "Christ before
Pilot" and "Christ on Calvary" BY
Munkacsy-these are the sort Of pic.
lures men travel long distances to
observe and before which they bow
their heads in profound reverence
Remove Jesus from the picture gal.
leries Of the world, and their attrac-
lions will be swept away.
Jesus and Literature
Il is scarcely necessary to discuss
at length the position Jesus occupies
in modern literature. All who have
read to any extent know that II the
books about Jesus and his religion
together with the books, secular and
othsswiSs, that rest upon Him ii on,
iway or another were destroyed. and
that Il everything relating to Him and