October 1932
426
T h e K i n g ’ s B u s i n e s s
To-Day.
Jessie F. Moser
Herbert G. Tovey
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V 1. Our yes- ter-day has passed a-way, W i 2. TO-DAY is all that we pos-sess 0 3. How far beyond, then, all compare 0
h a ll its joy and sor-row ; t time, or life, or ac-tion, : earth-ly weight or measure,
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;ray No sign of ess, And last-ing are, This precious,
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i — * 1 / I r * 11 Copyright 1931 by Herbert G. Tovey in “ Gospel Solos and Duets No. 3 with Trios.” ’a t a jegua rd ing GQSPEL MUSIC By HERBERT G. TOVEY Los Angeles, Calif. w . J J ~d f -
[Mr. Tovey, who is chairman of the music faculty o f the California Chris tian College, Los Angeles, Calif., is well qualified to write on the subject which he has chosen fo r this brief article. For more than ten years, he was associated with the Bible Institute of Los Angeles as a teacher of music and has written many splendid gospel hymns. His book, "Gospel Solos and Duets” (see page 455), will be welcomed by gospel singers who are looking for songs with a message. — T he E ditor .]
means of his magnificent choirs and the gospel singing of his congregations. Is that kind of ministry to cease? It is true that there are many so- called gospel songs in print that exhibit poor words and music, that were written and published by individuals who were ignorant of the common laws governing song writing. This fact should incite the church to greater care and should cause her to demand a creation of gospel music that is both pure and powerful. It should be remembered that a
J . n th is materialistic age with its many self-pleasing devices, the ques tion arises, Is the Christian church bowing to the trend of the times and ceasing her vigilance in the realm of sacred music? It is true that “ catchy” melodies
please the ear. It is an easy matter, therefore, for some music of this char acter, used in sacred connection, to pass unnoticed by listeners, carrying with it dangerous doctrine that robs Christ of His rightful place and makes God merely an idea moving through the mind of mankind. This can never be said of the true gospel hymn. A lack of appreciation of the gospel hymn leads to a very real and prevalent danger. If this kind of hymn de parts, there will go with it that direct appeal to the indi vidual heart,, which must issue in a definite act of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; and in its place will come the more general type of hymn, which some modern authorities are advocating. This latter kind sets forth Christ as a great Leader of youth, as a superior Teacher, and as the Father of mankind; it gives no help to the individual that is sold under sin and lost. In it, the simple evangelistic message is lacking, and the outstretched hand of willing faith finds no stable staff to grasp. The great John Wesley roused the latent church to action through his dynamic hymns embodying evangelistic truth. Luther changed deeply prejudiced minds by his carols built around the theme of a personal faith in a per sonal Saviour. Sankey brought the world to penitential tears through his tender songs of God’s love for the sinner. Charles M. Alexander persisted in preaching salvation by
hymn is not a gospel hymn unless it carries a definite evan gelistic message—the message contained in John 3 :16 and John 1:12 and 13. Such were the songs that the early Chris tians sang. Because the heart o f man is just the same today as in those distant years, and the heart of God, unchanged, waits to make sons of God of all who will come to Him by way of Calvary’s cross, the message of the gospel hymn must still sound forth. The gospel hymn must abide. The Ministry of Praise The need of more prayer is great. But the need of more praise is still greater, if possible, and yet it is scarcely recog nized. The power and use of praise are largely unconsid ered factors in Christian experience. Yet there is a praise life and a praise ministry as surely as there is a prayer life and a prayer ministry. The one is necessary to the other. They are joined in the nature of the redeemed life, and without this union, full health of soul must be wanting. Praise is the blossoming of faith, needful for the fruitage o f prayer.—H. C. W .
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