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The Voice of the Soul

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 17, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 30.

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The Voice of the Soul

By J. S. WASHBURN

J. S. WASHBURN
The tenderest, sweetest emotions of the soul are expressed in music as they can be in no other way. Preeminently are love and joy expressed by music. Courage and hope speak through its strong, swift, rhythmic major chords, while the pathos of sorrow weeps like wailing autumn winds through its mystic minor harmonies. In danger, martial strains nerve men to dare to die. At the funeral of loved ones, music that softly steals into every darkened chamber of the soul brings healing and balm.
O music, sweetest of the divine gifts, without thee the world would be a weary, barren, cheerless waste. It is true that music is used at times to express folly, lust, hate, madness, and despair. But this is Satan’s perversion of God’s gift, which was to be his voice of love to us, and the medium of communicating our praise and joy to him. It was intended to bring to us healing and hope and joy and light and life.
The man in whose soul is no music, lacks the gentlest qualities, and needs a new creation, a new soul. Many who have apparently but little musical talent, love music and are moved and touched by it. When such people become true Christians, their love for music is increased. When the soul is awakened, love for music awakens. It is the soul much more than the voice that sings.
A poor voice and a great soul is a much better combination than a fine voice and a small soul. Mr. Sankey, the famous evangelistic singer, though he did not have a remarkable voice, sang from his great tender heart, from his very inmost soul, and his singing reached the souls of many and saved them.
Music that is mechanical, lifeless, expressionless, soulless, is absolutely worthless, no matter how skillfully rendered. Music that is affected, or performed for the exhibition of self, is worse than useless ; it is wearisome, disgusting. Let God give you a true, noble soul, then your music will win and save.
Philadelphia, Pa.