The Right Master

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 23, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 24.

Translated from the "Sendebud" by B. M. Shull

IN a little country village stood an organ. No one knew how it had sounded when, new and beautiful, it came from the hands of its builder; but for a long time all were agreed that the old organ was worn out and worthless, and that as soon as the congregation were able, they would buy a new one. No one thought for a moment that possibly the fault might be with the old organist and not with the instrument. There was no one in the whole village who understood music, not even the minister.

Now it came to pass that the old organist died. A few weeks later, a sober-looking man, with a thoughtful countenance, came to the village. He went to the parsonage, and asked for a position as organist, or to be permitted at least to try the old organ.

This request was cheerfully granted, and a time was set for the trial. The audience came with few or no expectations — for did they not know the old, worn-out organ! No hand could possibly coax beautiful sounds out of it.

But listen! What is that? Lightly the fingers of the artist touched the keys of the instrument, and in a moment the old organ trembled with pure ecstasy.

The air was filled with soft, melodious tones. It was a music more rapturous than any they had hitherto heard. Then the tones swelled mightily. They seemed like the howling of a storm and the roaring of the waves. Grief struggled with joy, but joy triumphed — even the exalted, heavenly joy of the Christian — and jubilant yet quieting sounded the playing of the master in the well-known hymn, "Jesus, Thou joy of loving hearts." Many eyes were wet. Now the instrument was silent.

The sober player came slowly down. He went directly to the minister, and asked, "Are you satisfied with my playing?"

"O, it was glorious!" the minister replied, "Who could have thought that there was such a wealth of music in the old organ! But I believe it was only waiting for the touch of the master."

The true Master! What joy to know that He knows the instrument, and that that which is considered worthless and despised by the world, receives its worth by His touch!