Musical crotchets. From darkness to light

Preface

That music has been created for a purpose no one will deny. Its special mission is to bring peace and good will on earth and make men and women better. If an effort to lessen the number of the world’s unfortunates shall meet with some degree of success, the author will feel amply rewarded for this tribute to a pure woman, wife and mother, who has preceded him to her eternal rest.

In issuing a second edition of “ Musical Crotchets,” and adding a new title, I have deemed it just to offer a few explanatory remarks ; it was after reading Mrs. Anna Agnew’s book “ From under the Cloud,” in which she gives, in a straightforward manner, her experience of the loss of her mental powers, her treatment at the Insane Asylum and her final recovery.

The mental suffering which she endured can only be fully appreciated by one who has had a similar experience. I only regretted

II one part of her book, where she blames the Almighty for all our suffering, and declares having lost faith in Him, or any person, and that she don’t miss the absence of it.

It was for this reason that I resolved to offer my experience in the form of an Allegory in order to counteract the fallacy of her assertion. There is no love more sacred and enduring than that born of sorrow ; no friendships purer, no sympathies more sincere and deep. It is only through this channel that we obtain “ Compassion’s supreme strength and purest wisdom’s power.”

I am a firm believer in a God in whom we live, move and have our being. He is a merciful and loving Father and we are His children.

I remember only one instance when I corrected my daughter’s disobedience to her mother. I shall never forget her astonished look and how she cried as if her little heart would break. She could not understand that it pained me a million times more in giving her a few slaps, and that the punishment was vastly greater to me than to her.

I believe that this principle exists with the

Ill

Father of us all, and that it pains Him infinitely more to punish us than it does ourselves. There was, also, one question which my daughter frequently asked. Why? which her mother, who was patience personified, as frequently answered.

Who has not been perplexed with such questions as. What is Truth? Why are there so many creeds? Why is Christianity divided into so many different warring sects?

. I could wish a person no more terrible punishment than the torture which these questions have given me. When we have once thoroughly learned the lesson taught in the fourth chapter of Matthew, we have obtained a knowledge of the Truth — when we have learned to realize that anger, envy, indolence, intemperence, impurity, jealousy, pride, regret and vanity are only different forms of Insanity ; and when we have once been cured by the Great Physician there is this difference, that we are not left without Hope.

Those who have had a true Christian experience can appreciate the benevolent influences which a United Christianity would exert. Until we Protestants unite in admit-

IV ting that Matrimony is a Divine ordinance from which there is no Divorce, and that no number of laws that we may enact will justify a man in ignoring and deserting his own offspring, the Roman Catholic Church will not have fulfilled her mission.

Until the Greek and Latin Churches learn to admit that God alone is Lord of the conscience, and that He alone can pardon our sins, and that the Power which has been so abused will never be peacefully restored to them, the Protestant Churches will not have fulfilled their mission.

Until intemperence ceases to exist among Christian nations, Mohammedanism will continue to flourish.

Until prostitution ceases to exist in Christian nations. Buddhism will endure.

Until professing Christians cease to be Mammon-worshipers, the Jews and Pagans will continue to prosper and enjoy the spectacle of seeing the Crucifix spit upon in our -heatres, and the picture of “ Ecce Homo” printed in the papers under the caption of “ Amusements.”

Until some of these reforms are effected I

V can remain *only a Christian musician and continue to plead for Christian Unity. It has been asserted that all music is pure, and that to the pure all things are pure and to the impure all things are impure. There is a vast difference between the music which is heard in a concert saloon or brothel and the music heard in a Music Hall, Church or Home. Music was never created for the purpose of sending men and women to destruction. Its special mission is to sweeten the bitterness of Duty, emancipate humanity from bondage and elevate them. ^

Buddha established a beautiful religion. There is nothing more natural than natural love. To a materialistic lover of Nature Buddhism is preferable to Christianity.

' Paul Beauchamp representing Buddhism — flowers symbolize animate beauty — wedded to a model woman representing Christianity, symbolizes Buddhism mourning at the grave of Christianity.

Will this be the outgrowth of the struggle for the supremacy of creeds? I liave faith in the ultimate triumph of Christianity. She will prove herself more magnanimous and God-like

VI than Buddha ever dreamed of in .his philosophy. She will guard his tomb more faithfully than Mohammed’s followers are guarding the tomb of our Savior.

Ernest Hirsch symbolizes Judaism converted to Christianity. I believe that eventually they will find their way through Gethsemane.

Hezekiah Clay — porcelain flowers symbolize inanimate beauty — is a representative of modern society who marry for money.

The source of more than half of the misery of the world is in the crowned heads of Europe. This world is too small for two such antagonistic forms of government, as Monarchy and Republic, to endure forever. I have faith in the ultimate triumph of United Republican Christianity. H. J. Schonacker.

Indianapolis^ May^ 1888,

Contents

1. Counterparts,

2. A Suburban Party, .

3. A Country Home,