THE POWER OF MUSIC.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 209, 6 April 1877, Page 15

THE POWER OF MUSIC.

Father Burke is an ardent admirer of the Jesuit Fathers. In one of his most eloquent lectures the great Dominican orator says : When the glorious sons of St. Ignatius — the magnificent Jesuits — went down to South America to evangelise the native Indians, the hostile tribes with their chieftains lined the river banks, hideous in their war paint, and stood ready to send poisoned arrows into the hearts of these holy men. They would not listen to them. They would not open their hearts to their influences, until at length upon a certain day these Jesuit missionaries were upon the river in an open boat. Tho banks on either side were lined with angry and inflamed warriors thirsting for the blood of the saints, when one of these children of God took a musical instrument and began to play sweet chords, and the others lifted up their voices and sang. Sweetly and melodiously they sang, voice dropping in after voice, as they sang the praises of Jesus and Mary. The woods resounded to their peaceful chant. The very birds upon the trees hushed their song that they might hear, and the savages threw down their arms, rushed with naked bodies into tho river, swam to the boat, and listened with captivated hearts to tho strains o£ music. And thus upon the wings of song, did the Divine failh and the grace of Christianity reach the savage, rugged breasts of these Indians.