SINGING AT NASHVILLE. 181 greeting Bliss exclaimed, "This is the answer to my prayer. You are to go to Nashville to-night with me, to take W.'s place." The Doctor looked rather puzzled at his assurance, and replied, "I am sorry to disappoint you, but I am on my way to deliver a lecture to the students at Danville College, at their commencement to-morrow; and as I can't possibly reach Danville in time by going on to Nashville, I am afraid your prayer is not answered." Bliss said, “Well, wait until we get to Louisville and see. I am sure that you are going to Nashville with me." On their arrival at Louisville, Dr. Brookes was amazed to find that he had made a mistake of seven days in the date of his appointment, and that his lecture could not be delivered until the week following. He went on with Bliss and conducted the meetings for a week. The evening services were held in the Exposition Building, and from four to five thousand people gathered nightly to hear the Gospel preached by Brookes and sung by Bliss, and very blessed results were secured. Bliss has told me that the first evening he was with the Doctor at the Exposition service, he sang, "When Jesus Comes." He was troubled at noticing that the Doctor leaned forward and covered his face with his hands. He thought something in the hymn must have met with his disapproval; but before he closed the song he saw that it was sympathy with the song and emotions in glad accord with it, that possessed him. Many, many times afterward did he have to sing to the Doctor "When Jesus Comes." I believe it was at Nashville that Mr. Bliss called upon an invalid lady who had been speechless for some years. She had once been a singer, and after he had sung to her, she whispered to him, "My great regret now is that when I had my voice I did not use it more to sound His praises." The incident made a deep impression upon him, and led him to write the words of the song, "Work for your Master," found in an incomplete condition among his papers and finished by "Paulina." The following letters need no introduction or explanation: MAJOR D. W. WHITTLE: BOSTON, February 19, 1877. A young lady came into the inquiry room at the Tabernacle, on Wednesday evening in great distress, saying she had been seeking for years for forgiveness of her sins, but had kept the matter very secret and never intended to "confess Christ" till He had given her abundant light and assurance. She would not promise to make known her seeking to her companions, and went away as dark as she came, carrying with her, however, the verse," He that believeth not God maketh Him a liar." She returned on Friday night, and while Mr. Sankey was singing “There's a Light in the Valley,” she said, “I will do anything for such a Savior," and peace came at once. In the inquiry room she arose and said, "I will take Jesus." She is now rejoicing. DEAR BROTHER WHITTLE: I am truly yours, W. G. CORTHELL. 209 BROADWAY, INDIANAPOLIS, January 27, 1877. I notice in one of my religious papers a call on all who may have any facts to communicate respecting the influence of the compositions of the lamented Bliss to communicate them to you. It is certainly due to his memory and eminent services that I acknowledge the very large use my family, (who have labored widely for years as Gospel singers, and are known as the "Carman Family") have made of his songs. I may particularly instance his "Ninety and Nine," If Papa were only Ready," "Jesus of Nazareth," "Almost Persuaded," "How Much Owest Thou?" and "Calling Now." They have sung these in revival meetings in Syracuse, Rochester, Erie, Cleveland, Norwalk, Dayton, Richmond, Indianapolis, Evansville, and many other places, deeply impressing thousands. An aged and skeptical gentleman in Norwalk, Ohio, dated his convictions, which led him to Christ, to hearing Mrs. Carman sing "If Papa were only Ready." Quite a list of persons in Cleveland were reported to her as converted through her singing in that city, where she and our three boys made much use of Mr. B.'s pieces. Both in direct Gospel work, and also in their "Evenings of Song," his compositions have been found by them invaluable. And beyond any of these, Mrs. B.'s "Rock of Ages" has been their great standard quartette. Yours fraternally, J. N. CARMAN, Pastor North Baptist Church, Indianapolis MAJOR WHITTLE: GENEVA LAKE, Wis., February 8, 1877. In compliance with your request, made through the columns of the Standard, permit me to tell you of the great blessing which has come to me through the hymns of "dear brother Bliss." That one commencing, "Down life's dark vale we wander," has been such a comfort. His hymns are so full of the Gospel of Christ, I shall ever remember with pleasure those days when I was permitted to listen to that voice, which is now hushed to human ears, but which is continually praising Him who loved us and washed us from sin and unto Him be the glory forever, Amen," and with whom we hope to join in singing praises forever, "when Jesus comes." ******* ***** ̧ LETTERS FROM MINISTERS AND OTHERS. MAJOR D. W. WHITTLE: 183 LEAVENWORTH, Feb. 7. 1877. DEAR BROTHER -Having seen a notice of your request published in the Sunday School Times, I take pleasure in responding and giving my testimony in favor of the music written by your late friend and colleague. I have been singing and teaching for twenty-five years, and in all that time have never been more impressed for good, or so thoroughly awakened and revived spiritually, by any music, as by that of Mr. Bliss. Last Sabbath, I sang selections from it (including Mrs. Bliss') for the convicts in the Military Prison at Fort Leavenworth, and all seemed deeply interested and affected. The songs call commendations from many wherever heard, and the fate of their author is felt and sincerely lamented here as elsewhere. I am heartily in love with his sweet melodies and recommend the use of the book wherever I go. Respectfully, L. J. EARLY. MAJOR WHITTLE: DARLINGTON, Wis., Jan. 27, 1877. DEAR SIR-I can truly say that I have been blessed, in listening to many of the songs of the late P. P. Bliss. The song, "What hast Thou done for Me?" has been more impressive to me than many a sermon that I have heard. I had a little brother about three years and a half old, who died on the 23d of March, 1876, who, a few hours before his death, told his papa to sing. "I should like to die, said Wilie, if my Papa could die too," and his papa sung that beautiful song composed by Mr. Bliss, "If Papa were Only Ready," and before night his soul had taken its flight to the Spirit Land. Often, when he was with us, he used to sing, in his childish way, "I am so glad that Jesus loves Me." Eternity alone can reveal the good that has been and will be accomplished by the beautiful songs of P. P. Bliss. Yours truly, EUGENE HALSTEAD. D. W. WHITTLE : HUNTINGTON, INDIANA, February 4, 1877. DEAR CHRISTIAN BROTHER IN CHRIST -I can see that I have been greatly blessed by the hymns of the late P. P. Bliss-especially with the one called "Jesus Loves Me." It was daily food to my soul. I greatly regret that sc fine a musician and useful man was so suddenly called away in the prime of life. I pray to our Father in Heaven that his music may be a blessing to all generations. Yours in Christian love, SOLOMON DILL. NEW YORK, February 8, 1877. MAJOR D. W. WHITTLE: DEAR SIR-I was converted at Louisville, Kentucky, while your meetings were being held there, about two years ago, and I can say that I was greatly blessed through the sweet singing of Mr. P. P. Bliss. Yours respectfully, E. P. BRIGGS. CHICAGO, March 8, 1877. DEAR BROTHER WHITTLE: In response to your request, I take pleasure in communicating the follow ing facts in regard to my life, and conversion through the instrumentality of that song by Mr. Bliss, "What shall the Harvest Be?" At the breaking out of the war, in 1861, I hastened to take service in the army, and soon after-in August of that year-I was appointed a First Lieutenant in the regular army. At that time, I was not yet eighteen years of age, and never had been away from home influences. I had never tasted any kind of intoxicating liquor, and did not know one card from another. The regiment to which I was assigned was principally officered by young men, many of whom were old in dissipation. The new life was an attractive one, and I entered upon it with avidity. In a very few months, I became a steady drinker and a constant card player. I do not remember to have made any attempt to resist the encroachments of vice; on the contrary, I took a mad delight in all forms of dissipation. I laughed at the caution of older heads, and asserted, with all the egotism of a boy, that I could abandon my bad habits at any time. But the time speedily came when I recognized the fact that my evil desires had obtained the complete mastery of my will, and that I was no longer able to exercise any control over myself. From that hour I knew no peace. The years that followed were but a succession of struggles against the dominion of my appetite, and a repetition of failures. With each failure, I lost something of my power of resistance and gained something of evil. In 1870, I resigned my commission and returned to civil life, determined to make one last stand against my passions by breaking away from my old associations and beginning a new life. The result was attained in my condition of a few months ago. I do not like to recall the past six years. They are as a frightful dream, from which, thank God! I was at last awakened; but the recollection of which will always bring sorrow and remorse. When the Tabernacle was opened, last fall, I was in Chicago, presumably on my way to Minnesota. Only a few weeks before, I had left my family, promising with my last words that I would stop drinking, and try once more to be a sober man. I did not keep the promise five minutes; I could not. I stopped here, actuated by a desire to indulge, unrestrained, my appetite for liquor and cards, and in those few weeks I had taken a fearful plunge downward. At last I had made up my mind that there was absolutely no hope for me, and I wanted the end to come quickly. I gave myself up to the wildest debauchery, and speculated, with a reckless indifference on how much longer LETTER FROM W. O. LATTIMORE. 185 my body could endure the fearful strain. In anticipation of sudden death, I carefully destroyed all evidences of my identity, so that my friends might never know the dog's death I had died. It was while in this condition that I one day wandered into the Tabernacle and found a seat in the gallery. I looked at the happy faces about me and I hated them. I had all the vindictive feeling of a wild animal hunted to his last covert and waiting in impotent rage the final blow that is to end his miserable life. I did not pay much attention to the service. I was drowsy and stupefied with liquor. But after a while there was a perfect stillness, out of which presently rose the voice of Mr. Sankey (may God forever bless him!) in the song, "What shall the Harvest Be?" The words and music attracted my attention, and I straightened up to listen. They stirred me with a strange sensation, and when presently he sang Sowing the seed of a lingering pain, the words pierced me like an arrow. My deadened conscience was aroused, and with one swift glance memory recalled my bright boyhood, my wasted manhood, and showed me my lost opportunities. Every word of the song was true of my own case, and in bitter agony I was reaping the harvest my misdeeds had brought me. I thought of my old mother, my loving, faithful wife and children, and of how they, too, were compelled to reap of my harvest of dishonor. My awakened conscience lashed me as with a whip of scorpions, and I rushed from the Tabernacle and sought to drown its voice in more whisky. But it was of no use. Wherever I went, whether to the bar of the sa loon, or to the gaming table, or to the solitude of my own room, before my eyes in letters of fire were always the words, "What shall the harvest be?" For two weeks I endured this torture, having no rest, until at last on my knees I cried to God for mercy, and He heard my prayer. Broken, weak, and vile and helpless, I came to Him, believing that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin," and trusting that His love and compassion would regard even me. And, Major, I have not trusted in vain. He has removed from me my old desires and appetites, and made me a new creature in Christ Jesus. He has guided me, shielded me, and fought my battles for me, and day by day my faith grows brighter, and my love stronger. "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." Very truly, your friend and brother in Christ, W. O. LATTIMORE. UPPER ALTON, Illinois, February 30, 1877. BROTHER WHITTLE: During Mr. Bliss' tour with Dr. John Hall, in 1874, I met him in Springfield, Illinois. The services were held in the interests of the Sunday School |