The Litchfield County post., 1827-05-24
FOR THE COUNTY pUsr.

of Church Music. There have, belleve, aI- ways existed peculiar difficulties in this cOun- try arising from the low state Ofthis rt,which we have reason to fear cannot be immediate ly removed; and they are difficulties which do not exist in relation to the cultivation of any other art or science which is attempted in our country. Our learned men, who are eminent for their acquaintance with other branches of learning, with the exception Ofa very few individuals, know nothing at all of this-we have no professOrshps ;-and schol ars while acquiring an education are led to look upon it as science beneath their notice. Now sir, with difference and respect, Iwould wish to inform our very respectable men of learning, that there is perhaps no science 1 where they would find more room for the ex- ercise of their greatest talents, and their most persevering industry. Butwhile they contin- ue to neglect the cultivation of this delightful art, it can hardly be expected that the music of our churches can be carried to the perfec- ton which it deserves by few individuals, laboring under all the inconyeniences. and struggling against all the difficulties which are thrown in their way by that same neglect ] and indifference; and by the ignorance and stupidity of community at large. Nothing is more common than to hear parents who on other subjects speak and act with proprie ty, make use of such language as this :--"I will send my child to the Singing School, if it will not interfere with his other studies-nay, wish him to learn to sing, but he must spend i no time except the evenings he is at school" Strange doctrine this.-He must learn to sing, but his mind must not be occupied with his music, lest it should interrupt his proficiency in his Geography or his Arithmetic! With the same propriety might he say in relation to other schools, '' He may study Arithmetic, but it must not interfere with his other stud
 ies; or he may learn to read, but he must spend no time about it, lest his mind become completely occupied, and he learn nothing 1 eIsc." Iwould not be understood to recom- mend the study of Music, and to neglect the study of other and more common branches of education; but in the language of Scrip ture, "these ought we to do, and not to leave the other undone."
 But here am aware the objection, want of time, will boldly stand up in my face. What, 1 Sir, do our friends and neighbours want time for doing what they already spend double the time necessary for doing Do they want time to learn to sing, when they spend winter af- ter winter in attending a Singing School merely to get rid of the time which hangs heav- fly on their hands? lift is time they want, answer, time IS the very thing wish to save for them. Are there not very many in most of our towns and parishes, who have spent more hours in Singing Meetings than they ever did in studying Arithmetic ? think there are very many. And I also think every per son well acquainted with Music will agree with me when say that the necessary rules for reading and timing Music, are much more simple in their application than the rules of Arithmetic and those arc all that a mere
 performer need understand.
 But we act as though there were some magic connected with scientific knowledge of music, with which it was dangerous for those not initiated to intermeddle. And some of us seem to suppose that such knowledge of necessity must destroy all taste for other branches oflearning, and still more, all indus l trious habits and inclinations. @
 l But who cannot remember the time when Geography and English Grammar were scarcely thought of as necessary in our com mon schools ?-when person who in study ing Arithmetic had 1" gone as far as the Rule of Three," was considered competent for any business ?-and person who had "been to College" was looked upon as prodigy ?- But now the case is different. Now we think thorough knowledge of English Grammar, Arithmetic, Sc. as necessary requisites for common education; and now almost every neighborhood is furnished with one or more persons of liberal and polite education. And has our country of late been in less four ishing condition than formerly Tor if it has,