The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1850-05-15
COMMUNICATIONS
Foa the CADIz sENrlNkL.
CMOIHs -.

" HI " u " =
Ma. EDIroR;-Asyou lately published IN article
on Church ChOirs, perhaps you will not beunwil-
ling to publish something more on the same sub
,eet. The following II an extract from recent
work entitled "Something for Everyb ody," by
Robert Carlton, ESQ.,, and published by the Apple
tons New York and Philadelphia. The work Is
published where Choirs have beon long in use, AMI
by one who has himself had some experience ia
sueh matters;
But, reverend sir, humbly conceive you
clergy have small right to compiain. The
many evils Of irreligious chOirs were told and
prophesied a hundred limes3 and many n
church, otherwise prosperng. had been sadly
injured by such al unchristIan committee
installed TO do singing kind Of iabor.saving
machinery for Christians below. True, you
have had more science, and taste, and enter
tainmeht! but such advantages are not to be
considered an equivalent for The abominaion
of a uifing, cycling, note indiiug, whisper.
loving company Of irreverent young chot!s-
iers. allow do know all lhs?" say you.-
In many ways: among others hive been in
rhoirs myself: -and spite Of the presence of
clergy man there with US, and Two church
officers in addion-lhe gay and mirth loving
young folks would have their amusement!-
Nor could we all look them down-ihey were
past such rebUke.
Rather, by far, would recall the solitary
clerk who in former days rose in his desk
under the pulpit, and not only s6 the tune
for the people, but set the people themselves
so going that huhdreds Of voices, and with
The heart" in them, would, in unity, pour iorlh
hymn Of praise that would waks and move
the very soul Of the worshippers.
Yet those modern talk of our discord in
those times! Dlscord, indeed!- might
retorl, and tell Of whatit is more likely many
most loud in their abuse Of congregational
singing are ignorant "a deep melody of the
interior heart that was an accept lbIe song in
the ears OF God! But, sir, We did not make
discord, even in the sense Of polished and
scientific modeIns. Our plain old tunes
were so known, and, from long habit, so ma
tura TO US, that without any shulfling parade
of note bucks, we could sing, and we did sing
in tune and time; and, in most long establish.
cd congregations, and especially where the
clerk had singing school during the whole
yeai, the combined melody was wonderfully
rich. solemn, and sprituIizing, And why not?
Had people no voice, no ear in former days?
And how could we make dsco:d with tunes
30 easy, so familiar, SO solemn as were ours?
1 have heard as much dscord and as bad
time in most choirs as were heard among
Christians. And even organs, flutes, and
bass viols are sometimes rebelous, and do
the worship contrary 10 the rules in all books
!rom-I forget where-down to the Sosoa
Academl's,
Even in the most favored churches, when
perhaps, singing are all that can be wished
morally, Intellectually, and musicolly, some,
times, we fear the singing is prone to become
mere entertainment rather than devotion; !;
S-rhe error being in the system and ndt in
the persons.
But, Charles do not wholly condemn
choir singing. Perhaps it might be made
more profitable means Of leading our devotion
than the former way. Certainly an entire
congregation could be trained, by judcous
management, 10 sing with a choir as we once
sang with precenlor oi clerk. This, iudoed,
is the case with some of our chors and con
g,egalion 10 KaIcidavilIe, especially The ;
although there is room for improvement in !"
When you g.tout Of your existing trouble
which by The way will plague you aad your
church officers no little then, never-no-
NEvER,-alow your choir to be composed of
irreligious people, and particularly Of young
ones. If they should not, rs is more cons
monty the case, destroy your peace, und
threaten temporary iuin to your church, it
does strike mo as a gross nbsurdty, and as
something not very far off from impiety. -
Whal! a company of wicked and irrevreenl
men and women committee to praise God
en- behalf Of believeos!
No'-glve me, in preference hand Or
and work it by crank. Both contrivances
are hines equally destitute of grace mad
n devotional spirit; but the one does moi laugh
at me while il does the job, and the other
does--addng insult 10 injury.
Use this opinion, Charles, if il can avail
you any Thing, | have looked in the face of
100 many angry men, TO be very greatly
moved by the pouting and sneerlng of your
i'll bred young folks
Yours, truly,