Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-21
MAHIN Sc CLEMENS.
Courtesy.

aes fsv Courtesy. "a sies "a.
tag asc NUMBER III. 81 80
This week our able correspondent devotes
his article to pa 92a ,AF6a
THE esSsRAL DEP oRrMRNT OF coyeRxoATIoN
DURING SINGING.
Many improprieties have grown out Of the
common agreement. that congregations are
to praise God by proxy that 60 tho choir
alone belongs the duty of engaging in this
part of public worship. Those who have
not the faculty of singing, ought indeed to
withhold the tribute of tho voics, but they are
not discharged from presenting the Offering
Of the soul, and "making melody in their
hearts to the Lord !" nor are they released
from the Observance OF the decenciss due
TO Gods house and to this part Of the ser
vice. We do not, however, purpose here
to enforce the duty of congregational sing.
ing, but simply to touch upon few inde-
cOrums which are often committed by min.
listers and congregations in connection with
singing.
l. During this part Of divine service, the
minister should, as far as his other duties
and his knowledge of music will permit.
either join in singing or engage in silent
praise, instead of turning over the leaves
OF his Bible, prayer-book, hymn book,
reading his notes, receiving notices, giving
directions to the sexton, or comforting with
the elders or deacops.
2. The minister should be on his guard
against giving out so many stanzas as to
fatigue the singers aud to exhaust the pa,
thence Of tuneless listeners, or SO few as to
render musical expression impracticable.
Nor should he give out more than two hymns
of the same metre during one service but
should vary the metres as much as the ma
ture of the service or the subject of his dis
course will permit.
B. When he gives out hymn or announc.
es sing, he should not say The consrega-
tion will now have the pleasure of listening
to the Performance of piece o music by ne
choir." ''The audience will now he ,nier-
tanned with singing Jy he ehu,.'' "Will
the choir please irmi the assembly with
song of praise He should invariably civc
out the number of the bvmn, and so an
nounce the singing that the congregation
will understand that they have part to
bear in this service. IA
4. lie ought not ctll for a sacred song or
voluntary, on purpose to drown noise or
hush turbulence, or merely ts save time or
amuse an audience, while contribution
boxes, subscriptions papers, or programmes
are circulating, or while the Nom hers arc
taking their seats for the celebration of the
eucharist.
5. When it is the custom of the minister
n rerd hymn. he should not at any time
d spense whit; especially at the beginning
of the services. Such freak is ant to take
the choir and congregation bv surprise. ani
throw them into cnnstcrnation TIL same
caution holds of giving cut hymn at an
unusual time.
lie should heware of making any mo-
tion or sign which indicates to the congre-
CATION that the song is ended before it is so.
Who has not seen = mistake of this kind on
the part of the minister or some hearer,
di.concert the singers, and throw n whole
congregation into awkward postures.
/. The sexton should not offer to show
strangers their pews during this service, and
though he cannot keep those who have pews
of their own from going out and in when
they please: vet when he chances to he en-
tering an aisle when a hymn is starting or
being sung, he should reyerently stop till
singing is ended, and thus ay his example
teach others 70 keep their foot when they
90 to the house of God." He shonld not
at this time open and shat doors. blinds, of
ventillators, renew fires or regulate lights
With view to his convenience, rs weH rs
that of the congregation, the minister ought
not 70 hurry from one part { the service to
another, but allow q short interval between
them.
s. The congregation shonli take this OPP
portunitv to lay down or take ub books, or,
if need be- 10 leave the house, or change
seats, and never do such thngs at time
when they ought to be giving their whole
attention to the service.
9. Persons in the congregation should not
smile or whisper to each other when any
thing unusual is seen or heard in the choir,
or for any other cause Turing any part Of
the worship.
10. They should neither take their seats
nor stand with wriggling or restive move
ments, nor leave the house during song or
praise.
IL. Each person ought to hold his hymn
book in his hand, unless he can sing the
stanzas memorifer, and not to sit or stand in
idleness, or with vacant or wand, ring eve.
These are some of the many faulty habits
and actions of which professors of music,
and choristers or precentors continually
complain. In order to thorough reform
IN these matters, worshippers have only to
consider their relation to the choir, their
duty las to singing, and to notice what ia
proper and what is not proper in their
department. Few intend to behave unto
wardly in the house of God. Most people
are betrayed into such indecorums by not
needing the words of Paul, who exhorts US
TO "think on these things.'
HERvEY.