Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-04-15

But the pulpit stood firm amidst the popu-
| lar canor. Such men as the Mathers, Ed.
wards, Stoddard Symes, Dwight, Wise, Wal
ter, Thatcher, and Princes, fearlessly called fo
musical reform. Many of the discourses Of
these diyines have been preserved. They are
able arguments OIL the " Reasonableness o
Regular Singing Rev. John Tufts, pastor
of church in Newbury, published a musica
work in the year 17I2, which contained TWEEN.
| ty-eight psalm tunes. The work run through
| eleven editions, and the number of tunes was
increased to thirty seven, all but one in COM
mon metre. The number of tunes in these
little books was considered enormous. The
pages were neatly engraved, and in size to
bind with the Bay Psalm Book. The reform
went ON steadily, and other musical publica-
tons soon appeared. Cotton Mather pub
lished a work in l7lS, and Rev. Thomas Wal
ter, of Roxbury, edited work in 1921, which
was the first music printed with bars in Amer
lea. The work Of Mr. Walter was recommen-
ded by the pastors of all the Congregational
churches in Boston, except Cotton Mather,
who had a rival work in the market.
Until about the year l770, no native Amer
lean had attempted to compose and publish a
single tune. VIM. Billing, native OF Boston,
we believe, can Justly claim the distinction of
being the pioneer in this work.
Among the New England Puritans, singing
psalm tunes was always regarded as a devo-
tional act. So great was the reverence in
which the few tunes known were held, that
the Colonists put off their hats as they would
i'll prayer, whenever they heard one sung
The tunes were held too sacred to be used for
amusement.
FACTS TO THINK oF.-The external forms of
religion, compliance with which costs no
sacrifice, receive from large majority of its
professors, much more attention than that
practical godliness which affords the only true
evidence Of saving union with Christ.
There is not one i'll ten of the protested fol-
lowers of Christ who maintains a consistent
regard for his requirements, and is governed
by the principles Of his gospel.
Probably not one in fifty of those who pro-
fess to love Christ, and the souls of ther fellow
men, feels any real practical interest in the
salvation Of sinners, or puts forth any adequate
efforts fol- their conversion.
There is not one in twenty of those who
pretend to preach the gospel, who declare the
whole counsel of God and who does not seek
the praise of men more than the praise of
God.
The amount of money expended in build
ing and decorating houses of worship. not for
the pure worship of God, but the qualification
Of pride exceeds a hundred fold the amount
contributed to give the blessings of an uncor-
rupted gospel to the destitute, and to those
who are perishing in ignorance and sin.
The amount of talent and money expended
for the propagation and support Of denomina-
tional interests-in other words, sectarianism
exceeds hundred fold the amount expend-
ed for the dissemination of the essential saw
ing doctrines of the gospel Christian Press.
The SAN FRANcIsco-- AFFECTING Incl
DENTAL moment when Hope was almost
abandoned, and despair in every countenance,
Death in the most appalling form seemed in
evltable, in state of half distraction, do,
sir, pray for us, was the request to the Rev.
clergyman. Some one having said Oh, sir,
in this awful crisis your Prayer Book can be
Of no service to you the only response to
this, by the faithful Herald Of the Cross, the
Missionary of the God of Mercy, was to fall
on his knees, and with fervor that penetra-
ted every heart, implored, in the solemn words
Of the Litany:
80 God, the Father of Heaven, have 1ner-
cy upon us miserable sinners
90 God, the Son, Redeemer Of the World,
have mercy upon us, miserable sinners"
90 God the Holy Ghost, preceding from
the Father and the Son, have mercy upon us,
miserable Sinners