Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-11-17
IEWISBURG, UNION COUNTY, PENN FRIDAY, NOV II, 1854

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ness. Thus, while the first tune is per
formed, portion, at least, Of the audience
will be reminded how gracefully favorite
danscuse turned pirouctte to that par
ticular air the night before. In the second,
they may recall how deliciously some Sig
nor sang the same music to its original
amorous song at the opera. III is, however,
unnecessary to expatiate, as all this and
much more has long since occurred to the
subtle cunning of your Internal Highness.
have the satisfaction Of assuring your
Highness that l have large expectations Of
what may yet be accomplished. So indif-
crcnt to the whole subject of singing seem
those usually active and watchful enemies
of your Highness, the clergymen, that |
apprchend you need to fear little from
them. They may oe easily quieted with a
mere sensual music effect, so that if the
music goes smoothly, and helps to draw a
full house: they are satisfied. Beside, l
have been successful in many cases in stir
sing up the bitter opposition Of the people
to any interference on the part Of the minis
tiers in this subject; so that, for their own
security, it has become necessary in many
places for them to give up the singing ex-
ercises entirely into the hands Of the oc-
cupiers Of the organ-loft. Your Highness
has well remarked that if you can gain en-
tire asccndency in the music-gallery, you
need not be afraid but that you can easily
neutralize any efforts against you which
arc made in the pulpit. If | can now sue
cecd in introducing foreign language, as
the Latin or Italian, 1 may then soon use
the opera text the dresses and dances may
soon follow, rendering your success com
pletc. 1t seems almost too much to hope,
but when what has already been done is
considered, the idea does not after al, seem
so preposterous.
There is one movement which is preg-
nant with danger to your Highness' inte-
rests in respect to this enterprise, and which
have not failed to oppose with all the
cunning and falsehood at my command. l
allude to the efforts which have recently
been made for the revival Of Congregational
Singing. Should this style church music
again come in vogue; there is reason tofear
for your Highness' interests. If they actu-
ally to take part in singing the praises of
God, my efforts to keep out the true spirit
of worship, will, I fear, be useless, for it
is necessary in this manner of singing to
use only few simple tunes, and the ex-
ercise become one Of actual worship, rather
then mere musical performance. l have,
therefore, labored actively in opposition to
this measure. l endeavored, first, to en-
list choirs and organists against it, by per-
suading them that if this style Of music
should prevail, their services would be less
appreciated. l have also urged, through
such mediums as could command, that
the highest form of art should be used in
the praise of God, and that in Congrega-
tional Singing this is impossible. have
succeeded in persuading some very good
men to use this argument very pertinaci-
ously, and to enlarge upon it extensively.
1 have urged against those who are the
most prominent in this movement, inte-
rested motives, and in all other ways have
endeavored to destroy their influence. In
short, left no labor unperformed to pre-
vent the success of this measure, which |
deem fraught with so much danger, and
which might prove as injurious to your
Highness' purpose, as was the universal
psalm-singing at the time Of the so-called
Reformation, in the time Of the daring and
reckless Luther, or at the time of the rene
gades, who, fleeing your Highness' authori-
ty, so effectually renounced the world, the
flesh, and your Highness on the inhospi-
table shores of New England in 1920.
Assuring your Highness that l shall Ia
Dor unremittingly in the responsible work
committed to my care, and that l shall be
wholly devoted to your Highness' service,
| have the honor to subscribe myself
Your Highness' most humble, loyal ser
want, HEIdHART.
nS~The Moonshine Railroad (by Texas
A. l:.. C;,, 20 C,1;fnrnia \ finally !