Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1855-01-04
Choir a 'sic.
Extract Of a Aectnrc~ GeiiUred BEFORE
the mersers' Of ftc* sAa WITT
Christian Coagregatio4, CINCINNATI
Ohio. ~. >,e

"''0' S< bN =
BY ED. J. It. A0RfAH.
And here, If you will allow
me- viii make little episode and dis
cuss for moment the question 'arc
choirs in churches necessary and ussful?r
l take the affirmative of this ques ton
with certain restrictions which ! will
make. after ] state and answer few Of
toe objections against them.
First. it is objected that they are un-
authorized by The Scripture. to which
reply that it is Just the same with chap
els. CT ediGces for worship. the apostolic
church had none. 1.-THE argument proves
that we should have no choirs. it proves
thai we should have no chapels. But
reason says. if the mission Of the gospel
requires either chapels or choirs 10 carry
cut its woFk of civilizing, refining, and
saving mankind. it should employ them.
Second, it is objected. that choirs neces-
saFily destroy congregational singing. /
answer, this can be but from two causes.
lst. from their singing constantly new
music, which the congregation does not
know, or %. from perfect apathy on the
part of the congregation. For the
frs; difficulty. le, the choir be made TO
understand that i. must introduce new
music Sparingly. and as general rule
sing such music as the congregation can
sing. and you will find the choir an aid,
instead Of an impediment TO congrega-
tional singing. But appreheud that
generally the second difficulty is the true
one. The Christianity of these times is
.spathetic. iha, congregations take but
little interest in the praises Of the sane
tuary and are a,her glad TO have some
Institution 10 take the labor of their
hands.
The third objection is, that in choirs
there is nflen frivolity and levity in d-
vine service. My answer is, this arises
from the fact that this noble portion OF
the service is abandoned to boys and
girls--while reason AMI religion both
unite in teaching us, that next to the
preaching OF the gospel, the right utter
ance OF the praises Of the Lord. occupies
the most prominent place and should be
conducted by the most sedate ana expert.
enced of: The church. So il is in enlight-
ened New England. where venerable men
and digniied matrons do not consider il
beneath their dignity to lead the solemn
praises OF the sanctuary.
| advocate choirs. because, Isl. they
are really indispensable to good congrega-
iional singing; and. 2dly. church music
car never make any progress without
1t will necessarily droop and decline. un-
til in an enlightened community j. will
become perfect nuisance. and will have
the effect of driving away every person
of any culture and refinement, to places
where Gods laws of harmony are more
respected aud more oheyed, But in say
ing these things | would not be under
stood as endorsing the system OF the fash
ioneble churches OF this dav. of having
quartette Of fashionable singers to do up
the music. while The congregation. per
haps, vulgarly wheels round 10 hear them
sing. Nothing can be more foreign from
my conception Of devotions But the
truth is, that those who charge these evils
upon choirs, do not know the meaning OF
words-a choir means chorus. Now.
these fashionable churches have no Choir
us-and of course no choir; they hs~e
only professional quarte;te.
But give me the grand chorus-a cho-
rus of at least fifty. good cultivated vol
ces; not TO sing alone but 10 help the
congregation to sing. AID you will have
that which will stir the heart of every
man who has soul TO feel from center
to circumference. This is what should
churches-a sublime chorus which should
make the windows shake, and raise our
souls on the wing of melody to heaven.
Another reason why choirs are indis
pensable is. that ihere is very large
Glars Of devotional music, of most soul
string and useful c!laracter-that con-
gregations cannot sing. such as anthems.
motets; intsoits, dirges. These most, ell
evating and inspiring kinds Of sacred song
must all be thrown away ard their moral
effect lost. if there is no chorus to execute
them. But what noble effect is pro-
duced when fine. and spirited choir
commences the morning devotions of the
Lords day with the swelling and reso-
nant chorus. "Our Lord is risen from the
dead" Who does not feel, not only his
taste improved, but his heart made better?
But advocate choirs whose business it
shall be to sing a1ith the congregation,
and not. at them, aud to promote this, |
hold it indispensab bic that they should
sing a majority of tunes that the congre
cation can join in: yet | would not by
any means say. as many do. that they
should never introduce new music, for l
have no idea Of making the church as mo-
tioniess as an oy ster-bed. Oras devoid
of progress as strata,of defunct fossils:
but let every service show both varieties;
the choral and the congregational and
chiefly the latter.
| The following rule has occurred TO me
as being good practical one. viz: Lei
the choir sing its anthems, &C., by way
of introduction to service; then in the
| first hymn when the whole congregation
rises to sing, congregational tune known
TO all should be sung. The next nigh:
be new tune for the congregation TO
learn. while the last hymn. like the first.
should always be congregational. Such
an arrangement. think, WOULD be more
s.r; va Of r~oo1 ~