The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-02-23


did not know it was the whole study of this
class OF persons to estop advancement or
improvement in anything. can't censure a
man If he does not 60 to a singing school {;
but l do censure him if he discourages 9TH
ers who are anxious to 60. And
ut is no one clse's business
If gentleman should choose
To 60 to singing school,
If the teacher don't refuse;
Or to speak little palmer
That the meaning all may know,
1t is no one elsc's business
If conclude to go"
1t is one of the most convincing proofs Of
the benevolence Of the Deity, that lie his
so framed the human ear, rs to make It. ca:
pable of finding rational and elevated pleas
ure from the action of sounds. There might
have been organs Of speecll, and cars to
hear without imparting to the car the pow
er Of knowing and delighting in music.
1t must have been intended that this ora.
cious gift should be used as one mode of
praise and thanksgiving. The church, in
all ages of the world, has considered sing
ing an Indispensable part of Divine wor-
slip-both as being itself an utterance of
devout emotion, and as attuning the soul to
a fitness Of mood for all the other services
OF the place and time. Aud yet how ma
ny have we, at the present day, who are ut
terly opposed to any improvement of church
music, and who frown down every attempt
OF those who are endeavoring to elevate and
raise its standard. 1t is difficult, if not
impossible, to impress this class of persons
with clear idea Of the end which is in con-
temptation, when improvements are only in
their incipient stages. The present, and
the acts of the present, cngross all their at
tentlon. First efforts are viewed, without
reference to future progress-and Judged
with as much severity as if the ultimate
step had already been reached-and eyery
advance is met with the same premature and
condemnatory judgment. Nothing can be
more annoying to those who are patiently,
and perhaps successfully Iatoring for tile
Improvement of church music, than to be
met at every step by those who not only
claim the right to decide and r1le, notwith-
standing the glaring fact of their entire in
competency to utter one wise word on the
matter in question. And it is only on two
subjects that they ever commit such error.
viz: Religion and Music. On these, three
fourtils of mankind hold themselves Quail
lied to judge, by the mere exercise of natu-
raj instinct. And, those who labor assidu-
ously, and on right principles for gradual
elevation of the standard of church music,
are not unfrequentIy subjected to rash criti-
on other subjects, would ap-
pear ill-timed and ridiculous.
Men pretend to be jndgesot music, who
are not only ignorant Of the very first eIe
nents OF the science, but are absolutely nm
quahhed Tor the forming Of an opinion in
relation toi it, BY reason of a natural iln,,er.
lection Of the ear. have known person..
who have distinguished Themselves TOR the;r.
fault-fnding and censoriousness, ,who ve,a
unable to detect the difference between
4old Hundred and aAuld Lang syne.se
We have noticed the grimaces Of other sage aua ,
critics, under the performance Of music,
which, for beauty and riebnsssSf harmony,
s4eemed 9 almost inspired; we have heard
them inquire, with unfsigned simplicity
whether Tho organ was not e,effully out q
tune sos sdid not the choir come near; be- Be-
lug swsmped sfter sistening, to strains au
whose grandenr ~;,eeald t6rill sysrg m lbse 81
uausicial l'ssnasure and eiitsa,Ipos Eis
,oul: hov often. II SC d tba ssass. q tbs, n
sissin % high standing md ii emmett Sl.
{ 90 saB esasd Is d shs;,uass abd| IA
ass adgaent IS So pss persons 81 Z i cpo.l
|iSss spnss s
as thess tI