Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-04-13

in the lifting and g!ike tunes of the pre-
sent day The more thoroughly the mu
steal education Of any one has been con
ductcd, the more readily will the truth Of
this proposition be Acknowledged. No
where in the range of Protestant Christen-
dom, ii is believed, is there such magnif.
cent harmony as i'll the old ca'hedrals and
leading parish churches Of England, and
yet nought is permitted in such places ex,
cept the maicctic airs to which we alluie
airs which by conceited modern artists
are thrown aside as out of date.
Ifthe churches will attend to their duty,
they may have cboirs that will be OF much
use in guiding and sustaiaiHa. instead of
sileacing, the psalmody of the congrega-
ton. If they act wisely, one main object
will be the regular training Of the mem-
bcrs Of the whole church. In many cases
if half the sum that is spent to procarc
some four, eight, or more persons, who
sing as they plsasc, and who prevent the
people from joining, were given to teach
the whole church from year to year, there
would be found vastly improved state of
congregational singing. We remember,
on one occasion, going into the church of
celebrated preacher, and not knowing
the hour at which services commenced, I'VE
happily found that we were somewhat be-
fore time. Looking around the churc h,
We observed arrangements made for at
least thirty-five or forty persons to act as
choir. Such spectacle Immediately led
US to anticipate Sabbath opera. BY and
by the congregation assembled, and the
services began. To our surprise, one per-
son on the right was taking the counter
tenor-anotbcr on the left took the tenor;
in the front another had the air, and still
another adjoining, took the bass, and thus
We perceived i. was, generally, all over the
vast nssomblage. The choir was there,
but its only use was to give tone and di-
reetion to the movement Of that great body
of united worshipers.
1t will be observed that We are not OBJ
jec.ing to the legitimate use of choirs in
our churches. We contend that a proper
amount of training shall be enjoyed by the
congregation. Then, VIXEN the people are
familiar with an adequate number of good
melodies, i. will be need
ful that, in some central place Of the
church, sufficient body of persons shall
be placed, who are qualified to lead in the
exercise of praising God. The larger the
the larger should this body
be but in all cases it is imperative to
guard against any band Of leaders silcn-
cling the church. Let it not be said that
all these matter. will require watchfulness
and care. We know this and we hold
that the Importance of Psalmody in the
public service of God is such, that those
who undcrvalue or neglect it, are unfit for
the trust which has been reposed in them,
As yet, We have only touched on this
subject. We have not space here to enter
On the cost Of the musical performances
in many of our leading churches, or to
point out such airs as We conceive to be
suitable for the stated service Of God. To
hcse points VIC may again refer, ere long;
meantime we commend the whole matter
70 the attention Of our readers, especially
% those among them who may be connec-
ed with congregations where this service
5 in a decaying state.-Res1y.erian
B1ancr