The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-03-27

Mr.. Ecitor: Having read with very
great interest many, and, perhaps, all Of
the excellent articles, editorial and other
wise. published i'll the Southern P,.esAy-
terian. within the last two years, and l,o-
ping that the subject may be kept before
the churches, until some efficient mode is
generally adopted for improvement in Con-
gregational Singing-may l ask for the
admission Of a few remarks and suggestions
on the same subject
And first, it is snhject that all our
Ministers and people talk much about and
feel deep interest in, but unfortunately
very few make any systematic c0ort to.
wards improvemcnt-I mean in our small
er towns and country churches. Now, |
do believe there are very few of our
churches hut might, will, proper effort,
have good Congregational Singing; but
how shall it bc brought about9
In the first place, then. would respect
fully suggest, let every Minister and Church
Session take the thing in hand, and organ
iZe permanent Church Choir, or Singing
MEETING, and encourage rs many Of the
con yregation AS can sing AT all to attend
these meetings. In many places, 1 know
IL will he difficult to get a suitable leader
tor such a meeting, but that very difficulty
shows the urgent necessity of making
beginning. Let the Session, then, organize
Choir or Society, appoint Leader, or let
the Choir elect one, am, then let the Minis
ter, or some of the Elders. al.Ooys attend
the meetings. to see that they are conduct
ed decently and in order; otherwise. they
will be annoyed by intruders, and the meet
ings will soon degenerate into mere social
parties. 1t will, doubtless, be very difficult
in many places to keep up regularly such
meetings. but perseverance will overcome
all obstacles; the young people will get
fond Of it, rs they improve in the knowl
edge Of Music, and all will profit by their
continuance.
Let sufficient number Of Music Books
be providcd; and here I would suggest
that our own book, the Presbyterian Psal-
modist" and "the New Carmina Sacra."
are among the best for general Congrcgn-
tional Singing, with which l am famil-
lar.
One great obstacle, Mr.. Editor, to the
improvement of Church Music, is the penu-
'iousness of the people. have known pa
rents who would send their children to ex-
pensive schools, and pay heavy extra
charges for lessons in Wax Work, and other
like mlisbments, who would not send
their children to Singing School, because
r hook would cost dollar, and the tuition,
perhaps, four or FIVE. Every church, and
every parent particularly, should encourage
the teacher of Vocal Music. Let all our
children be taught Music, (any n may be
done at very small cost,) and how different
would home be to what it often isl Let fa-
ther and mother, brothers and sisters, cou.
sins and friends, all be able to join in sing
ing, with or without an instrument, all the
different parts of Church Music and other
innocent, social songs, Oh, how pleasant,
how delightful is such home!
But find my communication getting too
long, and will close by expressing my graft
tude u you, Mr.. Editor, for writing and pub
fishing 50 many excellent articles On Church
Music.
If you deem this worthy Of publication, I
may follow it with another pp the subject
Of Choir Singing. II.