American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-11-11
10 De iaaesi.sf onssss.



The proprisly Of separating the .ineers
l5Om the body Of ihs COT gre CATION, eifher
- placing lhem W the g-lery. or some
designated seats below. or d separsdog
them from The congregation 1t sll, j.
subject which. 10 uiany pl,res. is fseeig.
ing good deal Of attention; end has
amounted 10 some instances. 70 ssrious
disturbance Of that unity Of christian feel
ing. which sllonid abovsall considerations,
govern religious associations. There are
70 be founc, IN 81 congregations, advocates
and opposers Of choils. Il is question
which, without doubt. is entitled 10 the Sc
rious attentioE Of wOishippsrs: as 70 RhslI.>
er choir singing. properly. fulfis The inieu.
ton. Of what is intended BY church sing.
iug~ - a. .
We afe not hyorable TO choir singing in
time OF divine Sogship: end viii state some
Of our reasons. :, A choir is select number
Of persons, who arc supposed to be the
best singers 10 the congregation. bota as
respects voice, and arqu.ioLshce With the
art OF vocal music according to the book 5.
Ia the first place. ihisis not always true
as to voice; the,best voices baing often detl
out and nsI. developed. for want Of culli-
vaiiop.s 0hoirs are. generally. selee ion
made with regard 10 some kind Of. a6ni,
ties. other ihan merit in singing ;r spOcial
chnract terislics arising from piety. o. strict
ly moral lives. q Hence. persons OF both
sexes, often refuse TO sit in chuIrs where
SONS other persons think ,hsmsslyes priv.
ilrged to sit. and whose vittuss. perhaps
might surpass those Of the o'jeciion.--
But. some imaginary grade Of loaial relA
ton. is considered sufficient 10 dive on'
or the other from the circle. Disruption
and reorganization Of ehOirs fom sucl
causes. are not by any means, uDirequent
/. A choir, once isolated from con0rega
lion hv its consent, al. t.onoe consider them
selvas tile singers. and are always csrefu
to strive TO merit sthe aprobaiion Of 81
good choir" They are especially desir
Gus, that they SHOULD ba heard. and ap
plauded. Hence their selections Of pieces
are those. upon which. they can make tn
finest display. And eveTv one who at
tends church where aehoir leads, know
that most Of the music they sing. is usv
to the congregation, who not having book
before them, they are unable to sing as til
choir do
1t is no part Of the wish of the choir
generally, as the writer is fully able I
maintain, that the congregation should joi
in the singing. to any considerable extent
whatever they; the choir, may say to III
ecntrary.- Much loud singing outside {
the circle, is to be regalded therefore as .
innovation Of their peculiar preroeative. :
Hence choirs are impatient Of control; an
will sometimes vacate their seats, rattle
han submit to the dictation of those, who
should be regarded as above them 10 III
: church. More than. one chnrch has su
Tered, and has lost mnrh of its usefulness
on.aooount Of disturbances growing out
the, choirqueslioa. s, .r4 ~ =
That any progress in the art of sing. hs
, ever attained4n congregations where choil
: are depended upoD, I do not believe. Frol
, the mere habit Of lpaning npon the ,choi
those. who otherwise, might he good sing
ers, lose what they may have RcqnireC
which is proven, BY ths'fsct, that 10 n
absence Of the choir. scarcely person ca
, befound TO "raise the tune" /. J-.s. r,t-s.
OF church music, and congregation
singing, il we can caery sthe, patience
our readers. we will submit some. view
in subsequent number OF the Gazette.
II Il S Con-