Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-01-19


Ignorant of its own language, because il
is perpetuated by these means. The
children learn to speak it because they
are constantly in the habit Of hearing it.
We will suppse for a moment, that mu.
sic was perperuated in the same way
that language is, would not the result be
the same? Instead CT the partial Enowl-
edge of music which we find at the pres
ent, it would be diTused throughout the
world, and all nations would as naturally
sing as they now converse Going no
farther, we think We have proof sufficient
to induce us TO hazard the position, that
music advances most where it is most
cultivated |; and that if we wish our chill
dren TO have The concord of sweet
sounds" we must early accuslcm them
to hearing music, and training their little
VOICES TO give forth the melody Of their
hearts.
Of all the arts and sciences that ami
mate our solitude, refresh our WEAKNESS.
or beguile u ears. Music is the most
successful and powerful How charm
ingly its rich melo lies vibrate in unison
with the tenderest feelings of the heart.
How seducing;-by it We are carried
out of the world Of our own self love. in
to tn ewoil1 Of our sy mpathies. Cod has
bestowed on our race-in addition to the
faculty Of speech-ihe gift of music, as
a medium Of communication with each
other. and with Himself, and has ap-
pointed it as a means of the sublimest
exercises of devotion. as it with special
intent that ''lhe praises CT His church on
earth may approximate, as near as pos
sible, TO the Spirit and refined worship
of The church in heaven.
In order hat it may accomplish its end,
Sacred Music must be cultivated and
properly conducted. We may consider
it a first pinciple, therefore. that in en-
gazing in this part of the public wor-
ship Of God, we should SC sing. so as TO
make melody to the ear. The effect of
discordant and inharmonious sound, is
sensation of uneasiness and Distress
tending to prevent. if not utterly exin
guish ,-rather than aid a spirit Of deyo-
ton. Hence the quaint and what might
appear ludicrous remark Of the old B4p
list minister, made towards The close of
the last century, when sorely provoked
by the singing in his congregation. he is
said 10 have addressed them thus: do
you call thai singing? why. were the an-
gels in heaven but 10 hear you they would
come down and wiring your necks off"
Keeping in view, therefore. the true
end of music in social worship-lhe ele-
walton Of the feelings, and increase Of the
shirt Of devotion Music must be cult;-
rated for the purpose Of rfFgiOas a0orsh p,
and Fl on q sense IF religious doty- Ma
sic in The house of God Is in It's proper ele
ment, as the vehicle of our highest acts
Of praise, and alteration TO the throne of
heavenly grace. We need not go about
to prove this proposition: Bat. disguise
it as We may, throw the blame where
you please, it is a ruth. everything con
necled with The church, smacks of The
ways of the world" The settlement of
the minister. the engagement of the lea
der of the choir and the organist. or the
competing the quarietie, who do
he DOJk IF pr0ise for the cOngregzi,n.-
all develUpe the sprTit If worldly pplicy,
being estimated by the almighty dol
ar. We hazard The declaration, that.
with all our boosted advancement and
progress in the scieRce of music, with all
'.ciiities now afforded for acquiring a
good theoretical and pEactical musical
-ducaiion, with al. the advantages arts
ny FROM opportunities of listening 10 the
performances of artists, ard whatis term
ed the fashionable IN style, with all the
appliances afforded by the culivf tion Of
nsuumental music, as an aid to vocal,
The music in many Of our churches
throughout the lano. is far behind what
it was twenty years ego. This, we o
fess, is a humiliating declaration, bur
sill we think a cursory view even, will
.ronvince any one that we are stating
truths that are inconteslible. We pro
psoe now &c state what we deem some of
the principal causes of this evil, AMI
1st. The introduction Of Guar ehs e;oirs
into our churches. We are of the opinion
this plan, SO generally adopted, fos-
tiers the baneful notion that the object of
the choir is TO perform music for the
rather than to unite d the
while leading its devoIions -
That this is the effect, appears 10 the OF
lection to stray voices in the congresa
ton, and also TO a law of mind, superin
duced by the feeling that what is paid
FIR. we expect an equivalent in return -
Hence The evil resulting from this mode
of conducting the music in our churches
Is two told injurious. TO the choir itself,
n that they consider themselves merely
as performers, and to the congregation.
in that they expect a return for what they
pay for.
Cd. The feeling that has attained 10 a
large extent that it is Un5enisel 10 sin5 IN
As aeeneral Thing. private mu
steal cultivation in both city and country
is far IN advance Of the music in our
churches. To such a height has it al
ready attained. that in many private