The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-05-29
M For the Lancaster Gazette.
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.. l.H-..t.. ChuICH SuOiiss a.-.
Progression is ihel watchword of the
nineteenth ceptlryj but it is question
demanding sincere thought, whether the
substitution Of new things for old, or the
change Of lime.honored and venerated in
stilutions and usages deserves the appel
lation, or advances the general good. II
religion, morality and the general i'm
proyement Of society is enhanced thereby,
why then, Jet US baveas many new things
as possible. Let us rip up our old insti
tutions, under which wise and good men
have grown up. and religion good breed,
ing and good society have given direction
to the world, and cast them to the winds.
But experience in some things that have
been done, and careful reflection and re-
trospection, will admonish us to be ware.
The incoming generation, significantly
spoken Of as "Yoang America," have not
been educated to cherish much venera-
tion, or even respect, for the Institutions
of their fathers. They propose to take
the rudder Of society out Of the hands of
The old pilgrims, who they love 10 desig.
nate as "Old Jogiss, " and inaugurate anew
and better state Of things. Coming times
eel
will testify to til, wisdom or folly, Of the
better state of thinge, which some of lhs
"Oldtogies' tacitiy, and others unwilling
ly, submit to. .esratr1saH 1ayI ic,I
The separation from religious assem-
blies. Of select number Of persons. who
are placed in the gallery, or in corner
ofthe meeting house, and assigning 10
them the duty of singing for the whole
congregation, is one Of the Innovations oi
modern times that may justly be complain
ed Of. aud a usage to which, l. by no
means assent. The singing of sacred
words and sacred tunes, as a part of di-
vine wOrship,is the privilege, as much as
it is Che duty Of all; and has, from the
earliest initiation of the christian religion
been held to be as much part of devo
tion as prayer. II is duty and an obi
cation which cannot be delegated, any
more than prayer. An attempt to wor.
ship by proxy is as absurd as ii is impi.
GUS. And this is done when congrega-
ton of worshipers consent to allow a few
to do for them that, which it is their duty
to do for themselves. s7r'' .r%,t a~ss
Church ehoirs are not always compos'
ed Of religiously inclined persons; not BY
any means; however respectable they may
be in other regards. Neither are tbey al
ways made up of the best voices. 1t hat
boen my privilege to know much Of choirs
and may speak uuderstardihgly ofthem
A choir in q church is necessarily an ar
istocracy. They feel honored by the po
silion to which they are assigned, ant
they at once assume that il is their pecu.
liar prerogatiye 10 sing; hence, they nsi
ther expect nor desire the congregation tc
Join in; at least not So as to prevent them
from being destinoily heard and applaud,
ed;and all know. that it is to beexpocted
that they will exert their best efforts tc
please. I am but speaking understand
lingly, when / say, that thereis nothing
more Aattering to the pride Of singers
than to know that II has been said ofthem
that Nj. 80 has splendid base voice;wha,
"A splendid soprano, Miss 80 sings; heI
Voice is almost divine; Miss - sings q
sweet alto. The Methodist church has q