The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-07-24
NO. 49,

"S, "h SuV" ehab ~ CAh W 30 pers
formed bT the whole congregation; and
that II 10 the duty Of those having the
control, and the qualification, to organize
and encourage cOpgregatiOnAl iugiag.--
You and l only differ about who shall be
the singers. Your remarks about the
previous preparation; the fitness Of tunes
to words; hymns selected; and the right
key; no body finds fault with your views
in these matters, we simply want to talk
about how this Is to be Done. .Ll
God requires those who rofShip him,
to render him the sacrifice OF The whole
heat; and will not accept an imperfect
sacrifice; and your assumptions that much
OF the singing that is done in congregs.
tiOus' falls short. Of acceptable sacrifice;
Because perhaps not tasteiully done, or
scientifically performed, are far fetched.
and oVerwrought. Tha, we should per-
form that duty,( for you seem to recognize
il as rsligioas duty,) to the best Of our
ability, fully agree. But i'll were 10.
argue the question on a strictly religious,
basis, | should insist that man can per.
form all his religious duties, if his heart
is right, without ever giving the subject
Of correct aiHging . moments thought"
But that is not what We are proposing to-
do; and you assume too much when you
assert that man falls short of his religious.
duties when lie offers an uncultivated
ability. Why sir. you can easily remem,,
Der. that wheh Chtist came to establish
his king iom on earth, lie even selected,
the most iliterate aud uncdltivated. to.
coufOund worldly wisdom But if you
claim tia, On enlightened. cultivated and
fashionable church membership is neces..
sary for the present age Of the world, you,
must allow me 10 SAG, hat it is my con.
victiOn, that men can be cultivated, ac-,
cording 10 modern ideas of cultivation, 80.
as to obliterate everything like religious,
sentiment. Bot to more Of this, in this
Place; it belongs 10 another Department.. ri
In your argument on the design Of
singing, as part of worship, you use the
following language: "A strict examine
tiou Of all our religions acts. will show,
that We are REQUIRED to perform them. not
for the benefit or entertainment OF our
maker, bu, on account Of their influence
on the party performing the action"
Why all this is very eomical 10 me. is I
!, know il must be to your readers. "That
l good music is soothing. refining and ele-'
vating" upon our natures, none will ques-'
0 tiou: but do you expect 10 instlll religion
into 1ieh's beafts BY this human agency?
IL that is the method by which men are
TO become religious, or religion is to be
infused into the heart. shall hold. that
!, man has the power. Independent of his
: maker, to render the world intensely re-.
!igiOus. by eultivaling and inaugurating'
J fine musical taste. and splendid and skill
fully performed artistic music, or will you
simply claim. that mans province 10 re-
y ligious matters is, TO become partnsrs
, with God 10 the great business Of diffus-
$ ing his religion among the human race, by.
+ performing that part Of tie labor which
: he has not the ability to perform himself
= Again you say, that such singing as is
u found in more than half our churches, is
'e positively degrading and dsnoralising.'
= | don't believe you meant TO cay tbat,+z'
II That Kind Of singing, Of which you com.
n plaiu. (and | confess that some of If is
% not very elegantly done, is often, nay
u generally. the outgushing Of hearts filed
D! with true devotion; and that are raised in
o pious ASPIRATIONS of thanks, prayer and.
d praise TO God; and in which forms aud
'e external display are lost 10 The deep religi-,
Is Gus sentiment Of the heart; and you must
'e allow me to say, even at the risk Of being
u called old fo9is, that have seen the days
I. when, pure religion, and undsfled, was
ID fostersd under this "demoraliiing" Kind
( of singing, and that il / have ever formed
any conceptions OF the bealthful influences
of religion on communities Of men, it
would make some of your modern ihsti-
tuiiors appear dim by comparison. r..
ID | think, without intending the least
o, disrespect, that yon oifar. TO the pnlpit.
7, !, and the intellectual entertainment Of the
" house Of worship. meager compliment,
UT when you ask, "how many persons are
ry driven from the church of God, by the
drawing, sonorous. unharmoniouS. repul-
a sivs singing, which is weekly practiced
:, in many congregations Has the preach
~ ing Of the word. the prayers, or even the
r. great subject Of religion iself, SO little
b. attractions. that it is rendered necessary
Ia. 10 inauguIate musical festivals to draw
=. The populace to the sanctuary!
~ But 1 am in fay Or Of presenting religion
oy "in the most inviting manner" and l will
30 Insist upon correct aud "agresabls" sing
inc ing, and in further paper will show the
-, religious rational method Of attaining
's' that end. The question is, shall all that
H. have breath praise God, or shall this
OF praise be rendered BY proxy? ~
be Finally, you ask. in the first paragraph,
lis when proposing 10 inquifsinto the meth
N. cd Of singing; "Bhould it be done indit-
:. ieren,ly. or should it.bs done correctly?
~ 10 almost ell congregations there are to
nd be found advocates of both these meth
,e. ods." Nov I must ask you. IN all fair
M ness and caudor, either to recind this
=. charge wholly. or greatly to modify it,
There may be bad singing. but there gre
no no advocates for it, as suoh, in any church
=. -. .;oc, a. wall 40 thew ran