The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1863-11-07


"a choir seated right in the centre of
the congregation. We hear first one
part and then another as they vary
in strength. The rafting of the
keys, the screeching of the bellows
of the instrument, an occasional dis
cord in one of the parts, all serve to
draw the attention of the congrega~
ton from the spirit of the tune, and
make it appear like labored effort
to support it. But place the choir
in the gallery, and the real object of
choir is accomplished at once, the
congregation will then get the tune
with all it's different parts embodied
in one harmonious voice. There
will be no rumbling, rafting, discor-
liant sounds; an occasional mistake
will go unnoticed there will be no
labor, no Earring; but the congrega-
ton will sit easy and comfortable
under the smooth, rolling anthems
Of praise. The only objection we
have ever heard urged against this
change, is the fact of the gallery be-
ing occupied by the colored portion
of the church. This is certainly no
valid objection where SO much is to
be accomplished. The choir will
need but one half the gallery, and
the negroes can occupy the other
half, as is done in many other church.
es. If this is not sufficient, give
them, in addition, the back pew of
the room, and it will serve double
purpose: Of keeping bad boys out of
it, and have u tendency of moving
the congregation nearer the pulpit.
81, The choir being transferred to
the gallery, the next thing to be
done is a complete reorganization, and
let it be done under the direction Of
its present leader, whom, | imagine,
is we'll qualified for his position. Let
q sufficient number of responsible
persons be selected for the different
parts, who will feel it religious du-
ty to attend regularly, and sustain
the responsibility of conducting
their parts. Let from two to four
ladies be selected for the trebel two
ladies for the alto; two gentlemen
for the bass, and two for the tenor.
Have the melodeon placed upon low
hollow box, about the centre Of the
choir, with the females on the right
and the males on the left. Select
melodeonist who understands the
business ;-one, at least, who cen
perform an original interlude appro-
pirate to the tune. Have also, an al
ternate to supply the place in case of
absence. Appoint an evening for
weekly meeting of the choir alter
nately at the houses of one of the
lady members, and the practicings Of
the choir will then be attended. Let
the leader keep and call roll of the
members at each meeting meeting,
aud in case of the absence of any
one three successive times, let his or
her place be supplied. The choir
now having possession Of the gale
ry, let it be sacred to the members,
and free from intcrlopers; no one be-
ing allowed to enter without permits
sion of the leader.
Sd. All that now remains, is for
the choir to adopt q regular schedule
joo' public acorship. Just before the
opening Of the services, let the melo-
deonist play, without the choir, a So
lemn piece of music prepared for the
occasion, and at the conclusion of
this, let the choir arise and open
with a voluntary, which should be
selected and practiced during the
week. Let it be something inspir-
ing, and adapted especially to choir.
Let the old prejudices against fugue
tunes be done away with, and it will
have salutary effect, both upon the
choir and the congregation. When
the opening hymn is announced from
the pulpit, let all the congregation
have their hymn books and join with
the choir in singing, and SO at the
conclusion of the sermon. Then af-
ter the benediction is pronounced let
the choir remain, and as the congre-
CATION is retiring, let the melodeen-
ist perform an appropriate piece, or
it may be accompanied by the choir.
This will produce an effect upon the
congregation that will be more bene-
fetal in its results than is at first an
ticipated. They will depart from