New-York daily tribune., 1865-10-16
THE DUTCH CHURCH UNION SING.
ING MEETING.


A Novel Service In New.Ysrk-Hts Origfns
Purposes, and Msde Of Conducting The
Meeting-Its Anniversary and Results.
The history Of the Collegiate Dutch Church
ia NewYork would not be perfect without some alls-
sion to the Devotional Singing Meeting held under IL
auspices Located in the lower part OF the city in Tie
midst Of crime, poverty and impiety In locality u
most deserted by the religions community who have
moved uptown and carried with them their affairs and
their priests possessed Of large wealth aud the dspos
ton to do good with it. TIE Collegiate Church. the
mother Of the religious institutions OF the hlsnd o.
been long engaged in miniserng to the wants OF the
poor and providing religious instruction for the desa-
tute The splendid granite church in Lafayette-plasa
became, like the Futon-st. Dutch Church. missionary
station The congregation that once crowded its ssss
have nearly all deserted it for uptown locations Mr.
Lanphier the Missionary who originated and SO suo
cessfully conducts the Daily Fultonst. Prayer Nest
ing is detailed to give part Of bis time In missionary
labor to the congregation OF the Stone Churca o.
Fourthst.
ORIGIN OF THE SINGING SERVICE.
The singing at the Fultonst. Meeting has long bsss
celebrated 1t mparts Life TO the service and is ons
great element of its success. meeting devoted en-
trey to Praise occurred to the mind Of the Missionary
Something was needed to draw attention to the Laay
cite Church and secure the attendance Of the young
Some attraction that should have the influence Of relg
ion around it. yet be interesting and betting church
Low and degrading anusements well as those posi.
lively immoral are numerous in the heart Of the city
Il was hoped that an evening devoted to Sacred Music
could be made sufficiently attractive to the old and the
Young to wean them from low and hurtfnl recreaons-
to create taste for something better and prove an
agent to lead those who neglected worship on the Sab
bath 10 public service on the Lords Day.
PLAN OF THE SERVICE.
II was proposed to have Sacred Music in all its Va
retieschauting revival music. the old fuging tnnss
of the ancents-the old chorals OF the Reformation
with all modern music from the simplest refrains y
| the most elaborate compositions All forms oil SEQ
tarianism were to be discarded The sbest conductors
Of sacred music In the city representing the dierens
denominations to lead In rotation The meetings
were to be under the charge of the Missionary. and
religious devotional service to be blended with the
music.
FIRST MEETING.
The Dutch Church. with its accustomed liberalisy.
came at once to the support Of the new service.
Though deserted by the fsshionabes, no Church tn
New.York is finer than the Lafayette Dutch Church.
Its Lecture Rooms are large airy. and most elegantly
carpsted and upholstered. These rooms were placed.
without cost. at ths service Of the meeting-wnmeas
lighted and taken care Of. Several hundred dollars
were expended for music books be usedin the services
Of song TO the surprise of every one crowd greetea
the opening Of the door and filed every seat in the
great ROOM One Of the most popular of the leaders oS
church music In the city was selected conductor for
the opening night Mr.. Lanpher, the Missionary.
called the audience to their feet, and all joined Ia sing
ing the Doxology-
~ ''Praise God from whom oil blessings fow'
few words of Scripture were read briefPrayes
offered and then the Conductor for the evening toos
the meeting in charge. At a brief earnest address
was made then the singing continued until 81, when
the exercises closed
FIRST ANNIVERSARY.
The meeting through tho whole year was decides
succcss The rooms were crowded continually. nes
could they hold all who desired to attend The aisles.
window seats areas hall passages and vestibules were
crowded with young men, most Of them standing
through the entire service unwearied and interested
Such was the character of this Singing Meeting during
the whole year. As often Monday evening returned %
returned the crowd Intense interest marked the service
Young men and maidens, old men and children unite@
IN ioyful song. The solemnities Of Divine worshD
marked the meeting The music became celebrated fos
Its spirit its harmony and its volume No such sing
ng was ever heard this island. The parts olended
like great organ touched by master hand. The Do.
yoona feelings we're warmed into life BY the touching
power Of music Preaching and prayer came forth
from the words. Old men wept as they revived the
memory Of early days in tho songs OF their chdhood.
aud tho refrains borne on the breath Of thousand
voices filed the place with shouting melody. Neither
rain nor cold wind snow thnned the audience Ss
the first lannivenary found it. The great AUDI
ence room Of the church was thrown opes
to that service. 1t was crowded IN ah
It's parts Leading clsrgvmen Of various denominations
filed the pulpit. The Union meeting for praise ~
pronounced on all hands great success. Many ~
tended 1t who had been accustomed to attend no wcr'
ship, and who had habitaally neglected the Sabbath.
Its benefcent results are in the Sunday School, In
the Pew and around the Communion Table, where per.
sons oan be found who confess that their feet were fra
inclined in those sacred directions by the power Of tide
service Of song This meeting enters on ns second
year this evening. Like the Fultcn-ss meeting
Eit is designed to be permanent institution IL 70
ht companion to that famed meeting, and worthy q
the fostering care Of the ancient church of the hns
of Manhattan A. in the Fulton st. meetSg 90 IN IN"
Union meeting for singing. The example VIZ %
copied In the cities and towns Of our land pu Jew
tional meetings. sparsely sttcndsd-prayer mee1hs'
religious services worn In deep rrts by tho u.'e'"
Of the same sayings and the offering OF 'n' ''
prayers-meetings into which the youns -.
duced TO enter-will be sunplsnted by 'ne'' =,
meetings for song. where, speaking 10 eaon O'A'
nsslms and hymns.n the ccowdins eansres'"Va
ages will press into the courts " 'u' A' =
| LIS gates With praH'' 4...-.. l 81. t....s