The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-04-18
shabby Worship.
(Fvom the Presbyterian Standard.)

Will CdCu OtlcT lOI SUCH Vi tHc cllufcIl-S 20
ing population of the place as do not run
after the attractions of Popery. Some Of
the houses are neat and INTELLECTUALLY
beautiful. Others are remarkably inele-
giant. Two or three lank steeples pierce
the atmosphere, distinguishing the edifices
which they deface, from market houses or
barns.
The people who gather under the roofs
Of these several structures, exercise the
right accorded to them by the constitution
Of the United States, to worship God ac-
cording to the dictates Of their own con-
sciences.
The most glazing feature of their wor-
ship is what they call sacred music. TO
listen to it one would think that some Of
them have no consciences at all.
To begin with, the Presbyterian Church.
The pastor gives out what he calls " the
twenty fourth iSd-a-om," which he reads
in sing-song manner from the beginning
to the end, as if he feared his congregation
could not read it in their books. Having
read it. he says that we will sing four ver-
scs of it, and then sits down. Now the
other end of the church begins its work.
A Wheeling is heard, as when the fire is
blown by means of an aged pair of bellows.
The instrument is getting up its wind
Some extemporized discord follows the
wheeling. A few hourishcs of "volunta-
ry" are being played, preparatory to play
ing the tune as sample of what is to be
sung. One-half of the notes are incorrect
" played. These interfere with the mu-
sicaa effect of the other half Presently
the tune is blundered through, and the
singing begins. Singinge The angels in
Heaven don't sing in that style, certainly
Staging? No, it is ho,cling. The choir
consists Of large man with voice like a
calf, two women with cracked voices, and
enc with defective idea Of time. The in
strumental help is machine which the
church bought for fifteen dollars less than
they would have had to pay for good
"Mason & Hamlin.' The man who had
it to sell, told them that it would make a
louder noise. So it does. Noise is not
worship. We leave the place. IS
Then to the Methodists. Surely they
will praise God in better style. They are
not annoyed by the presence of such a
wind instrument. That is relief The
preacher gives out "the ten hundred and
sixtieth hymn, on the eleven hundred and
SEVENTEEN page, long METER after which
he, like his Presbyterian neighbor, reads
the hymn through. The reading being
done, he again announces the number, page
and meter, and lines out the first half of
the first verse. Now for the singing. The
deficiency of instrumental accompaniment
is more than compensated for by the mag
nitude Of the leaders, voice. Although the
church can hold but three hundred people,
his lungs and throat are of q sufficient ca
pacity to fill cathedral, and he gives them
fall play. He cannot consent to hide his
light under bushel. With all his might
he bawls forth the two lines, then comes to
tcr is then heard, in pleasant contrast to
this great bull of Bashan, reading the next
two lines. 1t is as if he would say: "My
friends, sec you have your books before
you, but know you cannot read the hymn,
90 will read it to you" "Lining out F"
would be miserable interruption, if the
singing were good; as it is, it is desira-
Bile thing to stop the eruption of that vol
canic voice, on any terms possible.
Now for something more elegant and
cultured. At the Lutheran Church they
have an organ. It is an imposing little
affair, with pretty case, and gilt pipes. A
boy blows the bellows behind, and a young
lady presides at the keyboard in front. If
somebody would put small quantity of
some lubricating substance on that part of
the bellows apparatus which squeaks, it
would remove great annoyance. And if
the fair organist would bring her fingers
in contact with the keys with that gentle
pressure which should characterize organ
playing rather than in tho drumming,
pounding fashion in which she learned to
-. ho,, ,,.o&ho~sS xt,<
might be q style,of music which would be
which now CRATES on the ear. The time is
good. The tune is well selected, and in
keeping with the words. But the choir
body can understand what they are sing
ing.
Away to tho Baptist Church. Two
streets of, their singing is audible. They
0u sing. That is an advantage and an ex-
cellencc. 1t is better than in those church
es where it is understood that the choir
has the monopoly of it, and that it is un-
genteel to interfere. They sing pretty well,
too. The minister happens to be the lead
or. Take care, though, good brother, or
you may have an attack OF bronchitis, some
day, if you keep at that steady kind of
business too long. Praying, preaching,
and singing, all on stretch, are too much
for one man. Get a good man to take your
place, as soon as you can find the right
man. But meantime, keep at it, and make
your people sings
They are praising God at the Episcopal
Church. A neat miniature cathedral
The walls of solid and pointed (plaster in
imitation Of brown stone /; q comely bel
fry on top. The rector stands with his
tasteful robe of white, and the people with
their prayer books in their hands. A well
tuned organ, small, but Of sweet tone, is
played by delicate young lady. The
choir consists of three young girls and a
small boy. There is no depth to the mu-
sic /; no richness no fullness. The con-
gregation is afraid to Join in it, lest they
should crush it out Of hearing. The min
ister looks quietly on, as if to say that he
would not on any account disturb it. 1t
gently pursues its unrufHed course until it
comes to the end of the chant, when it
gracefully subsidies, and gives place to the
next part Of the service. Where are the
men? Where are the big boys? Where
somebody to take hold of it and help it
along in good, earnest, wholesome burst Of
sacred song?
Was the temple worship of the jews Of
olden time anything like any of these? II
the spirit of the Psalms such as to lead us
to offend all musical propricty and all de
cency when we worship God? Why neet
We otter TO the Lord Of heaven and earth
such lame, hating, imperfect stuff as woul'
not be listened to in q decent concert room
Aye, such as would be kicked out of tn
commonest beer-gardcn? If the preach
ing were as bad as the music, there woul
be talk of turning the minister away.
It is almost as easy to execute must
we'll as to do it badly. There is no goo
reason why bad music should be tolerate
in any Christian Church. Let US give Go
the best. Let us train our people to til
total oholition nf oil s,1nh nnhnlu nuisance