The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-12
OUR RELIGIOUS COLUMN.
Church Choirs.


There is nothing connected with the church
more beautiful and inspiring than good music,
in which the congregation heartily joins in
singing the praises Of Almighty God 1t matters
not whether an assemblage Of worshippers are
led by q quartete, chorus choir, or by
preCentor, so that each memberl OF
the church and congregation does his or
her part IN these services. In the Sab.
bath Schools of the country the music
has bacJme popularzed by sweet spiritual
songs, in which the children sing with their
hearts MS we'll as their voices, aud evince an
interest, oNentimes, which cannot be excited to
so great an extent in any other portion of the
Sabbath School exercises. Many schools have
been built up through the soul.stirriug songs
now sung, Children like 10 sing. Gtls perfectly
natural for them to DO so, and while they sing
they worship 'ther Creator in the days of their
YOUTH II is the great interes. gh ildron
take in their songs which renders them SO beau.
tful and attractive, and which popularize the
Sabbath Schools OF the present far beyond those
of the past. Why should not this be the case
in our churches? Why do not all join in sing
ing, and help to swell tie anthems of the living
God? 1t certainly is not the fault of church
cholTs; VIC mean those properly conducted, and
where the members are connected with the
church. ChoiIs are just as important in this
age as preachers, becatse the Gospel with all
its attract oUs and instruction. would not be so
freely accepted by the world If the praise Of
Jehovah were omitted in the sanctuary. Preach
ing and prasing go hand in hand, and it is
about as difficult to separate them as II would
be to harmonIousy unite oil aud water. But
there are evils III chOTs as well as in everything
! else, and when discovered they should be rene
died. So distasteful have they become in some
churches, from their indifferent selections OF
music and from other causes, that changes have
been so radical that the orgauist is no " the only
occur ant of the choir gallery, and the congre
cation is led by a precentor who faces the
assemblage. This method is approved by
many, aud condemned by eqSslly as large
number. AT the Fifth Baptist Church,
Eighteenth and Spring Garden streets, good
coIgregat oual singing results from this plan
and while TINS is so, we do not think the music
near so pleasant and the singing certainly
not more general, than under the previous
organization Of the choir. In the Rev. DR..
John Halls church, on Fifth avenue, New
York, the prccentor singing has been
adapted, ana admirably satisfies some, while 1t
displeases others. Such is the world. Tastes
differ alike in music as in TODD, and preferences
are stimulated according TO the makeup" of
various objects.
Quartette singing is the most popular amongst
Philadelphians, and generally these choiTs,
especially wnere the members belong TO
churches, give the greatest satisfaction. St.
= Stephens Church choir, on Tenth street, is
among tie very best in the City. Prof. Taylor
has secured superior native talent, and each one
feels deep concern in the style and character
OF the music as well as IN Its harmony with
the other services of the church. If the rector
breaches a "Fourth-o.July" discourse, the choir
selects for the openi ing piece something mole
tn thnTf fHI "a inn ont han
art gone 10 the grave;' aud II the sermon is on
the death o. a member, they are sure not to dis
tulb the solemnity OF the occasion by singing,
nEh how Lovely Is Alon," or the 'halle!ujah
Chorus" The soprano at st. Stephens is not
exceled, if equalIed, by any in Philadelphia,
and the Other parts have been selected with
equal care. This choir gives satisfaction,
and its music induces the whole con9re-
cation to sing. At West Arch Street
Church the chorus choir is in vogue, under the
leadership OF Mr.. LOUIS. sometimes the music
in this fashionable church Is good, but the
occasions are very rare. As general thing
there is great noise, but little of the refined
end elegant music that ought 10 be constant
refreshment. The opening pieces are boisterOus;
they display indifferent taste or idea or appro
priatepess to the sermon to be preached by the
Rev. Dr. Willis, and the collection" efforts
are frequently shocking Happening in on
Sunday evening last, the duet created
doubt whether we were in a church or "a concert
saloon, 1t was loud inarticulate, inappropriate,
and harsh, and, we venture to say, no person
understood five words OF 1t. Here are two
representative men, the one having charge of
two quartette chOrs, and the other chorus.
Each Is well known in musical circles, and each
have regulations peculiar TO their associations,
their tastes, their habits, aud abilities. The one
demands and secures the best talent in all the
parts whist the other has amuch larger num-
Der, but all consolidated tall to make up
for the performances OF the four voices
of the Quarteue. Mr.. Louis should have
first class soprano to lead, Instead of singing
soprano himself whenever that part fails to
make itself heard. He should diversity his OPEN
ing pieces more, and when singing the ''collec
tiop,n give pialntVe, effective chants, or solos
ciate by occasionally understanding a word or
two. The sane causes exist in West Arch as IN
/ other churches, and congregational singing will
never be popular or successful unless all the
members Of the church and congregation sing
i with lber voices as we'll as Their hearts.
Public Prayer.
There are strong inducements to infusc