Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1868-02-19
Church Music and Churches,

I
ion in the large cities we print the fol-
lowing extract from Dom Piatt's last
New York letter to the Commercial:
I was inveigled into attending fash
ionable church, last Sunday, on the
promise held out that I would hear some
of the most heavenly music ever voueh-
safed to human ears. So far as pleasing
the sense went, 1 was certainly gratiied.
The organ of said fashionable church is
superb instrument, and the same may
be said Of the tener, and bass, and in
deed every voice hired for the occasion.
This is the style of thing in New
York, and the churches vie with each
other in getting up frst-class orchestral
accompaniments to what they are pleas
ed to call divine worship. In one aris-
tocratie circle, of the Lords select, a
negro minstrel leads the choir, and in
all Of them hired Yoices-if not from
the opera, at least from professional
soUrces.-praise God in machine music.
I don't profess to be so pious as to be
shocked beyond recovery at this sort Of
thing. The poor girl from the opera, or
the harmonious nigger from the minstrels
may have much heart, and true prayer
in her or his soul, when pouring out the
praise the sweet voice makes acceptable,
but am disgusted at the spirit which
procures the music as an entertainment,
and a boast, rather than an effort to Of
fer thanks to the Lord in the sweetest
gift granted the human family.
While one sweet, clear voice went
soaring up, like bird, in music stolen
from the Catholic Church and the opera,
1 felt that a round of applause, with a
subdued cry of bravo, and encore,
would be appropriate. This is the spir-
it that pervades the congregation. All
sense Of religion was lost in admiration
of the singer, and mean pride of being
equal, if not superior, In the way Of
music, to any other church in New York.
Not long since a congregation of a fash
ionable church up town, was startled
by a new voice, that thrilled the souls
Of all with clear tones and perfect exc
cUtion. who was She passed from
mouth to mouth, as the congregation
poured out A few knowing ones could
aeswer that the swert voiced tenor was
from the Olympic, and could be seen,
very much of her, any night, in the
Black Crook Well, the poor girl
who makes a precarious living by an
exhibition of her legs, may be as pure
as any of said congregation, and, there
fore, possessed of the same right to lift
her voice in praise, especially as that
voice is a sweet one, and one of Gods
best gifts But then, it is not in ac-
cordance with the received ideas to which
you and I have been educated.
This sort of church muse is but part
of the ostentation that makes up two
thirds of the religion here It is not
very extensive-only one tenth of the
population claim to be religious, and if
We count out the Catholics, Universalists
and the Hebrews, thenumber is still less.
And these three named are counted out
by the Young Mems Christian Associa-
tion, for I notice in the advertisements,
put up in prominent places, directing
strangers to places of worship in New
York, these three are not honOrcd with
a place. Probably this is right enough:
as one of the strangers in New York I
make no complaint. IF the Y NJ. c.
Association had omitted the advertise
ment altogether I would not complain.
But, as I was saying, but a small part
Of New York make profession of relig-
ion, and those who do make only pro-
fession.
I notice from statistics, lately publish
ed, that New York has FIVE hundred and
eighty-one ministers, and five hundred
and eighty BARRIERS. Singular cOincid-
euce that, and very illustrative of the
condition of religion in the great COM
mercial heart of the Union.
Religion here is ostentatious, and it
is a cheap sort of ostentation. It does
not break out in huge catbedrals and
minister's as the blind faith of the dark
ages did in Europe, when delicate spires
rose. cloud-capped, to be Worshipyed by
art through all coming time. 1t expends
its religious fervor in paint and putty
The churches are small and insignificant
but the upholstery is immense. We have
here the Church of the Sainted Zebra,
and the Church of the Holy Grapevine.
They are wonderful in their Way-their
way being the upholstery.
How close we cast our little vauities
to the river of death, I thought. while
gazing at a congregation dressed as care
fully and gaily as if gotten up for an
opera. The preacher, one of the five
hundred, would have been as much at
home in the barber shop as in the pull
pit. He might lack faith, he certainly
lacked sense, but he was eminently re-
spectacle. St. Peter might shake hands
with him and not lose caste-St. Peter
might, with entire security, introduce
the parson to the other eleven. l rath-
er think the parson would require an in
PRODUCTION. And my ugly thoughts grew
grotesque. Suppose, speaking Of intro
ductions, that the meek and lOWly Saw
or, who once trod our earth, barefoot
ed and sore, the friend Of the poor and
down-trodden, who took no heed of what
they should wear, should enter and seek
a seat in this temple erected to his glory.
How quickly that keen-eyed sexton
would seize on and lead him out.
The best sermon I ever heard was
preached by that long bearded, bald |
headed, crazy preacher who used to,
when was boy, preach in the streets
of Cincinnati. was going to the post
Office one bitter cold morning in winter,
when saw Daddy Rice on a store box,