Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-01-06
Music in the Churches.

Music in the Churches.
BY REv. SAMUEL 4. SPAR. H. D.
\ fundamental principle which ought to
govern all the details Of this question con-
sists in the fact that singing ia the sanctuary
Is pari Of tte public rorsbip Of God. This,
according to the teaching Of the Scriptures,
is its primary purpose " In psalms and
hymns and spiritual song, singing with grace
in your hearts to the Lord. is the inspired
doctrine in regard to church music. We
hence conclude that all arrangements in re-
spect to it are essentially vicious aud unscrp.
tural unless thcy undertake actually to en-
body and realize this elementary idea. The
hymn. the tune. and the singers must all con-
form to this one thought. The heart must
pour itself out in sacred song unto God.
This must be the meaning and intention of
the service. or II will be simple mockery
under the forms Of devotion, the melody Of
the lips without making melody in the heart
unto the Lord. Song is the natural language
Of deep emotion. and hence it fits the sanctu-
ary aud the Sabbath. Christian experience
when warmed to its purest fervors. instinc.
lively expresses itself in ..psalns and HYMNS.
and spiritual songs" God has made Us to
sing at such times. ln seasons of revival
there Is always revival of devotional song
among the people.
The theory which regarda ,ingino ASA nero
establishment 10 religions service or as the
means of attracting great eongreoation. N
hear the singing. lust a. men 90 10 the con.
cert-roo,u for n ike purpo.e. however much
il may be practiced. or expedient il NAV seem
o., an aid in the rental Of pews. is upon its
very face a total peryersion of sacred song,
1t may be very artistic. and for this reason
very pleasing lint there /, no God in il
and no devotion in il. 1t does not undertake
TO please God but To crafty men We do
not object 10 beautiful melodies. we think the
Lords honse ougbt 10 have them. vet we do
object 10 Introducing the theory Of the con.
cert-room into the praises of The sanctuary.
Singing for mere s6o,r is one thing and ss.
cred soso i ar,i,e another
so al.o church choir,. whether maid or vol.
uniarv. TO do the singing for the purpose of
derotio1aVy jaDressj1g The peopie fail IN
realize the serintural idea Of RELIGIONS sony
These choirs by the very terms Of the theory
ought themselves In he icorshiDpers and no,
mere artists 10 imprc.s others The idea Of
setting undcvou, singers to the forms Of
praise. in order spiritnallv TO impress and
move a silent congregation of mere listeners
never did and never will bring about the re.
suits in point Of fact. The hearers become
critic, of music rather than wor,hippers
They listen to artsts aud, while Judging Of
the excelencies or defects Of their perform-
ance. they are very apt to forget God. They
communicate nothing. and expires, nothing
themselves. but ,imply remain In the state Of
silent and passive reoepfirtu The singers
provided they sing with the understanding and
the heart. are in position to praise God; and
those who do not share in the song. but sim.
ply listen TO Others, are in position to crit.
else the performance. and make up their minds
whether it Is well done or not. Choirs. not
to lead the congregation. but to sing for the
congregation, always make critical ears. The
question of taste is almost certain 10 precede
and displace that of devotion. Congregations
that do not Join in the singing will be very
sure to estimate the singing Of choir by
the degree Of musical entertainment which i
affords. The choir must sing very perfectly
to satisfy the taste of some and, in so do
ing, it will be regarded as an artistic nuisance
by others and thus it is pretty certain to
fail in embodying the elements of praise for
either itself or the people.
On the whole, we come TO the conclusion
that congregational singing-singing so ar.
ranged whether with choirs or without them,
as to give the largest opportunity for the peo-
pie to Join in the service-is the only plafi
that is really suited to Gods praise in the
sanctuary 1t may not, and it probably will
not, have as much artistic beauty as the sing.
ing of a quartet choir; but il will better
serve the purposes of devotion. The people
ought to be taught to sing; they ought by
practice to acquire the art; aud they would
do 80. if il was more their practice to do