Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-05-19
For the Urbana Union.
nLU = I Q.
NO. NI.

WE find a truly wonderful cOmbina-
ton Of musical sound, produced by the
stops of the pipe organ. used the word
pipe organ to distinguish it from the reed
organ of the present day, which after all
is only an apology for the real organ.
Those who understand the figures of
the common chord will understand the
following simple description.
Put down any key Of the pipe organ
with the DiapasOns, which give the
same sound as the piano, and another
set of pipes called the principal, and you
have the octave Of each note played;
add the tierce, and you have the 10th
add the twelfth and you have the 18th
above, add the 18th and you have two
octaves above, add the sesquialtera and
you have combination Of pipes with
the note itself, its 3rd 5th 10th &C., and
yet all these different sounds of this COM
mon cord are so lost in the first or prin-
cipaI note that instead of a variety of
sounds, we have a tone wonderful and
rich by the combination. As the various
rays of the sun make but one glorious
sun light, so do these various sounds
make one beautiful melody, truly grand
and wonderful. The great Creator has
given us all the marvellous varieties i'm
the human voice, and has given to man
the ability to produce instruments by
the same model, to give to His creatures
asOurce of pure and exquisite pleasure;
and can we use this glorious power bet
ter than in uttering the praises Of Him,
who is the AuthOTOf all ? Then is it not
the duty of every one to endeavOr to rem
der this praise in the best manner posi-
bic. We sometimes spend a great deal
Of our time in public and private wOr-
ship, in asking for more and greater
blessings, when it would seem to be
more in accordance with the spirit Of the
Divine Word, that we should rather
praise Him for the memorable bless
ings already bestowed.
In looking through the old Testament
I find the praise of God in song or in
struments spoken of in ninety verses
and in only four do find itspOken Of as
used in idOlatrOus worship.
We should always bring of our best
to the treasury of the Lord, and should
use every means of improving the mU-
sic in public worship. I think it is
.scareIy enough to pay choir to do this
for us. Every member of the cOngrega-
ton should use all means Of individual
Improvement, so that their voices should
go up in a united song of praise and
thanksgiving to Him who we Worship.
Of course it is better to have a choir to
lead, but congregational singing is in
my opinion, far more interesting and
beautiful, than display Of talent by
few paid performers. find in late pa
pers that in a majority Of the Protestant
Churches of London, it is now become
quite common to have congregational
singing and hope that the great i'm
provement I consider this to be, will
become more and more the case in our
Churches in this country. The concert
room is the place for that; the public
worship Of God is a different matter.
The best singing in London fOTty-five
years ago, was said to be in the Rev.
Rowland HilTs Chapel, which was alto
gether congregational, led by an organ
and choir. The people had their music
books and when a hymn was given out,
the number of the tune was on a card in
large figures, placed in front Of the gall
Iery. The music in the churce Of Scot
land is said to be truly interesting,
though led only by promtOr, as they
have still the prejudice against organs
though it would doubtless be improved,
by the aid of the harmony produced by
a choir, and the use of an instrument.