The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-09
OUR RELIGIOUS COLUMN.
CllurcIl CI,Ojrs,

Church ChOirs.
As our article on the music of churches gene.
rally and choirs in particular, has been severely
criticized by many kind friends in commepda'
uOn Of our position and by others in condem-
na'ion, we renew the subject, with the single
hope that in all our churches the singing may
become, what it should be, congregatonal-that
each and every person attending the sanctuary
should join IN singing. 1t is beautiful service
and should be universally popular. IT,
some would have us believe
Music is the only true religion" we
fear there is a sad neglect among professors of
religion and those who, from principle, habit,
Or curiosity, attend divine worship and the
Chances Of their ever enjoying the blessed
fruits of the holy religion of the Bible remark
ably slim. But we are not among those enthu-
siass. Music is always inspiring, and every
heart should be made to praise the Lord, espe.
ctaly when the psalms and hymns peculiar to
every denomination Of Christians are so varied,
so full of instruction and meaning. Some con-
tend they are not gifted with musical talent,
and fail to join in singing because they
have not voices equal TO some of the
most celebrated artists of the country.
others again, not quite so hypercritical,
90 not sing in church because they
are not familiar with the tunes. This OBJ
lection has some plausiblity in it, it is true,
but If all such remain quietly in their pews, and
do not try to famliarize themselves with the
hymns (whether new or old), they will never
learn and consequently will be compelled to be
mutes. To learn anything requires an effort;
and our readers will readily understand that to
perform any duty requires some labor, some
thought, some action, some movement, and
unless the earnest "Wlll try" predominates in
the mind, no labor, thought, action, movements
or anything else can be successfully accom-
pshed. TIE want of familiarity with a church
tune is no reason, therefore, why people should
not sing.
Many of the pastors of churches are morally
responsible for the great lack of proper music
in the house of God. At each service they very
methodical3y announce the selection by page or
number of the psalm or hymn to be sung and
then quietly subside into an easy pulpit chair
and while the organist plays the tune and pre-
pares the congregation tor singing, he often
times bestows his attentions on the refreshment
of his memory OF his sermon, whose leaves, fur.
lively held in lap or pulpit Bible, occasionally
attract the attention OF his bearers by an ILL.,
but we think singing is so important service
Of the house of God, that pastors, instead OF
thus manitesting indifference, should, periodi.
cally at least, urge their congregations to the
full enjoyment, importance, and beauty of holy
song.
The choir in Calvary Presbyterian Church, on
Locust str, e, is another Of the quartette organi
cations that can be improved. The organist is
thorough musician, and seems to understand
his business, but Iamentably fails in filling his
parts creditaby to himself or to the church
The tenor is one of the best in the city, and the
alto among the most efficient, but The soprano
is not equal to many of the sopranos in this city
who have gained less notoriety, and the bas;
is singularly deficient. If the soprano and bas:
were equal to the other voices, and the seleC
tions for the opening pieces were more varied
and appropriate, the music of this popula
church would be uneXceptionabe.
In Christ Reformed Church, on Green street
below Sixteenth, the quartette choir need
pruning also. The soprano has a clear, power
full voice, of a good and pleasing quality, blu
which still needs considerable cultivation.
few years of hard, careful study will make he
a frstclass singer. The alto, tenor, and bas
fill up the other parts harmoniously, thougl
there is nothing particularly striking abou
their voices. The organist cannot even b
called good performer; but as we hear he fill
that position without any remuneration, we vii
not criticize him too severely.