The New York herald., 1870-06-13
CANAL STREET PRESBYTERIAN enUaCa.


Worshipping God with NIusic-sermon by the
Rev. Mr.. Mitchell.
The Canal street resbyterian church, like most Of
tie other churches, was crowded yesterday morn
ing. The church, although small and not very plea
sanity located is model Of neatness. During the
last week the congregation succeeded in having
completed very fine organ, which was opened yes
terday for the first time. The pastor, Rev. Mr.
Mitchell, preached most eloquent sermon upon the
subject OF
ana selected his text from the Tooth Psalm fourth
verse.
The gentleman said that 1t was impossible 10 look
without much interest on the movement that is now
going on throughout the Presbyterian Church, as
well as other churches, in regard to the improve
ments In church music. It Is well known that
throughout the land there has been a considerable
indifference to music as an element in religious
worship. The consequence has been that In the vast
majority of churches musical part OF services
has been allowed to sink into very low state in.
deed. The fine collections OF tunes which arr well
adapted to puolic worship have been spoiled either
by ignorance OF ofcongregat0ns not educated to sing
or by leaving them for execution by the choirs who
are In way lifted for this difficult and responsible
duty. But we cannot smut our eyes to the fact that
there IL a growing taste among Our people which il
destined, though 1t he slowly ana gradually to Work
out
Many are feeling 1t a great absurdity to 60 to
church merely to hear wnat the preacher has to say.
They not only want to hear what the preacher has
to say, but they want also to hear good and appro
pirate music and unless church has 1t it certainly
will never have anything of congregation.
Mr. Mitchell was not 80 much In favor OF fine sing
ing by choir as he was OF good. heartfelt singing
by the congregation He said there are
great many who to this day object to
having an organ In church, becduse 1t
will as they say lead to formality in religion rather
than to worship Of God in spirit and in truth.
would oln said the speaker, with those far say
ing that there are very many who are Keeny agita-
ting the subject OF music during religious worship
merely to crafty their taste for harmony They say
we Will come to church II you
GIVE Us GOOD MUSIC,
and 1t is confidently predicted that many OF this
class think tiat were instrumental music adopted
in our churches, they would be filed to overnowing
every sabbath. MIR. Mitchell would, however, dis
tingush between such persons and those who wish
to introduce better system Of singing into the
they worship the mere furniture and the temple
yea, they worship the temple itself rather
than God, whose worship is to be therein observed.
But 1t by no means follows that the attention to
forms only fosters and encourages the spirit Of
maism. The fact is that as long as we have q cor
ton in le whether In business or In the services Of
the Church. When we are disembodled spirits, and
we
SEE GOD FACE TO FACE,
and commune directly with Him, then we shall dis
pense with all acts OF devotion. There will be no
temple in The Kingdom Of heaven. instrumental
music, llturgies and sacraments are Of this EARTH
and must pass away and yield TO those higher and
nobler things or which they are nothing bat mere
public representatives But so long "a we are what
hands to handle with, we cannot possibly dispense
with forms.