The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1870-04-22
The Uses OF Church Music.


Re6ned taste in selections and ar
tiasie ekiil in the execution Of music
designed for occasions of religious
worship, equally With excellent ora
tory and pure teachings in the pulpit
have their uses. Among them is the
attraction to church attendance by
those not dcvoutly inclined, thus
bringing them within the influence
Of the teachings Of the sacred desk.
As far back in time as the middle
Of the third century after the chris
sian era began the power and i"fu-
ence Of singing the divine praises
we're felt and cknowlelgcd hy those
advanced in christianity and civiliza-
tion. A forc;ble and elcgan, writer
describing its acknowledged influence
both in the ancien, Jewish anil in the
Christian church aG,r describing ST.
Cecily one Of tie most sk,liul in its
execution, in that or any other peri.
Cd says Of it ''hy this homage Of
praise We join the heavenly spirits in
their uninterrupted songs Of udora.
ton, love. aud praise y And again.
"by such music VIC express the spir-
itual JOY Of our heats in this hrav-
enly function, aud excite ourselves
therein to holy jabila'lon and devo.
ton" Aud yet another teaches that
lit is useful in moving piously the
mind, aud kindIing in the human
heart the Affections of divine love-"
1t is said that "divinc love and praise
are the work Of the heart without
which all words or exterior signs are
hypocrisy and morkery,' hut the au-
thor of this remark admits that w
may sometimes ''accompany our in
terror afft c,ions Of devotion with the
most expressive exterior signs.
Every writer of ancient or modern
times that approached this topic has
in one manner or another acknowl-
edged the charms and power music
hath to control the mind and actions
Of man and mould his opinions &C.
eording to the language CT its utter
ances. With the great landmarks OF
the past everywhere prcclaiming these
sublime truths 50 beautifully set
forth it is left for prcfcsscd friend
Of progress in the last half Of ths
10th century to raise his voice against
opening the christian churches Of our
land to the use Of classes designed to
render effective the divine love that
is kindled in the soul by devou,
psalmody.
But neither vitupcra son or rcAcc.
ton has changed our belief that ga.
cred music should lie taught almos,
exclusively in tho house of worship,
while glees. quartetts, songs ana al
other kinds of secular music fit to b,
taught aud designed merely to cult
vate the human voice should be in
troduced into apd made part Of GU
common sch' oil system.
There is time and place for eve
rythiDg. Our own observation teach
es US that nothing is gained to chris
tianity or in dcvout love for the or
dlnances Of prayer by their use i,
the public schools either at openin.
or closing. On the contrary tia
time Is made the occasion for nearl,
all the mischief Of the day. ",
believe noblcr purpose can be &C
eomPl'shed BY occupying the tim
thus occupied in vocal and instru
mental music at opening or closin
the public schools. or both. |
would have the benefit of enlis.in
the sympathies and engaging the at
tsntion Of every pupil. thus lcavini
no idlers for mischief making.
Il