Middletown transcript., 1871-12-09

Of every minister, with such assistance rs
he can obtain from persons skilled in
music, TO give order concerning the tunes
to bc sung at any time in his church and
especially. Il shall be his duty 10 suppress
all light and unsccinly music. aud all in
deccncy and irrcvcrcnce in the perfor- |
nance, by which vain and ungodly per-
sons profane the service Of the snctunry." |
Would the convention Of that day have
passed such law. IL thcro had been No
necessity for itg Aud did not that law
grow out Of the fact that the choirs had
forgotten the end for which they were mp.
pointed? Give me :. well organised
choir" few in number. devotional in that
portion Of public worship, ms in all other
portions. selecting tunes that majority
IF the congregation can sing, and lat
peace one with another, with no heart
burnings, and jcalousies. aud I" emulation
and strife" why. in advance Of the mil
lennium, and not hoping to see tho circle
squared, or to ascertain who assaulted
William Patterson. Esq. or the name Of
the man who bui,ed the male bovine from
the bridge, or wrote the letters Of Junius.
or WIN was the mysterious wcarcr nj the
iron mask IL will hail a choir Of that
kind in their degree. as bencfac:ors And
our churches ought all to have such, aud
| believe they may. as hope they will
Let the chuir lead in such tunes, as the
congregation can heartily join. and | will
venture the few who read instead Of sing
ing the hymn or psalm. will not be heard
sufficiently to mar the melody, nor will
there be any necessity either for the few
who cannot sing and who read. nor for
the :" well organized choir" to be charged
with " mockery.' Very truly yours.
/ NJ.
II has been said that :, there are none
so blind as those who do no. wish to see. :
This is not the ease with us. for If there
is anything favorable to be said in regard
to those reading aloud who are unable to
sing, we want to hear IT, The writer, to
our mind, has not shown that it will not be
more Of mockcry than for choir to
monopolixc the singing Wo do not ia.
vor choir doing this but we do favor
having the singing led by n choir, and
for as many Of the congregation to join in
as can sing We don't see why those
who can't sing, cannot read the hymns to
themselves during the singing mud enter
into the spirit Of it, as they do when the
minister reads the prayers A quick ear
could distinguish one person reading, and
il Mr.. Phillips suggestion was prac'iecd
in certain church in this town, where
nearly half cannot or do not sing, it would
be sort Of bcdlam, as far as the music
was concerned
The writer a. lies the track little in
the paragraph beginning . In the second
place" In regard to discord in feelings,
we will merely state that that is only nat.
ural consequence. growing out Of our natural
state. and If we were all perfect there
would be no need Of churches at all. The
writer continues !" There are those whr
sing in choirs, who make the whole thirt
/, Of singing 80 far as they are concerned
more of "a mockery. than really devotion
al part of public worship" Granin.
this. would it make any difference ahelh
er they sang in the choir or in the bod.
9 of the church, among the congregation
And If turned out Of the choir, why no
exclude them from the church
As to turning over the leaves aurnl
E prayers, i, is entirely out Of place, but
. done US much in the congregation rs j
: the choir and We would here discrgc
;. little and remark that it is not half 50 ha
: MS to see menJcrs IF church, during bot
!. prayer and the sermon. turning and twisi
= ing in all directions to see who comes IL
:, or to SEE the ia,cst style Of bonnet. dre'
e OF shawl,ns We have frequently noticed
l. our churches. II. to say the least OF !
Il shows lack of interest in the sermoi
2 aud iisrespeci for the minister
- There is little difference between IL
ID views Of the writer and those Of oursel
b. and We think that ii the suggestion
:. Mr.. Phillips was ever tried. ii would wo'
:. " its own cure, aud the difference ., ON
ar be dispellrd.