The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-01-25


becoming He could reach anything in
the shape of keys, stops, or pedals, with
out sliding on the seat, as some men do
He could sound the lowest pedal, manage
the swell. draw the top right stop,
and play on the lower bank at the same
instant. Clever man, they said. Clever
in both the English and American senses
The first Sunday he presided the folks
said that the committee had repaired the
organ. 1t had not sounded so well for
long time. Its deep aud majestic tones
shook the air, pervaded the church with
solemn harmonies, aud made Deacon
Squaggles' youngest cry. He is not a
precocious child. and did not ask to see
the monkey
The music that day was a revelation to
most of the people. and there was salts
fed buzz among the folks on the steps
when the church was out. Things i'm
proved from week to week One or two
who had backslid of late returned, and
really came to church half dav-came
to hear the music. Deacon SquaggleS re
proved their motives, and accepted their
renewed pew-rent complaisantly
About the fifth Sunday after the new
ed that the last hymn would he sung by
the congregation. With fear and trem-
bling they listened to hear what tune
would be given out. After the first bar
their fears We're allayed There was no
mistaking the melody of Duke Street y
played distinctly and accurately on a
single loud stop. At the end the people
struggled to their feet, and the singing
began. The result was peculiar and not
lovely. Did not feel sure that you know
all about it | would give You detailed
description OF it, Congregational noise
You have heard il Doesn't congrega-
tional singing ALWAYS remind YOU of those
famous lines concerning the little girl
who.
When she was good. she WAS very, very good
And when she was bad. she was horrid."
The sermon was lost that day The
people went home to their dinners dis
satisfied and hoped it wouldn't be tried
again.
The next sunday evening brought the
explosion. 1t was announced in the
morning that there would be an extra
service Of song Al half-past seven
At seven the church was full at halt
past crowded Word had got about that
something peculiar might be expected
Many backsliders and others came in.
ITO scott Deacon Pipples said Would
they remain 10 sing? Perhaps So
The service was opened BIZ reading and
a set piece by the choir. Then Mr. Jones,
chairman OF the music committee rose.
and. 10 our amazement. called the organ
Isl from his seat and introduced him TO US
Our organ is behind the pulpit, just where
it ought to be Everybody woke up and
YOU might have heard pin drop
The Young man bowed and spoke as
follows My friends, we meet here
every week for prayer and praise We
come to lift our hearts to Heaven in thank
fitness and Joy. The Church early saw
the Importance OF music as an Aid to these
mnistrations. From time 10 time in-
provements have been introduced into
our music. till now we have the organ.
The most noble instrument in the world
in ali our churches and trained choirs sing
the praise OF the Lord with the best skin
and art the world has discovered
The Church has always aimed To- COM
mand the best music believing that the
best is none too good Tor Gods service
In this pursuit OF art there is great danger
Of going TO extremes. The trained choir
should he used everywhere hut not to the
exclusion of the people. The inspired
command Let ali the people praise the
Lord, is sadly neglected of late
We have, in search for high art. del
egated our praisegiving 10 paid singers.
and we praise God by proxy.
My friends, these things ought not so
ha n
choir cad, all Join them in the solemn
psalm or cheerful song OF thanksgiving
| am aware that congregational singing
is viewed with disgust by many It is
sometimes very bad, and ottends more
than eevates. This need not be SO il one
or two rules are observed Let me give
them TO you.
Firstly. Let all sing, Young ana Ola
No matter how badly il sounds to YOU,
sing away, catch the melody and sing
with confidence
Secondly. DO not attempt to sing
parts. Let those who think they can sing
tenor, alto, or bass give up their parts
and JOIN the sopranos in singing the air or
melody. Of course, the gentlemen will
sing it one octave lower than the ladies'.
The organ will give the harmony. the
voices the song By the aid OF these rules
our singing will be easy and effective
Now, TO help you, | will have the
melody played upon cornet. This in
IS loud penetrating, and easily
followed. The instrument and organ will
play the tune over, and then, after an lit
'tant's pause. al Join in singing
II thunderbolt had split the gilded
cockerel on the steeple, and rung the fire
alarm bell, we could not have been more
electrified. The people with one consent
sat down in puddle Of discomfort and
horror Deacon Squaggles leaned his
head on his hand and groaned aloud.
were v4riously much shocked The or
gan and the cornet began. 1t sounded
well, and some of us Were inwardly set up
with much Joy. Then the congregation
rose as one man, resolved to extinguish the
desecratng resolved to sing
the thing down,
We sang Old Hundred through twice.
Such a tremendous volume of tone had
never been heard in the church before
The grand Old tune fairly shook the house.
When it was finished we sat down. /
looked round, and found the deacon's
wife wiping her eyes furtivelv. Some
irreverent person raped on the floor with
q cane-lu st a timia little rap, but ap-
plause certainly Deacon Pipples' little
boy said audibly, ''Hurra wasn't that
bu-." The last word was extinguished
by fatherly hand
The parson read two verses of another
hymn. His voice trembled and he seem
ed peculiarly happ, That splendid old
tune of Christmas, by Father Handel, was
played. Handel believed in horns and
trumpets When the glowing melody
rang brayely through the church every
body rose and seized their hymn-books
with ardent determination 70 DO their
best
Everybody sang. Who could help it ?
The ringing tones of the trumpet bore
everything along with it, All the inter-
luda between the verses there was a lIro-
found hush. The people ielt that at last
they were really praising God with heart
and soul. The second verse was even
more successful than the first. Everybody
felt warmed up to the work. The con
gregation had made a discovery 1t could