The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-24
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

PLYMOUTH OHUkOh.
A Sermon ON Psalm Singing and Music
Gcnerally-Mr. Beecher's Visit to the
Gilmore Jubilee-His Description Of the
Effect OF the Playing OF the Grenadier
Guards Band-Music an International
PacificatOr.
The summer exodus continues to leave It's per-
ceptibe marx upon Plymouth church congregation.
There were more empty chairs and half-occupied
pews yesterday morning than there has been before
this season, and it will continue to be until au-
tumn comes and brings the wanderers back again.
Mr.. Beecher spent Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs
day at the Worlds Jubilee, at Boston. Those who
knew that were not therefore very much surprised
at the selection OF the following text and the de-
livery of sermon about music :-Ephesians ",
19-"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in
your heart to the Lord
Mr.. Beecher commenced his sermon by refer
ence, in few short sentences, to the growing de-
velopmcnt of musical culture in this country, and
then referred to the first efforts to introduce music
in New England, where they were ever on the alert
to watch the devil; to the scandal that was aroused
when the bass vol and the flute were added to the
choir. When the organ was part Of the music of
the Church, then Church must have so far back
Sudden that it was agreed on all hands that that
We had lived to see higher and growing intelli-
gence with respect to music, and liberty given to
religion to employ any Observation-Disclosures that could
accomplish divine purpose. Religion is not a
poor stricken prisoner to be locked up in church,
obliged to sing there only hymns. Religion is Gods
own child and walks nobly on the earth, and has o
right to everything that will make men better.
The religion OF our Churches, for the most part
was, however,
SIMPLY DoLEFUL
Thap two nf Anna haap
out much taste; it was not very elevatlng, it must
be confessed, but IT was very hopeful and was quite
good enough for seed. We are greatly Indebted to
the Methodists and to those who are sometimes
called "wild revivastsn for much of the music that
has been useful in developing the popularity of
musical education among us. With no desire to
forget the MasOns and the Hastings who had rem
dered great service in this direction our greatest
obligations were to the foreign immigrants more
particularly the Germans. They had brought to
us much rationalism and more lager beer, but
they had brought us more music than either,
and for this the other two could be very
patiently endured. We had become their pupils.
and it was to the Anglo-SaXon race who were our
ancestors, that we were indebted for the develop
ment OF music as well as other good things. Re-
ligious music that which expresses or incites in
the noblest music that could be listened to- Like all
things that were meant for time, and perhaps for
eternity it had taken ages to perfect, and It was
not even yet perfect. The Church was fortunate
in having peculiarly for itself the nobest instru-
ment, for the organ was the noblest instrument
that had ever been created. Mr.. Beecher here
strongly denounced what he described as
MUSICAL GYMNASTICS;
namely making the service of song pivot for the
admi alton of those who heard and for the vanity
OF those who sung. IL was dissertation OF the
sanctuary and the Sabbath. The highest music
was when the music and the hymn were welded to-
gether. MIR. Beecher then proceeded at length to
speak of the advantages of musical education to
religion. II think, he said, iii we trace our no,
tons of religion well to the source, we shall find
they spring mainly from the hymn. | think if we
consider what our notions OF heaven are, you will
find that 1t is Doctor Watts, rather than the reve-
Wesley and Doctor Watts tell us more about
heaven than the Bible does just as John
done. Thus the hymn book mouids our
faith far more than the catechsm. The hymns give
the highest form OF truththe truth that is in the
heart, rather than the truth that is in the head.
physicians. How many men will quarrel over
dogma, but VIII rejoice together over hymn You
You Viii sing coronation together in sweet
cord man who has never led in prayer in his
own family win offer far more etiectual prayer by
the singing of hymns than by Offering prayer
OF words caught from the memory of his fathers
prayer or copied from some church prayer The
cultivation Of music will do much for us in another
way. Do we want to know what we shall
do, to keep our American Sabbath? Wen,
want to keep Lords Day Well, say, ii you want
to keep it, make 1t singing Sunday. If ever you
save the Sabbath 1t win be by making it the
most attractive, nay, the most Joyous day OF the
week. our Methodist brethren are wise in this
respect they carry into their service the witchery
THE FASCINATION OF song
They get the life first, and then bring to bear the
| Observation-Disclosures that would redeem this life
| Then | think that music Is doing much to
promote an international peace. You will readily
understand where obtain this suggestion from. If
you had stood with me last week IN that four five
acre building in Boston, with its orchestra OF
10000 voices, you would have had this idea. Ii
| you could have watched the scene when
| the English Grenadier Guards Band marched along
the floor, and then to the front Of the orches-
ira and played their national airs and ours to-
gether and heard tile enthusiasm, the cheering, the
swelling forth OF sentiment found voice when
| they had done playing, you would never forget
sand men there who, had Ii been consistent with
the characteristics OF our countrymen, would have
gone forth to embrace this band | know one man
who would have led them on. 1t was my pleasure to
stand with the Lieutenant Colonel OF the regiment,
who had charge Of the band while in this country
anu said 10 him, III you have any influence, sir,
with the Queen, or with that part of your govern
ment having control Of this band, would suggest
that you cable over to get permission OF this band
TO play IN each one OF our cities. They will take
back with them better estimate OF the good feeling
OF our people for your country than they will be
able to do otherwise. There was a similar feeling
manifested the next day when the German band
played. Each band each day was the best. There
more and more manifest, until 1t was evident that
New England herself had forgotten to be dccorous.
Now we have seen what these countries can do
with guns and artillery and we now see how much
better they can do with their trOnlbones their
trumpets and their cornets." Mr. Beecher closed
by the expression of his former conviction that,
Internationally this Jubilee would be OF great SER
vice in preventing acelbitv of feeling and by the
enforcement of some practical truths
ROSS STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Fulness OF y.i1c-Sermon nv Rev Dr.