Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-01-30


tell itp>-her feet aid not touch the pedals. /
Tie efflc was peculiar. The organ seemed |
ready tn topple over every Sunday., Some folks
s,ll Lhl lie organ lad no bass notes. Bless
YOU. What did they know about il? They
could not tell one tune from another.
She (the organist) had weakness for the
reeds. The reed stops, as you know, have their
little weakness, llse the rest OF US. IneS psl,
ticular weakness Is TO get out OF tune. "Never
mind" said she they are swsetly pretty after q
long prayer. Make you think OF angels IN long
clothes singing through cloud.
Her yoluntarles were remarkable, She bar
assed the parson and kept everybody on the
alert, for who could tell when she was going 70
stop Every other minute We said This -
the era--the closing chord tas come but
no il had not. More cloeins chords follow cd,
TIL We we're near distracted with hope deferred.
At last some benevolent young man had the
goodness TO marry her and take her away
Bless him How heartily We congratulate him
and ourselves.
We could not blame Heaven fol giving her
| short limbs; but then she might, at least, nave
played something besides her own compositions,
| and could have safely neglected her beloved
| irumpets and obes.
The next Sunday the man came. lie was d
stout fellow, and his coat had very long sleeves
and his trowsers were extra large. They were
none too long to be becoming. BE could touch
| anything Ia the shape d keys, stops, or pedal,
manage the swell, draw the top right-hand stop
and play on the lower bank at the same In
| slant. Clever man, they said clever In ooth
the English and American sense.
The first Sunday he presided the folks said
| that the committee had repaired the organ. II
had not sounded so well for long time. It's
deep and majestic tones shook the air, peryaded
the church with solemn harmones, and made
Deacon Squaggles youngest, cry. He Is not q
precocious ahild, and did not ask to see the
| monkey.
| The music that day was a revelation 10 most
of the the people, and there was a satisfied buzz
| among the folks on the steps when the church
| was out. Things Improved from week To week
| One or two who had backslid of late returned
| and really came to church half day-came to
| hear the music. Deacon Squaggles reproveu
their motives and accepted their renewed pew
rent complacently.
About the fifth Sunday after the new admin
istration, PaIson Mildmay announced that the
last hymn would be sung by the congregation
With fear and trembling they listened to heal
what tune would be given out. After the first
bar their fears were allayed. Their was nc
installing the melody Of "Duke Street" played
distinctly and accurately on single loud stop
At the end the people struggled TO their feet
liar and delightful. Did not feel sure that you
knew all about it, would give you detailed
account Of it. Congregational noise. You have
heard it, Doesn't congregational singing al
ways remind you of those famous lines con
eerning the little girl who
"When sue was good, she was very good,
And when she was bad, she was horrid."
The sermon was lost that day. The people
went home 10 their dinners dissatisfied, and
hoped 1t wouldn't be tried again.
The next Sunday evening brought the explo'
sion, Il was announced In the morning that
there would I've IN extra service Of song at hal
past seven.
AT seven the church was full at half past
crowded, Word had got about that something
peculiar might be expected. Many backslider
and others came III "to scott" Deacon Pip
pies said, Would they remain to sing. Per
lsps so.
| The service was opened by reading, and
set piece by the choir Then Mr.. Jones, Chair
man Of tue Music Committee, rose, and to ou
anazement, called the organist from his sea
aud introduced him 10 Us. Our organ Is behint
the pulpit, just where 1t ought to be. Ever!
| body woke up, and you might have heard q phi
drop.
The young man bowed and spoke as follows
My friends: We meet here every week 70
prayer aud praise. We come to lift our heart
to heaven in thankfulness and JOY. For mu
SO We have the organ, the most noble instru
ment In the world, In all our churches, all
trained chors sing the praise Of the Lord wit
the best skill and art the world has discovered
"The church has always aimed TO comman
n, The best music, believing that the best is non
too good for Gods service. In this pursuit
+, art there Is great danger OF going to extremes
The trained choir sho uld bs used everywher
but not 70 the exclusion Of the people. IL
inspired command, Let all the people prai:
the Lord is sadly neglected oflate.
I'VE have, In our search for high art, del
l frtr-irn 80 Al,
praise God by proxy.
Ny friends, these things oughl not 81 20
We should all sing. Let tile choir lead, ar
al join them In the solemn psalm or cheen
song Of thanksgiving. | AN aware that Il
congregational singing 1, viewed with dsgu
b. many. Il Is something very bad, and {
Z, ienI5 more than eleVates. This need not be
lfoIe or TWO rules are observed. Let me 81
them 10 yon:
firstly Let all sing, young and I'D. \
matter low badly ii sounds 10 you sing ".
confidence.
Secondly Do not attempt 10 sing parts
Let al! sing the melody. Let those who thii
they can sing tenor, alto " bass, give up TIN
paris and Join the soprano Ia singing the air
melody. Of course, the gentlemen Will sing
g. one octave lower than the ladiea. The org
Will give the harmony, the voices the song
By the aid Of these rules, our singing will
easy AID effective.
Now, 10 help you will have the Inelo
played on tine cornet. This instrument is lol
penetrating, and easily followed. The instl
ment and organ will play the time ov
and then, after All instant 5 pause, all join
singing"
If a thuuderbolt had split the gded cock
el on the steeple, and ring The fire alarm b,
We could not have been more electrified 4
people with one consent, sat down in plld,
Of discontent and horror. Deacon Squseg
leaned his head OH his hand and groaned alol
Parson Mildmay looked dubious, and we W,
yariously much shocked. The organ and
ccrnel began. 1t sounded well, and some
US were iuwardly set up with much joy
Then the congregation rose as one man, r-so
ed TO eXtinguish the desecrating instrument
resolved TO sing the thing down.
We sang Old Hundred through twice. S.
tremendous volume Of tone had never b
heard in the church before. The grand
lune fairly shook the house. When ii was
ished, We sat down. | looked round,
found the DeacOn'a wife wiping her eyes
lively. Some irreyerent person raped IL
the floor with caHe-iust timid little
but applause, certainly. Deacon Pipples'
lie boy said, audibly, 'lIurra. wasn't that h
The last word was eXtinguishcd by faith
hand.
The Parson read TWO verses OF another ly
Ill, voice trembled, and lie seemed prcul
happy. hat splendid old tune of Christi
by Father Handel was played. Handel
lieved in horns and trlmpets. When the .
ing melody rang bravely through the chil
everybody rose and seized their hymn b,
with ardent determination 10 do their best
Everybody sang. Who could help it ?
ringing tones &C the trumpet bore everyt
along with it. AT the interlude between
verses, There was a profound hush. The
Pie felt ,ilat AT last they were really prai
God with heart and soul. The second ,
wsN even more successful than the fir
Everybody felt warmed up to the work.
\. congregation had made a discovery. II 9