The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-03-26
SACRED MUSIC"

4A~S~~s
An American clergyman has been
spending his holiday vacation IN visit
ing some of the large cities in the
United States, and gives the result OF
his sightseeing in New York paper.
In describing one of the most interest
inr cities in the States he relates how
he spent the Sabbath. He says: We
decided on attending one OF several
orthodox Congregational churches, IN
which distinguished professor OF the
ology was annouaced to preach. The
first thing presented to our view was
the platform, near the pulpit, on which
stood a large vace of fresh lilies. The
first Scripture read was that part OF
the Sermon ON the Mount in which our
Savior pointed to the birds OF the air
and the lilies of the field. The sermon
was excellent, on the providence OF
God. But the part of the service on
which have some comments to make
for general readers was the opening
piece. The solemn worship of God
was introduced by solo, Consider
the lilies" performed by the leading
singer of the choir, gracefully accom-
panied by the organ. So far as the mu-
sic was conserved, it was beautifully
and faultlessly rendered The effect
upon my own mind, however, was any
thing but devotional. The singer com
menced, Consider the lilies OF the field" "
etc. and when she came to the applica-
ton, it ran thus: And yet ] say unto
you-that even Solomon in all his glo-
ry-was not arrayed-was not array
ad-Gke one of these-was not array
-(interlude by the organ)-was not
arrayed-Gnterlude by the organ y
like one of these" And then she went
back again and asseverated III the most
emphatic manner, Il say unto you that
even Solomon in all his glory was not
erraved - was not arrayed - was
not arrayed" (pause) until | began 10
despair for poor solomon, lest he should
never get the very first Of his garments
on.
There was yet another piece Of Church
not sacred-music. i'll which the So
prano led Of with the announcement, Il
will wash" and then came in the con
tralto. Il will wash"-and then the ten
or. II will wash'-and then from the
profoundest depths comes mp the gut
tural Of the basso. saving also. Il will
wash and last Of all they strike in
together. crying out in concert, Il will
wash Noonc could imagine that this
singular and oft-repeated announcement
of an intended ahlution was render
ing in sacred song, for the spiritual Cd
ification Of a Christian congregation.
Of those solemn words Of the Psalmist,
Il will wash my hands in innoccncy. ST
will compass thine altar. o Lord"
This reminded me Of the story told by
the rector of II. Bardolph Of his choir
one day in singing the l33d Psalm:
True love IS like tha, precious oil
which, poured On Aaron head,
Ran down h!s beard. and DER his robes
Ia costly moisture shei.
Inthc predictions effort Of this perform
ancc the ear-spliiting combination of
the several voices hardly bore n resem-
blance to that oily current poured on
Aaron's head. Ii was sung thus:
Fan down his beard and Ger his robes
Han down his beard
hIs robes.
And DER his robes
Ran down his beard-ran dow. his
DER his robes
HIS robes his robes. down his beard,
Han down his
--~o'er bis robes
Ran down his beard
TIA costly moist
Ran down his heard
-heard-his-beard -his-shei