The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-01-29

tice 10 % ehoentlaf 70 CrluClSm As Jug
ment. No one % competent 10 use the
pen OF o critic who can be influenced by
personal likes OF diRllkes. The deslgn Of
The critics Office Is 70 serve the public
good, and not his own prejudlces. he
cannot therefore afford 70 work 10 the
advantage Of one and 10 the disadvantage
Of another. He must In word be true 10
his profession, and true 70 his subject,
without any reference 70 the smiles or
lrowns Of society, His Is the most deli.
cate Of all calltngS, and should be under.
taken by none but those who combine
the purest culture Of mind and
heart. The critics q not the character TO
be assumed, 1t must be real. One should
never attempt 70 make criticism o matter
OF pastime. BE should never presume
70 criticise without q thorough knowledge
Of his subject, II Is not an office open to
any one who chooses to write. A man 10
criticise literature must be thoroughly lit
eraryi to criticise theology he must be 0
theologiap; TO criticise music he must be
Q proficient In that profession, either In
theory orpfactce. One may write notes
concerning anything, but notes are not
necessarily criticisms. And now that
] have admitted In unmiStakeable Ian.
guage the usefulness Of the true critic Il
may be proper 10 say something concern
ing the legitimate objects Of criticism.
First, oil will readily concede that the
family circle Is sacred 10 It's own mem.
bers, and should not be intruded upon by
The eye or ear Of an outsider, It's affairs
should. not be exposed TO the rude gaze
Of q curious public. The church oil Christ
Is family, sour Lord Jesus Christ Of
whom the whole family In heaven and
earth 10 named" ... ... -.,.
Hyou accept this scriptural definition,
then ask Ia the church Of Christ, or any
portion oil lie service the lawful object Of
professional criticism? Are we TO accept
the church service Ne performance Tor
The amusemenj or entertainment OF the
.publieS ls this the design Of the Chris
tain Church 7 Are we TO understand when
ministers talk " men about the eternal
issues oil lie and death, that their dis.
course Is prepared performance for the
public ear : And when the hymn Of praise
Is sung, are we 10 look upon II as q part
Of the worship, or simply vocal execution
oil musical strains, artistic or otherwise 2
! put these questions because ! be-
lleve II 10 be the most direct way Of
getting at what l stall denominate
Legitimate criticism. l have to say that
10 my opinion the house oil God Is no place
for the professional critic. While all
should be critical In sitting truth from er.
TOR, the real from the sham, none should
enter the house. OF God clothed In the
habiliments Of o censor. Singing belongs
to the devotional part OF religion, and It
Is little less than irreverence 10 speak oil
i as an abstract performance. The ques.
ton OF the expectancy Of choir singing
has long been debated in the Church pro
and con, and whenever the Church Ia
willing TO look upon choir singing as Q
mere rendition Of melody, 1t comedies the
point OF contention, namely, that choir
singing dissipates devotion. Now, I am
decidedly In favor Of choir singing, and /
am also in favor Of the very best and most
artistic music, but ! am not disposed to
layor written criticism Of that which
should be the most devotional and spir-
itual part Of the worship. But It may be
asked how can voices be cultured with
ont the aid Of criticismS answer thai
there are other times and other places iol
the work Of the critic than the house Of
God on the Lords day. Besides It Is pre-.
sumed that the leader or some other com
petent member oil the choir discharges the
duties Of the critic, so that all that Is de-
sirable in singing can be accomplished,
and the Objectionable feature Of public
criticism OF religious devotions will be
avoided. ! have no hesitancy in subscrib'
ing myself
Most Respectfully, m. ROYCE.