Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-06-16
The Great Tabernacle.


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On more than one occasiAn. have
visited Rev. NJ. Talnage's Tabernacle,
in Brooklyn. 1t is certainly the
largest, finest and best arranged religi-
Gus audience chamber of the country.
There are some things about it, l
would note. Yes, let me speak Of its
music; have never felt or given great
approval of instrumental church mus
ic. One reason is, 1t Is not often good,
and those who thus worsbip-praise-
for the congregation, sometimes, and
often, more frequently, manifest less
religion than levity; more of the tone
and temper of laughter than reverence
and love-I mean Cody love. This |
have noted in New York and out of it.
But the music of the Talmage Tab
ernacle, is open to this objection. Ofthe
instruments employed, there are but
two. Is one enough? No; two are
needed, If any. The organ is of i'm
mense size; steam power generates the
active breath, which is measured off IN
harmonious tones by Mr.. Morgan, who
is, likely, the most accomplished Or
ganist in the world. He is sedate,
grave, and noble specimen of mau.
But, what Of the other instrument?
1t is silver cornet, performed on by
Mr.. Arbuckle, who is, with his sweet
toned instrument, the leader of the
choir. Yes, suppose the reader takes
il for granted that the choir, thus led,
is housed away up and back on some
stage-like gallery, and is composed OF
quite a number of males and females,
who "rise up and praise God"
with loud, ringing voices in con-
sideration OF fixed salaries. EX-
actly no sucb thing, in this case.
The choir, now refer to, il composed,
as near as / could estimate, Of full two
| thousand persons, seated in that vas;
audience chamber and its galleries
4 and composing nearly two-lhirds Of
| the entire congregation. As the soft
yet deep tones of the great organ, un-
| der the master touches OF Mr.. Nor
CANS hands, challenge the attentive
ears of the great congregation, Mr.
| Arbuckle sOlemnly steps on table N
front of the altar, facing the cougrega-
ton, with expressions of reverence
and awe akin To that we may suppose
the great day Of judgment will inspire,
and with two quiet easy waves of the
! udINst Nus W Atl'il aINk lult bft'b@'' ~ =
shippers; and surely no well-trained
human voice can give forth more
fully the true soul of combined
harmony and melody than
does that gifted leaders, coruet
But oh does now the test rub come
Does the reader expect me TO say tina,
the selections are the finest specimens
of popular opera airs? could do 50
by writing a falsehOod. The Truth j,
to the words Before Jehovah's uW,
full Throne, " F" How firm foundation
we saints of the Lord, Jesus, lover o
my soul" ION Jordan's stormy bank
/ stand" etc., airs which we all sup
pose were composed by David -
mean those which our very oldes
! people used to sing, and loved 10 SIM
when young, are those selected. Are
: listen here The music of those mor'
than 1900 voices following the lead 0
those silvery tones-sweet rs tn,
sweetest vespers melting away on III
sleeping waters, has not mixed with j
variations" boosted of by most o
our popular choiTs (but which is NOR,
at par with the wild squalls of rea
geese.) No, the music is full in IL
= tone and measure, and is so filed wiki
what we understand as meant by de
vOtiOn, that one who listens feels M
: inspiration that can not fail 20 render
him or her better man or woman.
y. A =.