St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-10-29


restores congregational singing on the
old plan.
From this point new cycle is enter
ed upon, which is no other than the one
through which the church has already
passed. and the one through which it is
forever destined to pass so long as there
continues to he Il controversy between
choir singing on the one side, and con
grcgational singing on the other.
There is no occasion for this antagO-
niSm. There is il very serious fallacy
underlying the whole discussion. One
would think from the form of the qres-
ton already quoted that ii is necessary to
have either choir or congregational sing
ing. and impossible to combine the two
in Il manner to meet the requirements
of worship more satisfactorily than they
cam he met 10y either of them alone.
This is not the case. The most perfect
church music is that which Is ordered
after the plan of the Oratnrio. in which
are to he found the solo. the duet, the
trio, the quartcttc, and the chorus Yes
the doHbIe chorus. The great con
grcgation" should not be put to shame
and Silcnced by the more artistic eX-
ccution of the choir. The people have
right to sing. 1t is their duty when
they come together as worshippers tn
sing that they may thus encourage in
their own hearts the spirit that ought
tn reside in them while engaged in the
exercise of devotion. And Vet congIc-
gatinnal song should not be crcIusireIy
employed. The church is the home ot
the artist and amateur who should he
allowed to contribute their talents and
abilities toward the completeness of
worship.
Nor is the higher and more elaborate
music to he hani>hcd tiom the sanctu-
AIRY. Some of the best works ever given
to the world. music emincntly fitted fol
the purposes of Worship, through which
there hrralleS such Il spirit of holy fer
Nor and pure devotion that it seems to
have been composed under the direct
inspiration of the Holy Spirit. the pro
duets of the great masters who cOn>e-
Grated thciI genius to the glory of God.
are entirely un>uitcd for performance
lay the congregation. and can only he
ctfrctuaily rendered 10y trained voices.
Hence. there is no call to dispense with
choir>. though there is need. i'll some
make them serNircahlr To the interests
of religion Property constituted they
are Il most important element of Il wor-
shipping assembly. Indeed it may he
safely said that with the preScHt attain
mcntS in musical >ricncc in America.
conversational singing cannot well he
sustained without Il choir. \ good
choir naturally imcludc> Il good quaI =
trttc hN which the Solo effects may bc
brought ont when dc>IIcd. for often
some of the finest effects will he pro
durcd 10y one voice working its way tu
the heart without any rompInIonShIp.
There can hc no objection to the high
est artistic culture and excellence pro
Vidcd they are made SuhScrNIcut To de
votion. hut here and now witness Il pro
test against the monopoly nt the hymns.
-.Thr Songs of Zion" hy one. two ol
Il dozen. to the exclusion of the children
of Zion. who ;ilc thus reduced to Il mere
dUdiencc while the praise nt God Is he
ing chantcd for them 10y Il choir en-
ploycd apparently for the especial rur-
pose of saving them the trouble of open
ing their mouths.
The necessity of Il union of choir and
congregational singing talllol ne lo'
strongly urged In such Il union lies
the only solution of the problem which
our churches have 50 long allowed to
disturb their harmony. When the mu-
stefan takes his place as Il WorShppc
side 10y side with him. who. though not
81 gifted. still has it in him to sing. and
they tw" in turn and together. employ
their "Ian>"mcd powers in sacred mu-
sic to the glory of God. then. and not
till then. will the end be reached fnl
which drv"ut souls cannot but c"ntinu,
tn pray.