The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-23

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rental Of pews In the churches range
from $40 TO $3.50 for a pew, with the ex.
ceptional rates above and below these
figures, and single sittings will perhaps
average $500. Atan average say OF 500
paid for pew rent for family Of four
persons, the cost OF Sunday service TO
each individual would be less than %
cents; and TO u person paying $40 year
for q sitting, thecost:: would not be two and
a.hali cents for each service. Looking
ut The services Of the Sabbath in purely
intellectual or artistic light, aside from
their influences on morality and piety,
where else ia so much intellectual enjoy
ment, the result OF such careful study, so
much real instruction, 20 much eloquence,
10 much 10 interest, refresh and stimulate
tho mind, furnished at so cheap rate ?
lust think for moment, that for twenty.
five cents service, you can have one OF
the best sittingS in our churches, and
hear each time u lecture-a sermon from
an educated minister, and enjoy the Rer-
vice, including the music from generally
agood choir. o.
We were led to thinking over this, by
hearing u gentleman say, "Well, l don't
think any choir ought 10 be paid, It's
true, like music, bulthe singers ought
to sing for nothing, and am going 10
put my foot down on spaying in our
church." ttrfj- u ssae"
Pray, why not pay your choir!
because the choir sings and plays for
money only.D Now il il so? True the
choir sings for money; it 10 an honorable
poverty caused by the art education the
choir has that requires pay, which is real.
ly only a gratuity as given in this city.
We venture to say, that the average sal
ary paid in Wheeling, would not be three
per cent year on the cost Of the musical
educations, SO that is singing forlmoney !
Now we ask, do not the congregations
who pay their choirs In this city, get full
return for their money! Would not the
average sermon delivered by our minis
ters be strongly contrasted in its careful.
ly selected thought and idea, It's earnest
delivery aud impressive solmemnity, with
harsh grating unmusical singing, without
organ accompaniment, discordant, with
out rylhm or melody, sing
ing, that would drive out OF mind
the beautiful thoughts Of Heaven and the
songs OF angels, singing praises to
Jehovah in the new Jerusalem? What
so stirs the hearts and consciences OF the
masses who throng 10 hear the great re-
yivalists2 Is 1t the preaching alone, or
has not the attraction been in great
part the we'll sung strains OF the
hymns, which with their melodies car
ried truths into the hearts Of the hearers2
And would not higher, holier feeling
be participated in, by both educated and
uneducated hearers, il, with voices well
cultured and attuned to correct intona-
tion and emission OF tone, some Of the
beautifully worded phrases from the
Bible, which 40 abound in the Oratorios,
could be impressed on the hearts, in the
way nothing but music can impress =?
Does not good choir attract part Of the
congregation, and thus perhaps open the
way to thoughtiulness over the sermon?
II as is said, in the future world we
shall enjoy 10 a greater degree all we love
here that is good, how much
more will that kind soul enjoy
the singing in Heaven, We saw
bu, short time since weep with Joy and
affection, over the words and melody,
sweetiy sung in one Of our churches.
This would certainly not have been, had
a poor voice sung that same hymn. No
church can afford to he without good
music, and il congregations would en-
ploy none but really good choirs u more
delightful service would be had, enjoy
ments nearer akin to what we hope for
In heaven would mingle with the sym.
pathies aroused by the eloquence Of the
ministry, musical art be assisted to 4
higher plane, and the congregation more
efectually enjoy its own praise singing.
In some Of our churches not small por-
ton Of the intellectual enjoyment con-
sists Of the choir music, and in the amount
OF preparation necessary TO make the
music good, the person who pays less than
three cents for his privilege to hear the
music and sermon, surely gets fair re-
turn, and by stretch Of liberality, he
ought TO be willing TO pay five cents for
1t, two OF which ought TO 20 TO the choir.
BY an oversight our list Of some OF the
choirs for this week has been mislaid, bat
will appear in our next article. Y IUH
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