The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1879-05-27

precisely similar spirit So far 81
practicable. therefore, ~ organ and
choir should be dawn near to the
alter, that they may the better feel
its holy influence. The minister
should ooooern himself actively in
what his choir dues; but to do this
effectively it 10 Ut the iirst importance
that he should b . musician other.
wise his interference, guided only By
ignorance. would BY worse then use
les, and breed nothing but ill-will.
so We are brought hack u this iounda-
ton On which improvement in church
music must rest-the education Of the
minister himself in that art. 1t Is IN.
happily true that theoloeians do not
show . strong liking for music. They
certainly have not that reverence for
the art which would lead them To-
make it . part OF the theological
course at the seminariesL The divinity
students are kept we'll down to their
Hebrew and Greek, and the exegesis
Of the hard thinkers and loeicians of
the Church. OF even the traditions
Of the art Of music they are kept pro.
fouDdly ignorant; Of the subtle power
it has over the souls Of men, no hint
il given them. And yet through all
their lives Of ministratiou these young
men are 70 stand in the very closest
relations with that art. 1t Is the left
hand Of their ministry. IL prayer and
sermon be the right hand. Its subtle
influences are u pervade everything
they are brought into relationship
with in the Church; it, ethereal
power is everywhere; it il the most
potent arm for endesring the disciples
of the Church it reaches every class.
and through one of the swiftest
avenues Of approach. The musical
sensibilities rightly used would be the
most potent ally Of the priest in every
minissratiOn, and yet it is almost
entirely neglected. The young priest
may coustrue the prophecies in the
original, but TO discriminate between
= major and minor chos5 IL absolutely
beyond his power. Through lite he
is to be the vassal Of hb organist in
all matters Of musical judgment, not
having knowledge sufficient to CON-
bat the possibly vicious taste and bad
influence Of that player. And yet
Fletcher Of SaltOun was immOrtalized
through his once saying. Let me
make the songs ofa people. and l care
not who makes their laws" This was
20 universally recognized rs . truth
that FletchePs words passed into an
aphorism among nations. Yet the
Church is wiling to let any body
uake its music. 90 long as il can make
its own laws and creeds. And the
consequence OF this error IL the de-
plOrable condition in which We nov
find our church music.
England has set us q better e.
ample. For the last century her best
composers have Contributed their most
sealous cork tn the Church Of Eng
land. Blow. Boyce, Purcell, Arne,
Atwood, Crotch, and in our own day
Sir John Goss. Sir Cure Ouesley. g.
A. MacFarran. d.. Stegg.ll, Arthur
Sullivan. Joseph Barnby, Elvey, and
Smart, have written most noble, |
beautiful, and appropriate church
music. II in remote country villages
this music be found to test t0o severe
~ the capacities Of the organise and
the singers, there - another expsdient
and . far better one than the indif.
ferent singing Of . badly organised
choir, and that u to train the children
to take IN emportant part in the
They learn readily; they
enter into such service With ardor.
Those Of them possessing good voices
would readily master tho simpler
chants and responses, and many .
church ut the end Of . year
might be in posseRion of Q beautiful
boy and girl choir. singing with that
'exles purity Of tone peculiar to
:hildrens voices
Another suggestion for improved
church music in outoftowu churches
nay be found in that most sdmirabls 4,
4 books upon this subject, Thihauts
P'uity n Nsss;eal Art. Although
written more than City years ago, it
9 - pertinent and applicable 70 the
.hurch musical needs ofour day - to
hose Of his own. He suggests . ffeer
Ne Of the chorale. OF Of hymns ~. i
snged in four parts 70 Be sung BY
be congregation, or sung in unison
nth adequate organ accompaniments
Hing out the harm0nies, and thus /,
9th people aud priest would. with
'nited e66rt. olsr up their sponta- 3
eous musical voice Of praise. Hell 6
makes il . strong point 'ehat the Ut.
Of such . result would
realty promote musical harmony,
nd call forth the powers Of the in
ividual lDembers Of the congrsea. .
On. Mrs. A.. b BLAKER, in Her. .
ne Ae9as;xs jr April.