Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-21


As nj tied effort il about to be made by
religious societies in Augusta to improve
church singing, TIE following from the
Boston Journal of last Saturday, may inter
est the reader.
The first topic considered was ''How can
we improve the singing in the churches p
opened by Mr.. Ssnkey. He found q number
of churches where there is great complaint
on the part of the spiritually inclined con-
gregation regarding the singing or conduct
ing Of praise The minister, Mr.. Sankey
thought, ought to have supreme control over
all that goes on in his church, and that being
the case it is necessary to have Christian
chairs. for they will gladly acquiesee in the
desires of the minister, while others will want
to have their own way in choosing selections.
Again many of the congregation are in the
habit of attending the opera. and thew are
not satisfied until they have some music of
that class in their church. But music never
helped a church spiritually. and never added
to the membership of the church. | am in
favor Of good music in the church, but am
more in favor Of reaching the people with
music which they will understand In
the morning | would use the regular
church service. In the evening / would
have evangelistic singing, gospel music.
would have Christian choir; a quartette
around which large choir is gathered if
possible. but il | couldn't get Christian peO-
pie for that would get one Christian man TO
stand up and lead the congregation. The
opera" method is not prsising Christ but
performing. Again, | would have little
organ; that will give YOU the key and you
can sing. while large organ will drown the
7, ~, IL -,
praises to God, but it is you. would not.
either have long interudes which distract
people from the theme of the song; very
often the verses are so connected that a long
nterlude is not proper Neither would
have the whole hymn played through before
the singing begin, but only few chords
The minister, TOO, should sing, and not give
out the hymn and then sit down and arrange
his sermon while the choir are singing. Solo
singing | would use sparingly. Instead Of
elaborate songs | would have the simple Cos
pei hymns; their touching stories will dc
more good to the listener than would any
oratorio music. The singing and the preach
ing should move along in the same
line (and should the PRAYING, also); they
should all lead the thoughts in the same
direction. The greatest need TO-DAY, howev.
er, is competent leaders; some leaders are
so Objectionable that they turn people away
from the singing. There should be more
praise meetings; | wouldn't spend the whole
evening singing, but would have prayers and
short remarks | would have these meeting:
open to all.
DIR Eben Tourgee Endorsed all Mr.. Sankey
had said. and believed that the time was ripe
for the new order of things.
Prof. William Sherwin declared that the
4 81 IN, ka af
tertainment now adays; he believed in arti.tiC
music, but it must be consecrated to the work
of God and be used for that purpose before
it can do any good. The heart should be pu
| into tn singing So with the organ playing
and with everything come cted with the music
portion of the service.
Mr. Moody said that every town could hav,
good singing. If they had poor singing, i
was the fault of the minister. Never mind j
he don't know music, never mind if he can
tell Rock of Ages" from Jesus, Lover o
my Soul (though he's heard them on al
average once a day all his life if he gle
right at it and starts the congregation
| they'll sing if he can't. Don't put a choir
if you have one. back of the congregation
either; people have ears on the front side o
the head, they don't have them on the back
| Let the people come together half an hou
before the preaching and have praise ser
vice. Singing has good effect on tn,
lower classes. Why, if you go to peniten
tisry they will tell you there isn't hardly {
! prisoner there that can sing. And thes,
lively hymns will become popular right off
| boys will whistle them on the street, band
+ organs will grind them out and bands will
play them. and that music will penetrate tC
every section of the city, even to the very
lowest haupts, 1t is very hard to 60 into 8
church and hear the choir sing in an un
known tongue; it's just as hard for the min
lister to preach in an unknown tongue as fol
the choir TO sing in that way. And good
hearty singing helps the preacher wonder
fully, too. It's the words that lift me and
stir my soul