New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-07
THE MUSIC or PLYMOGTH CHUhCH
A STATEMENT FROM MR.. BEECnER.
ONE CRITICISMS ANSWERED THE CHARACTER OF
CArREn MI,SIC.


SOME CRITICISMS ANSWEKED-TllE CHAhAOiLI VI
SACRED MUSIC.
4 foolinc has been growing for some time III
p,,,uonth Church OF strong dissatisfaction WIN 'le
rnsic which has been under the direction OF the "'s"
Isl Henry Carter since May OF last year. W"en ' par"
0uarct was dispensed with. This i'chhS MS I''""i'
become moro pronounced as the time LOT h'hiHs '''
ARRANGEMENTS for next year drew near Inc 'Iet'Io"
week nctore last of two member, of the Music Committee
tel ,uucb interest and the result regarded "a
,rrovor,blc to the retention OF Mr. Carter despite the
fact tbot Mr. Beecher was thought 70 favor NM buI
,o members of the Music Committee resigned an" l'It
were outspokcn statements that the c" reh's "o" ~
a tess there WAS change in the music As the p'Ws
are 70 he rented tomorrow night, statement pJ M
Reecher was expected yesterday morning
uvnoctoton was not disappointed, for III making the
announcements he took occasion to speak OF certain mat
ters in Plymouth Church. He said he thought II F'eo'
blessing that public curiosity desired ana drew ot ih'c
ecncc Of all that done IN Plymouth Church III" Vi
mn N that was not 0auGhter SO there cohd De no
confidential communication of pastor to people But inc
blessing from this in the enlarged scope OF the ngh 81
tho cnprcb was more than the vcxatiOn. He took 0c-
cason recently TO say the brethren that they hdd
neglected the Friday night meetings. ny w'lhd"Ih u
charities ON the right and left and That he felt that he had
kept MP the meetings to the Old Standard Out scoto
deepv religious papers had SAID II was Just what ne might
EXPECT from his doctrines. Plymouth Church was running
n.
Church was not running down The Co"G'ega''"d''a
had set down the charitable contributions Of Plymouth
Church at 50 600 but at the same time had given cret
ia other churches all their religious ana phllanhr"pc
contributions and if Plymouth Church was rcekOned III
that Vayit had given over $4,000 last year. ana this
was a small part Of all its members had DONE Tor they
subscribed thousands in NcwYork and elsewhere which
was not reckOned III the church Plymouth Church en-
tered the new year with cent OF debit anu ny the wise
and assduous care OF the trustees and Treasurer sois
H. large income was adyantaCcOusy used thit the
church was sound financial INSTITUTION as me Nero
pOltan Bank OF New-l 0rk, or inc SlcSIdn.9 'h 10
brooklyn. Since the church began had not lost Ohcha
of one per cent of the money due for pGw-rrutS;
Some thought there had been ieTmenatOn There had
bccD some talking but fermentation, ahd ne was u,
blame for what talking there had been WIN ilhg OH
three thousand doaTsn me peWlenF ."St !,
the trustees had 10 decide whether 10 sum We naS.l
work or in the music. They wisely chose the latter An
organist conductor and four singers ad Oeen pau ana
IN was decided to condcnse and put all in the
T III Was change of the whole method, but
the congregation supposed that all was gong on a. DE-
i've and N was Judged by the old standard. So II
was not liked partly because it not perfected and
partly because the members Of the congregation were hOt
As to the future Mr. Beecher said that thing he was
determined upon that the music IN the chuch Snou
not he merely eyhbitOry and not mere pleasure lie
would not have But the effort would he TO get the
highest and best but must be religious music lnIS
was much that was in concert and OPERA though
oupIa was tedious, hut what good al Wedding was
, ,od al mineral. what was good outside the church
might not good inside. In the churches I'm the German
schools and IN the Cathedral schools IN England therc
was sacred music of much amplitude and grandeur II
one could have the imitation OF the rolling he didn't
want an imitation of the summer locust or The kayld
lie would be infexhle in regard having music which
expressed inspired devout emotion, ana h0i mere
pleasure or Inflammation Of the IMAGINATION lie Gad
hard work FOR eight years his early ministry In intro
ducing congregational singing 1t was said was not a.
good as IL used be, but ii must he remembered that
a aeneraton had passed wy, aud he Preached TO
almost a totally congregation lie hoped novelty
would brought about in the time he should i've TO near
II, namely the singing OF chants ana anthems oy
the whole audience. The Rev. Henry Allen.
i'm London had Jacksons "Te Deum" and others sang as
Familiarity as "Old Hundred" He should like 10 have the
ccS lcgatiOn in Plymouth Church thunder out the Ou
Inst what the Music Committee would do he was
not Instructed say, but they would have the music
of the church expressing Christian emotion ana de-
votion carried TO as high reach as possible HIM '"I
hath ears TO hear lei him hear go
Mr. Beechers utteranccs heard with evidence or
favor low his hearers The general opinion was that Mr
Carter will be re-enga-ed as oigdhlsJ'
but an entirely new arrangement will be
made An effort il talked OF 10 secure
G. g. lockwood and the O-ganst and choir OF Holy IIin
iy Of this city. formerly young Dr. IyhTs chu'Gh. IL
will not definitely be known what viii be done ui aer
the pews are rented and the annual bushes. meeting or
The society takes place. and the amount OF money LOT
next ycaris known. At business meeting on Fiiday
n. mt two members Of the Music Committee VIII De
CHI