The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-10
REV. J. SAUNDERS REED.
He Startles Trinity Church in Newark b,
Demanding Innovations.

He Startles Trinity Church in Newark by
Demanding Innovations.
New York Sun.
Old Trinity Church. in Newark, was well filed
yesterday morning, when the Rev. j. Saunders
Reed stepped to his pulpit to preach his first SER
mon as rector. Thecongregation is largely COM
posed of wealthy people, of high social standing
ing Newark. During it's long history the parish
has been stronghold of the Low Church school,
The members have never tolerated any depart
ure from the doctrines which they were taught
IN the days of their grandfathers nor adopted
any OF the new ritualistic practices that have
been introduced into other churches during the
last fifteen years The only ornate feature of
the service is the music, which from time inn
memorial has been sung by quartet. The Rev.
William Wherefore Newton tried ten years
ago to form a chorus choir, but soon found that
he was not influential enough to carry the in
novation to success His chorus sang only one
Sunday.
Vestryman Courtlandt Parker has long been
opposed to a quartet singing ford music, and
for many years has voted against the music con-
tract Once he wrote out a protest against the
singing of music in which the congregation could
not join, and had it entered upon the minutes Of
the vestry. Still the people kept the quartet.
The Rev Mr.. Reeds sermon startled the peo-
ple He said:
81 hope to have this first, working church,
second, missionary church; third poor mans
church; fourth, praising church; fifth, a rever
entail church. If thought the vestry would
not join me in welcoming here Gods poor men
and women / would resign at once. In what
churches to day do you see the poor peoplel In
the ritualistic churches, and not because they
hear better preaching there but because they
like the service, and feel they welcome there.
hope to 1 AXE Trinity Church ahome for them.
This should be praising church l hope to
have here very soon. a chorus choir leading the
people in praising God. No rector would have a
right to select four persons from the congrega-
ton to make the responses in the service for
you, and there is no more authority for having
a quartet to do all the singing. Hearty congre
gational music will fill all these pews. On re-
cent Sunday 1 attended ST. Georges Church in
New York, which short time ago was almost
dead. You know how it has been revived
found it crowded. The congregation, led by a
surpliced choir of and boys, sang so that
scarcely knew whether was on this earth or
not. could join in the TIE Deum as well as the
hymns, and am no vocalist.
I'VE want, Also a reverential church. / will
tell you Of one way in which you can promote
reverence. The prayer book calls the offertory
the devotion of the people. When the offerings
are placed on the communion table I.would like
to have you all stand, as you certainly would do
If were presenting some gift to an earthly
| ruler for you in your presence. There is no ritu
alistic principle involved in this"
When the sermon was over, and the offerings
we're laid on the altar by Mr.. Reed, almost the
entire congregation arose. This has long been
the custom in High churches but it was never
done before by the people of Trinity. Mr.. Reed
invited men, women, girls, and boys who we're
willing to join chorus choir to assemble in the
church next Saturday evening.