Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-11-06
THE SERVICE IN OUR CHURCHES.
A Spicy Letter From Rev. Mark Trafton
of Massachusetts

NORTH CAMBRIDGE Mass Oct 90 ~
10 rho rditoro NJ tho rroo pross I'D ,ri,,os
ce,a f,.ia,,i an 60 - - ,'''.9
"oiiic lrlelo vi ioc vi yours OF nllhe'
sent 10 me a copy or the Lowell DdttU
Courier containing criticism of an adj
dress of mine before the Boston preachers
,,oo,i,,, ,,,hioh co. - -, -, ..,,,, 49,
'iiee',lS' Wi,cl' lol paper 81 Soou ma
'tureu as Tue I'Eh IRLSs Is generally con
sidered, is hardly fair to use no harsher
term. Now allow me short criticism of
NV iolino critic
49,. .,,,.ie.,,,.,.,, :. ....-
l. an NV "",,i""'e" III uhe seuSe
you evidently use that term. True, ! am
an old preacher, but still try to keep up
with the times. though that is a difIicult
matter in the rapid changes marking these
times and nS Won mnst admit NOT m,'5 1l,vsys
healthful
p There was no bitterness" in NV re-
MARKS but I smoke more ,in SORROW fban
in anger" How about the Snirjt Of yo1r
article?
3 The case | rave il common NOT ex-
ceptional. with ali Dcmcd churches You
may be willing to have your cosy new
filled mn by the sexton because Won are
GOOD natured fellow h,,t how nh1ut vour
neighnulss Now please to remember,
the question we were discussing was
GLOW shall we reach the masses :" | took,
and still maintain the ground that the la
boring poor can not 20 to church, because
of the expense; and that the churches
ought to be rs free to all as a town hall
that our Fathers house should be as free
to all His children as ones own domcile.
And that the service ought to be rendered
plain, simple and attractive. All the peo-
in an act of worship ought to be invited to
join as far rs possible. so come. let us
sing unto the Lord" not a quartette of
giggling young people. But this quota
ton is 'antiquated' with you, You,
however, excuse "laughng and talking"
in a choir on the ground Of antiquity ~
Now, am fond of music, your doubt to
the contrary Notwithstanding: indeed, |
PLAYED Il bass drum in band when a lad,
and blew clarionette in choir three
years: but there was no laughing and
talking there
| would not if had my way Danish the
choir and organ too" o no but | would
have the choir and organ lead the the con-
gregation in praise | put in the second
organ ever set up ina Methodist church in
Maine, and have always had choir.
Your remark about the whole congre-
CATION insisting on preaching in unison
with him" amounts to nothing Preach
ing is not worship ; it had no place in the
service of the church originally In the
ritual of the Protestant Episcopal, Ro-
man Catholic and Greek churches, there
IS no recoSniti1n OF the sermon at an. anu
III ,,,;t ~ nr ~
! lglnally the priest or O1lclatlnp clergyman
appended Il brief hortatory address which
gradually grew into the sermon" | was
speakins Vi MorsniP oi when a hylah
and "nnvayapd in simnIe chasfe mnsic f.
an inspiring aid. Now the classical music
swallows the sentiments and not one in
twenty appreciate the music ut all heard
I-on ~ 90; -, q ~ oti f f
nbnrcb FOR n vearT Rnt he Is ..anti
quated. " Suppose one of Brother Burdett's
quaint and ringing political campaign
songs should be so twisted and hidden by
ene Iei th ao tll"t lou y soul ro'Lu a
nor tenr his hair ff he has ANU in veya-
ton, and would he be soothed by the Ie-
mark, 1.-THE music was highly classical
Now my uhknoWn irienu, / Know one
- ioot ~ , ,t'NT t ".