The Republican journal., 1885-11-19
The Choir.

The Rev. Edwin P. Parker writing from
Hartford, Ct, to the Christian World makes
the following racy remarks on the choir: Some
what recently, one of our magazines published
an article by a prominent clergyman, in which
he gave an amusing description of the varieties
and eccentricities of performance" in church
worship which he had witnessed. Doubtless
the Churches Of Great Britain are well trained
in this respect, but in this land of freedom the
order or disorder Of Divine service abounds in
peculiarities which might make the judicous
grieve. 1t was the privilege Of your CORE
spondent to minister In church, not long
since, whose Organist and choir Is more ambl-
tlous than discreet. On entering the church,
was furnished with the "order Of SERVICE" and
the hymns. The opening hymn, for bright
Sabbath morning, was that familiar funeral
hymn, beginning
Unveil thy bosom, faithful tomb,
Take this new treasure to thy trust.
The second hymn was of the same desCrip-
tion. A compromise was gently effected, but it
evidently dispeased the organist, whose pretty
tune was thus put aside. The anthem for the
same service on Sabbath morning was.
Protect us through the coming night.
The deporable fact is that many of our
churches seem to arrange their services with
chief reference to the exhibition of the organist
and quartette choir. The organst ''runs his
end of the church," Any interference by the
minister is resented and resisted. All sugges-
tions from him are treated with Indifference. 1t
might cost him dearly TO medde with the mu-
sic. and he generally prefers to keep his fingers
out Of that fire. 1t is miserable condition of
things, which is gradually improving. Not
long since l was changed with one Of the ablest
and most honored of our clergymen, who had a
choir, Of whose prolonged and noisy perform
ances he was weary and impatient. He wrote
far m Guidance hts order Of eypnipU
Vice, and interlined the same with sundry re-
marks which made it very amusing paper. |
venture to transcribe the same as an indication
OF the condition of many choir-ridden churches.
oRDER.-EvENING SERVICE.
I.-Ballooning by the choir.
u.-Scriptures read reverentialiy by the
clergyman.
Ill.-Hymn. (CongregatiOnaD.
lN.-Prayer minister all alone and Con-
gregation meanwhile wool-gather-
ing)
Victoria. (Further ballooning by the
choir all alone among cerestory
windows, painted roof, ETC., etc
Nl-Sarmon.
vII.-Ilymn. (Congregational.)
Nlll.-Prayer. minister all alone, congrega-
ton wool gathering, putting on
gloves, getting conchaat, ready to
spring.)
lA.-Benedction. Violent stampede while
organ llON ts Oh, sky-IOCktlllS anu
turning handspring, like drunken
Bacchante.l
A.-Silence and darkness, and the restored
presence Of Cod!
Your readers can family imagine the emo
tonS of the preacher who, with that annotated
and Illustrated order of service in his hands,
undertook TO conduct worship in that church.
And, after all, is there uot something more
than exquisite sarcasm in hat final sentence
"Slence and darkness, and the restored pres
ence of God!'
Very curious things are no " and then report
ed from the churches. In a Massachusetts par
ish, the pastor and his wife hsd received from
their parishoners sundry garmants-she new
cloak and bonnet, and he a new suit of clothes.
10 their dismay, as they entered the church or
meeling-house the next Lords Day morning,
the choir struck up the hymn
Who are these in bright array
1t was certainly embarrassing.
In this connection we find the following in
home papers:
An illustration of the ridiculous and annoy
ing way IN which church choir will some
times run together the words of hymn Is af-
forded by the recent remark of small boy in
one of the front pews Of a large and ''fashiOn-
able church in Boston. The hymn beginning,
1.-The consecrated cross I'd BEAR" had just been
sung, and in the momentary quiet which fol-
lowed, the perplexed youth turned to his faith
er and asked in an earnest whisper, "Say, pa.
where do they keep this consecrated cross-eye ed
bear?'
An American minister says: "Once our alto
asked me, as was entering, whether | had any
objections to changing the closing hymn, for
she was expecting some friends that evening,
and they could not come till late, and she want
ed to sing solo. And once, at a weekday
funeral, our tenor crowded me, even to my en-
barrassment, with request that he might be
permitted to precede the arrival of the train Of
mourners with vocal piece in the gallery, for
he had just heard that two members of the
music-committee Of another congregation would
be present, and he wished them to hear him, as
be desired to secure the place of conductor
there -