The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-11-27
Church i'boir.s.

You are so plaln-spOken in stating
the grievance OF the pew against the
pulpit for its various Offenses, that
want your expression of the grievance
OF both the pulpit and the pew against
the choir gallery. Last Sunday,
though far from well, | was led by my
sense of duty and my heart-hunger to
60 to church. The organ voluntary
and opening piece occupied just
twenty-five minutes, or one-third the
time allotted to the entire service.
Now, am p~assionately fond of music,
and their music was excellent in an
artistic point OF view. The soprano
showed qualities of voice which are
WORTH speak as an expert-from
$1,000 to $4,000 in the market, and |
am told that she gets that amount.
The choir is qualified throughout to
sustain her. But | was rs much per-
turbed in spirit when this performance
ended as Saul was before David began
to play to him upon his harl. Nor
was ! soothed when the minister GAL
loped through the Scripture les ,on. us
If it were a sterile country to be got
out of as soon a possible, instead of
pastures green, in which we were TO
be leisurely led for feeding. and still
waters by the side of which we were to
lie down for a quiet moments medita-
ton. The good man was also cor.
strained, by lack of time. to repress all
verfow Of spirituality in the prayer,
hitting it to a few points of petition,
mere sample-case Of human wants,
Or inventory OF religious desires ex-
hibited before the throne of grace.
The sermon was accelerated, aDbre-
Waited and almost cviscerated by the
effort to crowd forty minutes worth
into twenty. And all this because of
that new Re Deum!
thought, perhaps, l was peculiarly
out Of sorts; but a glance at the con-
gregatian, some 800 in seats waiting
tor 1000, convinced me that such ser.
vice Is not attractive to the multitude.
Will you allow me 20 give, through
your magazine, these simple hints to
those having charge OF worship:
l. The masses OF people do not APP
preciate extremely artistic music. BY
the selection of simple pieces an ordin-
airy choir can do "A better work in the
way Of satisfying ordinary people than
tho most highly trained artists can
when imposing. upon the popular ear
that which would, perhaps. meet their
own iinely-cducated taste.
2. Not a in a dozen of those who
60 to church go to hear the music.
Little as we estimate the religious in
terest Of the multitude, it Is that alone
which fills our churches. Assuming it
To be anything else. and catering to
the love of music, architecture, rhetoric
oratory, our church managers will
be disappointed in the receipts. The
power" of q church will be
according 10 its ability to soothe heart
give tonic to weak co~nscienccs
and eye-salve to dimmed hopes, to
panoply fearful souls with the ardor of
hea. en-inspired thoughts.
Who're the music is held strictly subor-
innate to this gospel element. affecting
it only rs an accompaniment does q
sweet voice. il is . delightful addition
~ the worship. But when it usurps
any time or attention TO itself, it will
be felt by nine-tenths Of The worshipers
10 be an intrusion, and that irrespec.
i've of its artistic excellence. Pas.
IN Homiietic ReUteO.