The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-09-15
Church Choirs.

ing" (August 1Sth), with quotations from
Mr.. Moody, gives impetus to long-felt
desire to say a word in behalf of the
church choir.
We certainly did not need that Mr..
Moody should tell US how important a
part is the singing in church worship, or
its value in emphasizing divine truth;
though no one who has witnessed his
persistent efforts to drive home a gospel
verify through the vocal organs. can fail
to have his dormant convictions revived
and strengthened
Admitting then it's Importance, may l
ask: Why this total Indifference (not to
say downright aversion) TO the subject,
on the part of our Sessions, to whose su-
preme power the welfare OF the individ-
ual church is committed? And why does
it not receive as careful attention as any
other department? Again-on the ground
of its value-why does not the study OF
music form part of the curriculum of
our Theological Seminaries? l cannot
quite agree with good old DIR. Hastings
Ito whom we are indebted for many OF
our best tunes) that everybody can be
taught to sing, but the theory is possible
to all and even that much would be an
invaluable adjunct to the work of the
ministry, in fitting them-if not to take
part in the singing-at least to Judge OF
its Orthodoxy" 1t is not enough for
the Session to answer to question first,
that they make the best selections avail
able, in forming a choir, and having
turned the music over, consider them
selves relieved of further responsibility;
this may be true of the Session proper,
but for the minister, having organized
the choir, his work is just begun.
After twenty years experience as a
choir-singer, have no hesitancy in as
serting as a carefully wrought conviction
that one half the ground (note the equal
division) of the present warfare, lies in
the fact that the work stops at organiza-
ton, and forever alter there yawns a
mighty chasm between pulpit and choir
There was deeper meaning than was
probably intended in Mr.. Moody's sug
gestion that the pulpit and choir occupy
the same platform. The choir feels the
separation, and consequent lack of sym
pathy. Cooperation of all the parts is
necessary to the snccess of any system.
The choir needs advice and encourage
ment from its instituted headship. Under
the present irregularities it can only hope
for toleration at the most, and nine times
out Of ten fails of that.
l have in my mind little village
church where the pastor meets with the
choir at their weekly rehearsals they
select the tunes together, adapting them
to the style of the hymn; he tells them
his subject for Sundays discourse, and if
a voluntary is decided upon, it is chosen
with reference to the theme The result
is, when Sunday comes, choir and preach
er are IN perfect attune they are work
ers together" each feels the support and
sympathy of the other.
| admit with shame and sorrow, that
there is just cause for much of the CEN
sure and sarcastic rebuke heaped upon
choirs, but the trouble lies primarily in
the incongruous element introduced,
which In our own church at least, need
not be, since the Session has entire iuris-
diction, and with proper vigilance can
obviate the trouble, using the ounce of
prevention"
l will not occupy your valuable space
in celebrating any theories as to how the
present differences between pulpits, pews,
and choir might be reconciled and great
er harmony prevail, but 1 must believe,
Messrs. Editors, that the Church is MAX
ing great mistake and neglecting
grand opportunity, when, acknowledging
as she does, not only the Importance of
music in the worship, but its value as an
accessory in the promotion of gospel
truth-deprecating as she also does it's
present lnefficiency, amounting almost to
a sore evil-she yet quietly folds her
hands, and does nothing.
A CHOIR SINGER.