The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-12
A NEW IDEA,
How the Churches Might be Used In the
Summer.

How the Churches Might be Used In the
summer.
FTsuadS NuIIe and DrupIu,
In the great cities the summer season is
one Of rest for preachers and choir singers,
The shepherds and their tloCks have both
wandered of to green pastures and beside
the still waters, Every season, with un.
erring regularity, this custom has been
deprecated during the preliminary cool
weather Of spring, and with equal Ger.
tainty has been praCtiCed and repeated
when the heats Of midsummer change
the views OF parsons and people, Yet
everybody knows that the eRtiTe caugrs,
CATION OF even our fashionable uptown
churches do not leave town in hot wealth
or, though those who remain look upon
church going as penanCe, and prafer to
stroll In the park or to ait on the front
sLeop OF evenings, They do this simply
because they want to do 1t, The churches
are generally cool, well ventilated build
ings, snd 1t Is really an abIurdity to de-
sert them on the ground that they are
hot, In fact it Is difficult to find more
pA9AdhAk A0klHAln kAAAh thGuN NhA-
fees, which often have cool bret2ls float
in through the open windows and eek
ing egress through the open doors, brseSsF,
too, which do not seem to exIs. at all out.
side, In summer however, Rs q general
thing, the musical parts Of theaerv,Gss are
less attractive than during the winter, and
singers and organists are absent, leaving
their duties to inferior substitutes or let
ting the church dispense with music alto
gether, Thus, with the iaYorite ministers
at the springs or in Europe, and the favor
ite choir singers at the aeashore, the sheep
OF the flock have little induCement TO re-
main in the fold, and they wander of
without rebuke, In few instances efforts
are made, however, to make summer SER
vices attractive; aud In one case the
minister remains at his post, and the choir
Of a specially attractive character Is enga-
ged, 80 that the congregation does not
feel as II It were feeding of the leavings
OF the spiritual winter table. The result
In this instance has been satisfactory, aud
80 far the congregations have been large
and interested, The experiment Is under
the charge OF Rev. Howard Henderson,
pastor OF the Slxty'drst street NJ. Il
church, near Third avenue, handsome
Gothic building provided with every mod
ern convenience. 1t Is usual to close this
church in summer, but this year Dr.. Hen
derson, despite the doleiul predictions OF
a few croaEeIs, decided 10 keep 1t open,
and obtained tie privilege Of devoting the
Offering to securing the services Of singers
from churches now temporarily closed.
As Clergymen lind an exchange OF pull.
pits often very desirable thing for all
concerned, 1t occurs to US that an oCCa,
sIonal exchange oil Choirs might b. &C
ceptabls. Every well.Conduo!ed GhoII
has ilsrepertory, much OF which would
be new In another church. Why should
they not bs able 10 utilize their talent
and skilled labor? The chief objection
would probably be In tho Jealousy OF the
aingers, who might fear to let their con-
GreHatlons hear fresh voices and an entire
change OF selections. We do not ad.
voCate the abolition OF the usual
summer vacation for Choirs, because
church voCaliSts always return 10 their
dutiea IN the fall with renewed
vigor and interest. They neOd the
rest and the change, but that oil the con-
gregation which remains at homo needs
change too, and would find 1t II our plan
Of engaging special singers for the sum-
mer vacation SHOULD become more or less
general. To DO sure, many choir VoCallsIs
would prefer TO spend thsir vacation
away, not only from their own church,
but from any other; yet there could always
be found enough willing to let their voices
be heard in new quarters. OF course,
they SHOULD be paid, The minister pays
his substitute, or rather the church pays
the amount for him, and the same rule
should be applied to the singers. We
should then see our handsome uptown
churches fairly attended even in the dog
davs.