The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-03-06

spiTe Of old ST. Peters church was re-
st 'red the ambitious young rector had it
sum unied by a gilt crOss. A vener-
able spinister who had long been a wor-
shipper in the sacred fine, wandering
among the graves some days after to
while away the time before service,
caught sight of the new decor alton and
was so overcome at the sight of a sym-
Dol on her church which was associated
in her mind with everything pOpish and
dreadful. that, as she afterward describ-
ed il. her feelings 20 overcome her that
she was compelled 10 retire behind a
tombstone and weep.
Then look al the question OF floral dec
Grafton. Time WAS when the Introduc-
tion of a few fl pwrrs to decorate the
chancel OF a new church so offended an
Eastern bishop that he positively refused
to consrcrate the church until the frag-
rant and beautiful offar ders were rpmov-
ed, and Right R4v. Father 10 the South
actually issued hlll-not against the
comet, but against flowers in church
as frivolous and papisucal. And now
every preacher mutt have his pulpit dec
GRATED vii III fresh bouquets; The Euisco-
pallan, high or low, must have fl 'rsl
adOrnmpnIs on the alter, and on E isler
the Methodi-t vie with the church peO-
pie in The beauty, extent and value of
their floral decorations.
Mural decoration has also become a
special department of art, and sacred
walls blaze with color and are rich with
reaching symbols where once the sim-
plesL emblem was discarded as superstI-
tious.
IL was not to be expected that this
wIdrspre develop ment I the art site
clement through 'ut the community
should leave the Question of music un.
ouched. We zee It in the Episcopal
church the rapid growth and pOpu
larity of the ve-ted male choir, and a.
he Protestsnrs cummuuiry has got rid
of go many prtjudlceH in the last
few years we have good re ason to sup
UOse that they will get rId OF some mnr,
and come to see the beauty of the sur
pliced choir and adopt it. Some pro-
gresssive man will make up his mind
that it adds another element To the ex
ternai beauty OF the worship; tk thert
IL nothing wrong about the thing itself;
hat il may be possible to get to Heaven
It Gods praises sung on earth are led by
men and boys. and he will adopt it and
It will become popular, and others wi
follow sut; and by the time DR.. Ia
nage's new tabernacle is finished VT
may see the popular preacher rising up
IN his pulpit for the morning worship,
cUnfrOn ed by great chorus of hIe
Young men and boyS, ready to lead the
the sacred song by great burst of chor
Al sound. We claim that the art culIu't
Of the day has increased the love for
he beautiful and gwen men brodeI
views on many subjects directly or ln-
d'Iectly connected with religious ques-
ions. II has made men tolerant OF the
'pinions and practices of others. 1t has
upruoted old opinions and dissipated
much prejudice.
II has extended into questions Of wor-
ship, and we claim that the popularity
of the vested male choir is due In par
c its appeal tU our love of the beautiful.
The long. white.robeb procession sing
ing jubilant hymn to open the public
worship, appeals to the popular heart;
he music committee fluids the QUESTION
IF the chuir and It's management n long
-r a burden too great to be borne: preju-
dice nelts away it IL found that no scar.
iet lady is concealed beneath the vest
menIs, and it grows IN popularity and IL
more and more widely adopted.
The best proof that this is a true state
.uent of the case lies in the fact that
many of these vested male choirS sing
atrociously. The boys voices are harsh,
throaty and fr, quently out Of tune, auo
he men. under most circumstance can
not sing we'll. HIw shall we get over
this difficulty? How to teach boys tu
sing swerlly and ~ tuner
A remarkable innovation which will |
probably extend to many Eplscopallan
churches throughout the country, has
just been introduced by Rev. Dr.. Van
ierwateI IAN EpIscopalian Clergyman of |
Brooklyn In his choir, which ls one OF |
he fnest in the city, the men and boy |
singers are surplIced. Hereafter the
ladies are slso to wear the choral sur
plIce. A dressing room is provided |
where they can remove their wraps aud |
robe themselves in the long, snow-whIu
robes with the regulation Dtck band and
ieep, loose hanging sleeves DR.. Van
ierwater contends that the change II
made for the sake OF pre- serving the PIC
turesque uniformity of the CHOIR, which
while surpIices and fashinnable toilets
mingled together was nhvm u~lv in bad
aste.-T w ShackleJOrd, in Troy Press