Smyrna times., 1890-01-29
The Choir a Factor in Church
Work.
BY GEORGE S. DoUGHERTY.

The church choir has its usas aDd
abuses 1t Is unquestiOnably either a
nelP OF a hlnderance in forwarding
work in the Lords vineyard. 1t is NOT
the design of this arti1e to produce
any argument for or against copgrepa-
uonaI singing, nor of the necessity for
chOlrs; The fact that we have them.
anu thelr recognized importance in
PuOlic worship, renders it impossible
ior them to be without a good or an
EVIL influence on tho church.
AS social institution the choir is
usually an apparent success; congo
niallty and harmony, in the majority
OF cases, seem to exist between its
mem Ders but it is a lamentable fact
Cnat 1t not infrequently appears to be
az organization separate and distinct
from the particular church of which it
Is supposed to form a part.
Excellent reasons cab be given whv
!he choir should be a voluntary one
its members all Christians and MEM
3ers OF the church in which thew sinU
IL is by all means essential thai they
De In sympathy with the minister and
lne truths he expOunds. The members
Vi tne cholr should be, at least to a
certain extent, a representative peo-
PIE true, 1t Is not always practicable
10 nave the wealthiest nor the poorest
members OF the congregation in the
cuolri out 1t Is important that the ele-
ment OF which it is composed be caIcu.
Iated to tavorably represent the church
"hen occasion demands it. Sucb a
condition of things, as suggested
makes the choir indispensable to the
welfare ofthe church; its members are
always In their places: their valuable
services materially aid in revival /
work; by the bedside of the sick their
usefulness may also be felt. In few |
words the choir, as it should be. is a |
consecrated one, whose hearts. as we'll
rs voices, make melody unto the
LORD" Many instances NAV be cited
oi cholrs approaching very near the
standard just given it often occnrs
lo"efer' that the material for such
'nolr Is not to be found in the church.
renee the alternative of procuring helm
'utslae she church. In many cases a
aiarled choir is rather a necessity than
. choice. ma"
While the social features and renre.
elements of the choir shonId
'e considered, it is also quite well
o Z, keep IN view the fact that the osten.
iOie purpose OF the choir is to sing tn
laKe music. II is grand mistake tn :
ntertain the idea that the conoreoa1 {
lou y Is without nerves, and incapable
l discriminating between harmony
nu ulscOrd. l will venture to assert
nat many who read this article can
all TO mind services originally in. I
ended for divine worship deveIon into
gloomy, restless. and proftlass meet
= oGcause OF the bungling efforts of
loughtless and discordant choir
no Oest singers in the charch are y
u Always members of the choir. but p
icy should be. The desperate at. I
'mpts to produce music fiom some
appropriate tune, without regard to q
thef rhyme or rhythm, expression i
'Pendent entirely on the lung capac. a
!, OF the singers ~, or the brilliant +
loTIS OF the operate choir. whose n
uSic Is entirely controlled by the .
ndante and Allegro, will render but =
ne or no assistance to a church who 7
Ouid make "a joyful noise unto the !,
a cholr singer cannot know too :,
uch ABOUT music. Many have not n
{ advantage of a musical education ~
Il all may Sing in the spirit" Heart h,
rNlce IN song is essential. e.peciaIlv ~
rendering sacred music. some If
e best chOirs in the country have =;
= limited knowledge of music. u,
good voice, ordinary common sense Il,
q q the exercise of little judgment "
II, II work wonders in singing. f,
ne benefits to a church to be de- =,
'ed from good choir, whether com. n
sea OF salaried singers or not. are in m
Iculable. TO sing the Gospel of 70 70
Tlst IN the spirit is to proclaim if. be
q souls may be saved through the IN
'trumentality of such a. choir, The -
Il effects Off bad choir are beyond M
T conception. 1t will drive Deonle 20
IN the church. and make the SER -.
'es almost intolerable. The inbar-
'hlOus screeches of incompeteDt
gers, and the bitter envvings and
lousles between aspirants for lead.
or prominent positions in the choir
not tend to make it particularIv sla
tent for good, and is not much nse or,
4Nach NiluCI temporarily | trg
rltualiy. Such a piece ofmacbinerv VIC
the church is a hinderance to the Ar
'ancement Of Gods work. an
t is safe to say that many churches de-
o are looking about them for the bv
lse of small attendance at the pub- fec
services, lack of zeal on part of tbe me
mbership, and inability to draw in Tb
young people, although the mil for
are filled by able and eloouent TO
achers might locate much of the sci
16le by observing the influence of tho
choir from both a musical and so. ass
standpoint. - ~ fer
q some instances small choirs are mes
med advisable; in others, a large me
noeF of singers is considered ne mi,
'ary. Be that as it may, let us bv On
means have good singing. In this fav
no church need be without good rur
SIC. In considering the great ones anC
!, How to get up a revival ?n Chi
lid it not be well to consider how
m Ill L