The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-02-26
SUNDAY IN new YORK.
SERMONS OF EMINENT DlvlNEs.
The Music Rendered by the Church
AgH-3 Choir.
BY DIR. P. M. BARTLETT.

a Choir.
By DIR. Pm. BARTLETT.
During the four Sundays we
were In the city we heard no one
preach two sermons. We gener-
ally attended three services each
day and heard distinguished men
Of five denominations of Christians.
MUSIC.
This of course was good. Gener.
ally the choirs were quartets. In
Madison Square Presbyterian
church there was q double quartet
and the singing was superb. But
the choirs do not do all the singing.
The three hymns are generally
sung to tunes familiar to many Of
the audience who join the quartet
In praising God in song. And it is
noticeable that they are not too
sluggish to get up on their feet and
thus stand up and praise the Lord.
One could not help thinking Of the
prevailing sitting attitude in so
many OF our Tennessee churches.
Think of a choir sitting down like
stone statues as they lead q New
York audience in sacred song!
We do not see the minister In.
Producing the services by announc-
ing q hymn. DoxOlogies are sung
and prayers of invocation are Offer
ed as the first appropriate acts In
holy worship.
The services in many Presbyte-
ran churches are interspersed with
reading the Scriptures responsibility
and we hear the congregation re-
peat the Lords Prayer in unison
with the minister. No longer do
we see the people sitting passively
through the whole service, like
"dumb dogs that cannot bark
They read and sing and pray audi
bly, together. It stirs ones soul at.
~SdXgd vs. praise W hsss ~ much
singing-eight times in some Of
old Dutch churches. They do not
think, in such churches, it is derog'
atOry to the sacred services Of Gods
house, as it has been in our town
to sing praises to God when the
congregation is giving in its regu
lar Sabbath offerings.
You say, Sewing our money il
an act of worship and our devotion
should not be distracted by tn
choir" We should like to know
what you call sacred songs? Wha
do you call that grand "Glory be tt
the Father, etc. ?" A man who 1
disturbed in his giving by hOl!
choruses, may be sincere Chris
tian, but he is to be pitied. Tn
hymns are sung rapidly-not tina
you think they wish to get through
in a hurry, but you are convince'
they have discovered the real ma
ture of devotion in song. Soul
kindled with love are not wont t
be sluggish. How often we wis
to give the leaders Of singing
shake and say to them in the Ian
gusge Of the hymn, any drows
powers why sleep We SOP" Wax
up brethren, the millennium |
coming!
The services In many churche
were imposing and grand on Christ
mas day. Some of the majesti
houses were beautifully decorate
and the singing was inspiring. w
planned to spend the morning {
Christmas in st. Patrick Cathedrs
(Catholic) but as they required
fee of fifty cents each for desirs
BILE seat, we left the stately edific
and went further along on the mas
nificent avenue to st. Thoms
EpiscopaD church, and thong
crowded we were given an eligibl
seat. This is one of the grandes
houses of worship in New Yorl
DR.. Brown, the pastor, gave US a
excellent sermon delivered wit
OratOrical power. He is the BET
speaker l ever heard in the Episct
pal pulpit. Much superior to tn
Bishop we heard in ST. Barthol(
meu's church, where some of tn
Vanderbilt family worship.
SERMONS.
These were good, but not man
of them would l call great effort
There seemed not the least appear
ance of any wish to conceal tn
truth or to pacify the slumberin
consciences of guilty men. Som
were searching discourses. On