The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-17
CONGREGATIONAL
SINGING.
The Movement Being Success
fully Introduced Here.
St. James Catholic Church Of the Mission TAX
ing the Initiative - The Plan of
Action and It's Effects.

While not by any means an innovation in
the Roman Catholic Church, congregational
singing has been but very little practiced
For many years number Of the larger
churches throughout Europe have used it
with great success in their services, Br0mp-
ton Oratory, one Of the largest churches in
London. making it a special feature. Its in
PRODUCTION into America, however, is but OF
a recent date, not more than year ago, and
even now but little is known of it outside of
a few congregations in New York and Phila-
delphia.
Rev. Alfred Young of the Paulist order
in New York is the father of the movement
in this country. and very energetic parent
he has proved himself. Through his efforts
the subject was brought I'D in the councils
of the Baltimore Cathol Centennial Con-
gress, where it received the sanction and
hearty commentator of the leaders of the
church in America. He then contrib
uted series of articles to the Cath
Ollie World. a semi-official church magazine.
wherein he presented his plea and reasons
for its adoption by every church in the
country. So successfully did he argue his
case that a number of the most influential
Catholic journals took up the question and
now are endeavOrlng to secure the fulh IL
ment of the lroject.
PRACTICABLE.
According to the best authorities, eongre-
gatiOnal singing has long shown Itself to be
| practicable. Wherever the attempt at its
| introduction has been made success has
| always crowned the effort. 1t has been
| common objection that but few members of
| any congregation would sing, but the falacy
| of this view has been proven whenever the
| test has been made, While not able TO sing
| difficult music, yet there are very few per
sons who cannot attempt the simple hymn.
| Again, experience has long shown that any
| body possessed of the power of speech can
| add what even might be a crude musical
| tone to the general volume which would be
| nodded and controlled by the good singers,
| of whom there are many IN every congrega-
| ton. Song can thrill the least enthusiastic,
| and the celebration OF any national event
would never be complete without the rem
| dering of the hymn of the nation. On such
| occasions many who could not sing alone
raise their voices in the emotion and sur
| prise even themselves at the discovery OF
| dormant power.
Such was tho reasoning of Father Young,
| and he further declared that if the power Of
vocal music was so strong as to present such
| powerful plea to mans more worldly feel
| ings why should it not be used as means OF
| increasing his devotion to Him whom all
! nations honor? To substitute the psalm
| and hymn for the congregational prayer, in
/ the general opinion, would increase the de-
votiOn and make the services more interest
| ing to the attendants.
| In this city the idea has been heartily in
/ dorsed by large number Of the clergy, but
as yet only one congregation has taken up
| the plan TO endeavOr to fully carry 1t out.
| ST. James Church, located at TweDty-thlrd
| and Guerrero streets, in the Mission, has
taken the initiative. About the 1st of April
Rev. z. r. Lynch, the pastor, organized Il
choir, composed of the young people of the
congregation. These he placed in the
charge of Edward j. COffey, young man
| much interested in the movement After
few rehearsals of about ten hymns the
| young people opened the evening dev0ti0ns
held during the month of May in honor of
the mother Of God. Every evening during
the first half of the month the service OF
song was repeated. So impressive was the
grand chorus that many in the body OF the
| church could not resist the infectious mel
Ody and added their voices to the volume OF
sound, while emotion moved many to tears
BY THE CoNGREG ALTON.
So successful was this effort that those at