The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-01-29
AN INTEREsIING CASE

The saints and sinners of Blandford,
Mass, are having an enjoyable time. 1t
grows out of one of those rare cases of
trouble in the choir. 1t seems that the
chOrister of the NJ. L. church had held
his position for long time and had nat
urally grown to think that the voice Of
music would be hushed when lie should
expire. In an unluCky day the members
of that church called for congregational
singing. They bounced the chorister
and took new leader. The bounced
chorister stepped down from his lofty
height and merged himself into the CON
gregatiOn. He became an inscplrable
part of it and in so doing he retained his
right to sing. Everybody has right to
sing where congregational singing is put
on the programme. 1t Is true that all
caunot sing, but all have right to sing,
and rights carry corresponding duties.
1t is, sometimes, good plan to sing
even if one doesn't know how, 70 it
helps fix attention off the sweet music
of other voices. If one does not like
this kind Of music it is just the kind of
music one does not like. But our Choir
lister awaited himself of his privilege.
He sang. If reports are correct he sang
more than the occasion seemed to war
rant. He carried his duties beyond his
rights. He became the central figure of
that worshipful assembly. All the 9th
ers were overshadowed, if voice can be
said to cast shadow. He not only sang
but he beat time with his feet. He
seemed determined to sing with the
voice. and with the understanding also.
1t Jared upon tine senslbili les of his
neighbors. He took sheepskin rug
with the wool on to church to soften his
footballs This did not bring peace
The minister spoke a soft word. 1t con.
centrated wrath. No minister, with a
level head, will undertake to regulate the
choir. 1t is safer to handle dynamite
cartridges. Well, this Blandford affair
ended with an outing, All hands went
down to Westfield to try the effects OF
the law on the gospel, 1t appears from
testimony drawn out that the church
had been In state of commotion for an
indefinite period. The presiding elder
swore that he was troubled to keep a
minister on that field. Now the above
is an account of an affair that either took
place or did not take place. If it didnot
take place then it is a libel upon church
chOirs, If it did take place then it dis
Vi StS MllNN wv lNNC llllllNl w lNENlNCA IT.
an impossible state of affairs. We did
not suppose that church choirs would
undertake to work in harmony and dis
cord. We have always known that the
effort to change chOristers was some
thing like trying to change governors in
Nebraska, or presidents i'll Il South
American republic. 1t has come to our
ears in vague sort of way that churches
have been shaken from the centre to the
rim by the ObstreperOusness of some one
or more of the component parts of which
a church choir is composed. There is
probably no singer who does not cunsid-
er himself fully equal to the task of run
ming the music OF C urcb. 1t may
sometimes occur to the chorister that ii
the minister was only out of the way
melody would flow unhrnken, 1t some
times occurs to the minister that if his
choir was little more sanity he would
entertain higher q isurln;e of hearing
it in the glad hereafter But these
things are only incidental to form OF
life where there is an immense amount
of friction. We cannot believe that
church chOirs are predispOsed to make
trouble 1t is said that singers are SEN
sitive-some think more sensitive than
sensible. In scientific terms we regard
them as altruistic rather than egoistic.
Each one thinks more about what the
other fellow ought to do than about
what he ought to do himself. But this
is not peculiar to church choirs. A row
with choir in church is next thing TO
circus. Neither are conducive to wor-
snip. 1t is more agreeable to stand and
look Oh than it is to be mixed up in it.
A row with choir is apt to continue
like "A Southern vendetta. If there are
any grandchildren to take it up it will be
heard from along the ages, Some are
prone TO doubt if death ends all-chOir
troubles. What Is the remedy? Some
have supposed that we could get along
without choirs. But this is impossible.
Without cholrs there could be no re-
hearsals. Without rehearsals social life
would be dull. Without choir there
would be no organ, aud without. an or
gan there would be no need of sOciables
to raise money with which to keep an
organ in repair. Without these sOciables
we might as well give up living. Things
would be fearfully monOtOnOus, Bnt if
we have chOirs we must have choir lead
ers. If VIC have these we must take our
chances with all kinds of disasters. 1t
has been suggested that the minister be
dropped. But some have doubts about
leaving it to a chorister. TO run the
church. This is one difficulty. Choris-
tiers are usually fixture. Their staying
qualities are not determined by salary.
A minister can be shut OIL at any time by
dropping his pay, This places the min
lister at disadvantage. We don't see any
remedy. The disease must be left TO
work itself out. When they get through
at Blandford there will be time for So
cial study.-HerdM d NeirS.