New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-28
and half; and the friends Of the new Dill may
safely profit by that experience.
QUESTION or WIDTH.

QUESTION or WIDTH
The number Of human complications ie'0n.'
ireritv Notwithstanding that since the ne-
ginning of time questions toucning h'n''n
nations have constantly arisen, new ones almost
daily come to the surface OF the Vaso h u.
Of life This is especially the case in Scranton
pnoollvn and othcr centres of disturbance; ahd'
.s ,bo cIoso render of The Tribune must nave
observed the agitation in Brooklyn frequently
oxtonds 70 the rest of Long Island. But WIN
would have supposed that this or any other III
auenco would have made the little town OF pc',
moro the birthplace of what we may capi'si-
;zo nc an Important Question:? Yet such Is 'ne
fact ,,h;ra
The new question which the fresh cohoin"-
,ior in human life raises in Bollmore Is 'ni'
How wide may minister open MS mou"
bo sings? Perhaps the question should NC pu
How wide may Presbyterian minister opI" :,
mouth when he sings? But we suspect O.''
may stand as we first stated it ana mus oo Az
n,,oraI ,rnIication For we presume t'ao 'he
fact that the little church III ;s
more in which the inquiry mas aii'.n ,IJ
PRESBYTERIAN made difference, ana ,hau ~ w.
ta,,. oome nm if it had bcen Baptist, Oh
Methodist, or an Episcopallan churcn III n',o,,
cords wc fancy that q Congregational Oh Du'0"
Reform minister may not open Ills nou'n
no sings any wider than Presbyterian. II We
am nnco establish the gauge for Presbyterian
ministers. it will apply to all other ministers
p,. tho difficulty is to say what shall he tie
ma yimum since the question has never before
been raised ~
Tho sudden revelation that there was ho
ministerial standard for mouth opening whie SHY
ino came about through argos preferred against
the Rev James Hall, OF the BcIlmore fresoyeri"i
Church by Miss Mary Baldwin and others OIL
the congregation as already noted IN Inc 1ripu"e
new, columns Mr.. Hall was cAOneraled W 'h'
Presbytcry. but has nevertheless gwen III hiS
resignation to take effect May !. AlSS baio"ii
has long taught Sunday-schooi CLASS III .'
church. and from the first has iels thae MI
Hall was not handsome minister do Doi4"ioi.
deserved; and especially has she opJec'cu " "Ha'
She considered the ridiculous eXtens 10 Which, '"7
rovercnd Gentleman throws open his mouth when
leading the singing. Mr.. Hall is graduate oil
yole and nreached successfully in Ncw-JeiseJ De-
fore going to Hellmore but notwithstanding thls
Miss Baldwin found many IN the congregation "
share her views AS mere matter OF recolu' an
that there may bc question OF clear unuci-
standing of tie case, we may add tlat ol' nun
Is thirty-ve years old ana married. ana 'hlV
Miss Baldwin il said TO he several-we believe
some ten or perhaps hItccH- Se"io "A'Ni '
Hall. 1t should be kept in mind, however, ula'
tbis in no way disqualics the lady fof Being an
excellent iudec of ministerial beauty either Ill
leposc or while agitatcd 10y vocal Efforts
or course the only question Of the least impor-
lance is the one first put as TO singing "lu'H
Unfortunately for the success Of our inquiry, we 10
NOT know how wide Mr. Hall does open his mouth
We do not feel like attempting to lay down any
hard and fast rule as \ minister should not open
his mouth more than four inches when singing
or. No minister when singing ought to extend Ms
mouth above six inches; but If we knew MI
Halls width we hight venture the opinion as 70
whether or not he had touched the limit. Liter
allure on the subject is Of course lacking, Du'
va believe that modern instances may be cited
There is, let us say, the Rev. MI lalnagc, OF
Brooklyn We have statistics concerning
his practice in this regard, but we are under the
impression that Mr.. Tamase has long insisted
on and and been accorded, the right 10 open his
mouth a. wide as he peases, whether singing OK
speaking. Nor does Mr.. Talmage make any foolish
claims as to personal beauty Still, lie holds his
position and continues TO attract great crowds by
his cloauence But, on the other hand, Mr.. ldl-
maze may not have the opening capacity OF MT
Hall. though on this point we should insist on
direct proof But the inquiry appears to be fruit
less as we suspected II would be, without further
facts That there should bc limit in this line
established for ministers by some person or body
i'm authority seems clear. In the meantime. II
would seem TO he well if Miss Baldwin and her
friends could give their ideas as TO the precise
extent TO which a minister may open his mouth
without mpairing his spiritual usefulness.