The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-02-05

| decided unanimously and we must be care.
ful how we speak on this point, for what is
called trash by some, may seem very beall-
tiful to others. There is much i'm religious
poetry that must be spiritually discerned a.
truly as Gods word itself Not all hymns
have the same mission. There are hymns
OF prayer and of exultation and others that
express the IOngings of the Christian heart
Of this latter class is the one
"Oh to be nothing nothing,
Only TO lie at His feet"
which has been by many people condemned
to the waste basket, but which nevertheless
10 hosts OF Christians is hymn of wonder
ful beauty. Ii we take the first line only
we seem to be asking that we may be a
nonentity, which of course would be posi-
lively wrong, but In adding the second line
we see the meaning of tho first and when
we haye finished its reading we find the de-
sire expressed to be in harmony with the
teaching OF our Saviour, viz, giving up of
self, which Is necessary before we can be
used for the Master. The ''broken and
contrite heart' must come first. Gods glory
in our lives will then and not till then fol-
low. Congregations may not be rOu ed to en-
thusiasm by its use that is not its mission.
but vast audiences have been moved to tears
while 1t was sung in the same spirit in
which 1t was written, by such men as IL.
.Thane Miller and w. f. Sherwin, and many
hearts echoed the words
"Yet low in the dust I'd lay me,
That the world might my Saviour see."
Our friend Parkill says he likes to ''sing
songs that fill man with love-" which at
nrst thought prOvOkes smile, but il we
read through the lines he admires and get
the true idea of what he likes i'm song SER
vice, everyone will say his selections are of
the best. But IL we consider only the first
line of his favorite hymn is there not danger
| that we be mised in searching for the true
| lOngings of his heart?
The selection of music for choir use is an
| important and perpeXing task. The kind
hest relations should exist between the
minister and choir and they should always
be ready to strengthen his arm and work i'm
harmony with him. and the music from the
opening organ voluntary to the closing
hymn should help to waken wOrshipful
thoughts and be vehicle with which to
convey the praise and prayer of the congre-
cation, and there is no need at the present
| time to use any other.
The octave editions of sacred music now
published on both continents is a great boon
to church chOirs, as for few cents we can
| get the very best productions of the greatest
musicians of the day. The English editions
are lower in price but heavier in style and
as rule American congregations prefer
American music. AS long as we have such
masters as Buck, Shelley and Others we can
keep abreast with the world and it is un-
| necessary to resort to the "handspike" style
so much in vogue few years ago.
lt must not be supposed that the choir
holds position of unmiXed joy, for really
we have great trials. If the pew wakes up
on Sabbath morning with headache, or if
the hat Is out of season it is ample excuse
| for staying at home, but weather, hats or
headaches have no control over church
choirs, and with Spartan fortitude they
must be on hand and on time, and no eX-
| cuses are valid except death and weddings.
ChOirs are often subjected to unpleasant
criticism when they are doing their wo k
faithfully and conscientiously for Chrst's
sake. TO be sure choirs do not always sing
well, but 1t would be q remarkable thing to
find congregation that could sing better
than its choir and very doubtful if the
critics themselves, organized and drilled,
would often do better
No one can question the scriptural
authority for church choirs, and when we
read about the singing of the choir at the
dedication of the temple, Ill ChrOn. 5, we
| feel sure that once at least God set His sea
of approval upon it. With such authority
for existence, let us look there for support
and comfort. Some one once said the mos
comforting text of scripture was ''Griu
and bear it," but if we can't find consolation
i'm those very words we can fall back upOi
l Peter 2, 20, as well as Matt. 5, 10.
a. T.. FERRY.