New-York tribune., 1893-12-24
A MUSICAL ABOMINATION.

AN AMERICAN HYMN SUNG IN 4 FOREIGN TUNE.
To the Editor OF the Tribune
Sir; The fact that tn, exercises attending the
recent unveiing of the statue to Nathan Hale were
marked by the singing OF the English national ar
God Save the King" although 10 DIR. Smith
well-known hymn My Country 'Tis OF Thee,
has called forth adverse criticism In seVerai quar-
ters and It would seem deservedly so. Sucn sing
ing on such occasion. seems most incongruous
from any point of view. Here was one put to death
for attempting TO serve hts country In the precise
way he did and under most cruel and unusual cir
cnstances-beng denied the offices OF religion ana
any communication with the outside world even 70
the destruction of letters OF farewell contain
Ing his messages of love-and the national air OF
those who put him TO death was sung at the un-
yelling of his statue The incongruous can scarcely
go further.
Nor Is 1t to the point to say that the hymn was
dstinctively American hymn; rather 80 much the
worse, for why should American hymn be
welded to English music and rhe English national
air that? Is II not time this anomaly was done
away with? For this absurdity We have to thank
hymn-book makers. for have yet to discover
one hymna containing this hymn whore 1t is not
welded to God Save the King" Are. then, our
musical resources so limited that when we want
to sing Ca American hymn must sing IT to
CT English national air? | trow not. The truth
ia. there is excuse for this solecism. The late
Lowell Maron wrote nn admirable. II not very
''Dort." which carries simple pleasing melody:
Then there IS Giard mis- beautiful Italian Hymn.
generally sung to the hymn Come Tnou, Almighty
King" This last is not a national hymn and could
be properly u$cd-lnythng but TO borrow from the
English. whom our fathers fought. their national
air sing In commemoration Of one OF the VIC
Tins OF British cruelty.
Let me here and make appeal TO all
offensive incOngruity ont OF the hymn books and
keep Il out OF the new on"s. An organl.t, whom l
need not name. recently engaged In n church OF q
neighboring city drew the attenton of his musical
committee and Of good many In the audience
by play ylng and causing his choir to sing another
tune Or. Smiths hymn when II was given out by
the pastor anrnt Fourth OF Juiy sermon. Asked
VIII he made the change he replied that. though
German born. he now American. ana when
n" could supply other music than that OF the
English national anthem to sing 10 a dstiIctlvely
American patriotic hymn he would give up his
organ and MS profession too. And yet this most
absurd feature IS Witnessed in churches throughout
the country; not only sO but In our public schools
the American boy and the American girl are taught
to perpetuate the abomnation
\ word moro. The writer was present at the pier
ai c0ncy Island one day last summer as steam
boat about leaving. lust the lines were
cast on two distinguished Engllshmen stepped
aboard. Tho band At the moment struck up
America" The English gentlemen thereupon lifted
their hats Very likely they thought themselves eX
peciay honored What harm In It? None Ger
tainly. only 81 this time of the especial attempts
made to cultvat" the spirit Of patriotism by the
display OF "O1 Glory and the singing Of patriotic
songs. 1t is well TO look TO it that our national melo
dies are all right our hymns may safely be left
TO the guardianship OF our patriotic American poets
MARSHAL H. BRIGHT.
TarrytOWn. Y Y Dec 3 lsq3