The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-13
DEFRAUDED OF THEIR RIGHTS.
A Strong Plea for Congregational Sing
ing in Churches.

THE people are being defrauded of their
musical rights said distinguished En-
slish cathedral organist, a dozen or more
years ago, in describing the state of pub
lie worship in many parish churches,
whose choirs had appropriated to them
selves more than their share of the privi-
leges of common praise.
To-day an American visiting England
would find il hard to reconcile so sweep
ing statement with the present condi-
ton OF congregational singing there; for
the Grst thing which would attract his
attention in any weH-hlled parish church
land most of them are well-flled) would
be the CHEEKY vigor and unmistakable
enjoyment with which the people enter
into the service, whether choral or not
The lost rights" have been regained very
largely through the unfagging zeal. and
steady powerful influence of the clergy,
under whose efforts the movement in fur
therance of the hearty service has
broadened and deepened, until of late
the choir5 have been pouring out bitter
complaints of what a recent writer some
what Historically calls "a rabid and
rampant congrcgationalism, which in
sists that ii is being robbed" every time
the choir sings something in which the
people cannot join" One is inclined to
wish that some of the virus Of this par
ticular form of rabies might be brought
here for inoculating purposes; for the dis
tingulshing mark Of most American con-
eregations is the Indifference and list
lessness with which they Ego through"
service. What is the reason for thisP Are
church-goers being defrauded of their mu-
steal rights? 1t is very easy to bring such
charges against organists and choirs. but
we believe that in the majority of cases
the facts would not support them. The
unpleasantly cold truth is, that people do
not sing in church because they do not
Hfgh 40 AaI
choir sei2es upon the peoples part of
the service for It's own especial use and
glorihcation, and the congregation stands
idly by and suffers it, who is to blaneq
To whom are the choristers responsibIe7
To the rector, and. through him, to the
people. Does any one happen to know a
rector VINO is opposed to good mot bad1
congregational singing, in its proper Mace
In the service? Is not hearty warm
tull-toned service at once the admiration
and the despair of most of the clerey2
Would any musician have the temeritv
to persist IN the endeavor TO thwart the
wishes Of those set over him in autboritv
in so important natter BY no means.
In the most Of such cases. the service
has been absorbed by the choir by piece
meal the firm and decided delivery Of a
few voices being found to be preferable
Gin spite of Its perfuuctorness TO the
feeble mumblinss from the pews II IS
'i' idltHl bA lhlllEA 10 near n COugTpga-
ton SAY or sing" the amens and resDon-
SEES with any sort of vigor If a newly
landed Englishman enters a church here
and begins TO make himself heard as he
has been brought up to do at home he
viii in all likelihood find himself the tar
get for battery of glances, shruRs and
Whispered comments, as though he were
a disagreeable intruder, and after a few
such experiments his vocal praise be-
comes as feeble as that Of his neighbors
The choral amen from the small choir is
better than the unwilinRly muttered word
from the great congregation, 80 the rector
orders the choir to sing the amens The
Improvement is marked. and the vcrslcles
and responses are added The people VIII
not read the alternate verses of the
psalms, except sporadiCaly and htfuIlv
and they are next handed over. Then
comes the choral litauy-and behold the
'fraud' is complete. The people have
lost the sorvico' the choir have taken II
all Whose fault is it2
The door which bars tho way 10 con-
gregational singing has double lock