The Portland daily press., 1896-10-22

ferred TO the fact that there had been In
America but one attempt TO raise the
musical taste of the people, and that was
the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which
even now in its fifteenth year is run at
a deficit of 100000. While he would
not condemn or Danish utterly those
crude old tunes which were made SO
dear by the memories of childhood, yet
the preacher should endsavor to raise
the taste of his people. At least once o
month the preach er should give out one
hymn to tune of high GLASS composition.
He did mean one of the compositions
of Dudley Buck and his class, good as
they were. but compositions by the great
English masters like Barnby, Smart,
Dyke, Sullivan and Hopkins, or the
American masters, Chadwick and
Parker.
OF course there would be difficulty in
getting proper rendering Of this high
class music by organist and choir; and
much labor and patience would be
require to bring about such useful and
desirable reform.
and Prof. Lewis was loudly applauded.
Rev. DR.. Fl. l. Cushman, of the First
Church of Providence Rhode Island,
next spoke Of the worship portion of the
church service He thought there. was
absent to q marked degree the spirit of
worship. The people are too much
hearers and too little participants. The
days are past when the people go to the
churches for instruction or for musical
entertainment. The papers and opera
houses both instruct and entertain, and
the speaker suggested that this might
had withdrawn entirely from the
churches. The idea of worship must be
revived in the hearts of people. The
people should participate mure in the
service. He would not rule out
individual prayer, but he would use
more of the grand collects of the
centuries. As to music. the people,
while they perhaps may not always be
required to sing themselves, should hear
music which they can understand, such
as the beautiful ancient hymns and
chants. A much larger use of liturgical
forms in all our churches is desirable.
The Book of Prayer, with It's beautiful
prayers, its poetical responses, Is the
religious ssmanual of the Anglo-Saxon
race.
A spirit of worship does not come up
at the dictate of duty. 1t is spontaneous
in the heart. And liturgic forms offer
suitable expression for these sponta
as drill in Christian thinking has NJ
equal. 1t is especially useful in getting
theological truth fixed in the hearts OF
the young. The liturgical method OF
worship was superior to the prayer
meeting method.
A general discussion following, Rev.
DR.. Henry Blanchard spoke of the
magnificent address Of Prof Pierce. One
thing had occurred to him, however,
and that was that in making the worship
of Christ SO prominent the effect had
) been to draw away somewhat from the
idea of Godl In the words of President
Hyde, OF Bowdoin, the theology of the
, future was to be Denoentric rather thar
, Christooentric. DR.. Blanchard alst
spoke in commentator of the addresses
Of Prof. Lewisand DR.. Cushman.
Others spoke. Prof. Pieroe's papel
{ receiving much attention in tn,
discussion.
LIBERALS VS.. CONSERVATIVES
The meeting of the alumni of Tuft
Divinity school early yesterday afternoon
was neither protracted nor particularly
, lively; but action was taken which MAJ
have in 1t future developments Of grea
interest TO the Cniversalisr denomina
ton. The Congregational church is no
G the only one that has in it two conflict
: ing parties. The UniyersaIists have ais,
their Conservatives and Liberals. A
usual In such cases the Liberals are prob
, ably characterized by greater mum Der
or at least by greater activity, while th,
a Conservatives are intrenched In place
f power and resources. AS in the Congre.
gational denomination, the contest
centres about the theological schools
I and in the action taken at the meeting
of the alumni the action taken related t,
i Tufts divinity school. about two chair
in this school there is a controversy, tn
chairs Of New Testament theology, ant
a Old Testament theology. Until recent.
the Old Testament chair was occupied b.
Prof. A. B. Curtis. The New TestameD
chair Is Occupied by Prof. George NJ
Harmon. Prof. Harmon is a conEerva
tive. Prof. Curtis is a liberal, and on
of the younger men of the faculty. Whel
> the hard times came on, and it wa
q found necessary to dispense with SOM
professor, the sacrifice fell upon Prof
Il Curtis. The liberals did not like this
q and they have lnboIed for his reinstate
Il ment. At the alumni meeting Prof
Curtis's case was the principal bushes
- considered, and it was finally referred t.
4 the executive committee. This reference
. prevented the MATTER from being carries
/ further to the consideration of the New
n Testament chair. Prof. Harmon is