The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-23

! Fe keep true they were. But after
that long period OF expectancy some woman
bonnet to her neighbour proceeded TO preach
/ the word. 1t was then that the suppressed
daughters of music lifted up their voices
and as the rich. sweet cadences of inn
promptu music fell from her lips there
would come look of quiet satisfaction
/ over the placid countenances of the
brothers and sisters. While. as with a lul-
/ laby the mischevious boy quoted into
Insecticides slumber. assert without fear
/ of successful contradiction that the gift of
song has always existed among US. 1t is
( something of a coincidence that hymn
singing began 10 form part of our wor-
ship the musical accompa nment began it's
departure from pulpit and gallery.
HOW TO USE GIFT OF SONG.
Having the gift of song the question
confronting us is how shall we best use it
to the glory of God in His worship and
service? In the process of change from the
old to the order of things we have
developed the gifts of song in many per-
| sens Some of these are leaders whose
voices are good and true. And, like Jesra-
hiah at the dedication of the temple. after
the return from captivity, they lead
the congregation in song.
But now another phase of the question
presents itself for solution Our children
are generally learning something of the
! technique of music; and in view of this
fact we may well admit that the musi-
| cal sense of our CONGREGATIONS is increas sing
| and is demanding a better class OF sing-s
ing il order to keep in touch with that
| spiritual harmony which is Indicated in
/ the Let all things be done decently and
/ in order The solo has its place. The
/ duet, trio or quartet may have. but l do
beg that we may steer clear Of the church
| choir That which we are in need of now
| IS better congregational singing Strange as
| 1t may seem, this is, too, the same need
Whlch IS being felt in other churches, al
! though the causes leading UP to the need
are very different In our case We have
! never developed the condition. while in the
Others the choir has been allowed to usurp
! the privilege of the congregation. Let us
| not in any way delay our work by falling
! into their error.
Good and proper singing requires some
! knowledge of music which must come by
| study and practice just penmanship
! does, to really sing with the spirit and with
the understanding also. There needs to be
| knowledge of the hymn, careful survey
| of the thought expressed, and of the APP
| plicability of the sentiment or truth. We
need not only to be able to detect discords
in the music. but that which Is of still
| greater Importance we need to be able To
! detect discord in the thought in its rela-
| ton to truth. In short, we need to sing
| really with the spirit and with the under
standing also Each individual for himself.
| We need TO know the hymns we sing
! Guiding words thought and music in
chanical part Of the service, and able to
| apprehend the spiritual sense. AS mat
| ter of fact, this is just what we are fall
ing TO do. As a church we have no
| demand for hymns. We have developed no
| hymn writer's We are compelled to bor-
w. v.
Intoxicated over the delights of expressing
| ourselves in song, we have eagerly taken
| everything which touched our sense or
| truth or Of joyous fellowship at the mo-
ment. Too often have allowed the
| songs of popular religious sentiment to
| sway us to the exclusion of hymns OF
deeper divine truth III which holy worship
may be better expressed.
BORROWED HYMNS.
| Having no collection of hymns of our
| own we have fallen easy prey to the book
maker and seller, and especially the book
selling evangelist, who, with his enthusi-
asm catches us with happy sentiment or
a pleasant jingle without much sentiment
about it. We buy his book and complacent-
ly persuade ourselves that we did it to
help support the gospel 1t happens thus
that we have books almost as various
we have singers Scarcely any two of our
! churches have the same books. The col
| lection known Gospel Hymns has
| been popular among our people but the edi-
! tons and numbers are constantly multi
| plying. We cannot keep pace with them.
! Many of the popular modern collections OF
| songs are quite taking at nrst slgnt ana
| hearing. Soberer moments and the DISPOSE
ton and effort to read and anaiyze brings
! a dawning sense of their absurdity. Too
| often the music itself is taken bodily from
| some opera, comic or otherwise. plead
! for song in worship that shall be rev.
| erential that shall be true 10 the purpose
| and thought Of worship. AS we sing we
may. just as wen be using such hymns as
c0--oo-NN-0--
of the truth as it is in Jesus.
Then we need to use the same hymns
East and West and everywhere. When we
meet in Quarterly Meeting or Yearly
Meeting or General Conference we ought
/ voice of one man. We need a collection Of
| hymns, II short, Friends Hymnal: L
/ confess my sympathy is with the claim
made by our brethren who insist on sing
ing only the Psalms of David or their para
phrase. The sentiment of their song IS
! then at least not inferior to the preacneo
| word. This cannot always be said OF the
hymnal Just how it is to be secured re-
| teal uniformity of action of the body or
Friends. Some of the yearly meetings have
! had the matter under adViSement Some
thing has been done in the way of pointing
out suggested hymns. All, however, have
| with a hone that some measure might be
brought to light which would open the way
Il to the accomplishment OF TINS desirable
The paper was discussed by quite a num-
Der Of the delegates, John r. Pennington,
of Ohio, being first. Mr.. Pennington h0ped
! that some steps might be taken to deliver
| the Friends from much song material now
| used in the churches He said that some
| of these songs were beneath the dignity
| of the church. Thomas Newln, OF oregon,
wanted the songs to contain the wording
| the church. Charles II. Jones' of New Eng
land, thought also that the songs were not
| in harmony with doctrinal views. Mary
! c. Woody, of North Carolina, made use or
! the quotation Give me the right to make
| L
| laws and spoke in favor of the proposed
| hymnal James Wood, of New YORK. sald
! that songs had been introduced or late
/ years without regard to underlying prlncl-
| pies and that singing must stand hkS
/ every other service in meeting lie saiu
| that whatever the spirit of God prompts IS
| in order and that it is not the prerogatYe
| of arv person to say what shall or shall
] not be done in meeting. This remark
| of Mr. Woods elected numerous amenS
! from the delegates 1t was the first
expression of opposition to the pro,
posed hymnaL Continuing, Mr.. Wood
a divine impulse to sing a solo 1t was not
proper for anybody else to come trailing
| in, no more than it would be for any one
| to pray while another is praying or to
! preach while another is preaching. 1t iS
| a violation of Friends principles" said
| he for any one to get up and say We
| will now sing Hymn 309.' 1t is also viola
| ton of these principles to have cnolr
that turns out music like a crank.
He also said that the chief obstacle IN
the way of preparing a hymnal was tnat
it would cost from 5000 to $5,OU IN copy
right charges alone -.
meeting WAS in favor of hynnal ana
moved that a committee be appointed 10
! consist of one from each delegation TO pre-
| pare It, Robert 4. PretlOw SPOKE N IaVor
of the proposition as also did LOUIS stout:
| Mr. Stout said in reply TO Mr.. wood thar
! if any one felt moved by the spirit 10 Az
! the CONGREGATION to join with him IN sing
/ ing HYMN No 300 he certainly would De
acting in accordance with tae principles OK
| a rising vote there being a few. however,
-, - raF,,Sod tn vote either for against il.