New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-28
MUSIC IN THE CHURCHES.
LUTHER INTRODUCED METRICAL PSALM.
ODY. But CALVIN WAS OPPOSED TO 1T.


The following views in regard to church music
are those Of I. V. Flagler. OF Auburn. n. Y:
II was not until the time of the Emperor Con-
part of th 1ee ce Of !9s e
THIS time the lsity joined in ths chanting In sort
organ to keep the congregation in time. There
were no hymnbooks with music and words. Every
thing had to be memorized and taught by ear.
Therefore. In the fourth century IT was expressly
ordained that none but the canons or singing men
musical science was largely confined 10 eccesas-
tics. and was looked upon as the peculiar business
debted for the various inventions Innovations"
as they were called at the time which led to the
foundation OF the magnificent structure we now call
harmony or a combination OF different sounds.
ever existed or was tolerated In any nation or
country before this period. Singing and playing
done In unison. and it is fact that even to-
day the majority Of the human race cannot bear TO
the Auburn Theoosicai Seminary. Who came from
Asia Minor once said 10 me: I'm our country We
do not like to hear two tunes at the same time
He referred to soprano and alto, and tenor ana
bass.
METRICAL PSALMODY INTRODUCED.
It was about the year 1911 that Martin Luther
introduced metrical psamody into the service OF
the church But the ancient airs which Luther
supplied in many instances were originally the
aIIv nollsd oOld Hundred written long before his
time, was French ditty. The Queen Of Henry
sang her favorlte psalm. Rebuke me not In
thcny King OF Navarro sang stand up. 9 Lord.
to revenge my quarrel" a dance tune. This In:
fictitious frenzy OF psalm-singng al length reached
England. and Stemhold enthusiast in tho
Reformation. being much Offended at the lasctvi:
Gus ballads which sung by the courtiers. tried
10 introduce his psalms and have them sung In"
stead OF their vulgar sonnets.
The Genevan reformer. however. pursued an en-
trey different course from Luther. He marked his
hostility Rome by entire rejection OF all tho
usages OF the Roman Catholic Church. Not q
musical instrument allowed within the walls
OF a church in Geneva for more than a century
after the Reformation Wherever the doctrines OK
Calvin were received, every kind Of music was pre-.
scr!bed except his own plain metrcal psamody.
In England, under Cromwell. instrumental music
was not only banlshed from the Church, but In a
large degree also from private families. BY an
ordinance made In 1914 organs In chapels and
churches were ordered 10 be taken down. The
Puritans confessed their light esteem for instru.
mental music. IN prayer to Parliament. they -
auested that all cathedral churches be put down
where the service OF God most grievously
abused by piping with organs. singing, ringing and
trowling Of psalms from side OF the choir TO
the other with the squeaking OF chanting Choir
isters Thus fanaticsm led them 10 believe that
music was an un-Christian recreation Yet their
leader Cromwell. strange 10 say was fond or or
gan music and when the instrument In Magdaien
College was taken down he ordered II 10 be care
fully conveyed 70 Hampton Court where II was
placed In the great gallery. II remained there TIL
the Restoration when II was returned TO Its orgi-
nal owners .
II is a singular fact that. though the Of
music IL prohibited by the Koran. the Koran Itself
ia chi