The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-05
ALL ABOUT MUSIC.
Episcopal Club Dis
cusses the Hymnal
of the Church.
Some Deride and Others
Uphold the InSti-
tuition.

The Episcopal church hymnal was
discussed in all its various phases last
night at the semi-annuaI banquet of
the Episcopal Club Of Worcester, held
at the Bay State House.
Prof. H. W. Parker, Yale, professor
Of music, was most scathing and severe
In his treatment of the hymnal while
Or. Charles L. Hutchns, who edited
the music of the hymnal. defended it
in as equally strong terms
1t was an interesting debate, if it
may so be treated, between the two
speakers, and 1t was to be deplored
that Prof. Parker could not wait to
hear the other side of the question
the defence of the hymnal by DR..
Hutohins.
The banquet Of the club was attended
by considerable over a hundred people,
q, good portion Of the members Of the
organization being present The party
sat down to the tables at $50 o'clock
and an hour later, Senator Charles G.
Washburn, president Of the club in q
few words, introduced Prof. Parker.
The speaker said: Music and relig-
lon have not grown apart, but the
church has suffered from false ideas,
ana IN COOSGAu6iiC CuulN lA ILUsAS has
been reduced to a mediocrity.
The present hymns are not the most
artistic, but perhaps the most satisfac~
tory. In order to have the full force and
benefit, the hymns must be simple,
quite simple in fact, not didacttc.
nor should they express subtle mean
tngs. The hymns of our ancestors are
dry but they seem to have possessed
the origin OF life and perpetuity, which
l. ,a
writer of modern hymns seems to have
gone astray after false gods, but he
may get back to the higher develop
ment soon. Our best tunes come from
Germany, and many Of our worst from
home.
Our church music is strikingly weak
and I enter a vigorous protest against
the mediocrity displayed in the hymn
ala. The evil is real one and remedy
rs demanded. The church is placed in
bad position because 1t may seem TO
sanction the hymnaL
During the address Prot Parker IL
lustrated many Of his points, those or
technical nature especially, by the
use OF the piano, and it was in this way
that the denunciations Of the present
church hymnal was made specially
noticeable.
Prof. Parker was obliged to leave i'm
mediately after his discourse, Dr.
Hutchins was then introduced and took
the other and decidedly complimentary
view of the hymnal.
Our hymnal to my mind, he said, is
a good one, and one which the church
can be satisfied with 1t is as good
as any collection in the United States
The point has been raised that there
are TOO MANY hymns People should
have what they like best If they de-
sire choraIs, let them have them, or II
they like Moody and Sanlly, let them
have them
Tunes are not written for the mu-
scian or the clergymen, but for the
people. But the rule of correctness IN
tunes must be insisted upon. Some
musicians regard hymn improving as
an amusement, but you may be sure
that some of our best were written with
as much devotion as clergymen write
their sermons.
After the speaking, brief meeting Of
the council of the Episcopal club was
held, at which an adjournment was
taken to Wednesday evening the 18th.
Among those present We're:
J. W. Young, John e. Morse, A. -
Richardson, S. B. Clark, Albert j..
Booth, Alfred H. Booth, G. 4 Smith,
Mrs. G. A. Smith. Miss G. J. Whitcomb
Hslleck Bartlett, Charles A. Merrill,
Mrs. Charles A. Merrill. H. Hague, II.
D. Hague, Stephen G. Earle, James H.
Cafferty. Emma A. Pratt, DR.. Alexan-
der H. Vinton, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Lancaster, Francis A. Mushen, Annie
T. Brand, Miss Minnie E. Anderson,
Miss Ada L. Mushen, Edmund NJ. Bar
ton, J. Vernon Butler, Charles II.
Grant Miss A. L. Nichols, Louis b..
Booth. Mrs. Louis E. Booth, Miss Dix
on, Edith Montgomery Dixon, Ella.
Lilly Taft, Margaret vickery, Eva c.
Travers, Mrs. F. H. Mason, Carrie G.
B. Calvin, Grace Viola Bliven, Edith
A. Barton, Marie L. Easton, Margaret
Lowell, Luther NJ. Lowell, Mrs. L. M:
Lowell, William f. Collins, David
Armitage, Benjamin Whitmore Jr',
Walter F. Brown, Alice NJ. Jackson and
Joseph jackson.