The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-24
SONGS AS GOOD AS SERMONS.
THAT Is REV. f. #. COOKIES VIEW
OF EFFECTIVE SERVICES.

Bishop CandIer's Opposition to the
singing of Professional Choirs.
He Also Disapproves of Announce
ments From the PuIpit-Mr. Cook
thinks Songs often Do More Good
for Religion Than SermOns-Many
prefer the Song Service to the Ser
mons-Such Services Are Needed
particularly in the City, to Hold
congregations - Wesley Church
VIII StiII Have Printed Pro-
grammes and Music.
Rev. Ed. F. Cook, pastor of Wesley
Monumental Church, does not agree with
bishop Warren A. Gambler in his denun-
eiati1n of professional singing in the
churches The pastor believes that song
is as much or more a means of worship
than sermon, and heartily approves of
making the services as attractive as pos
sbe, knowing that large attendances are
thereby induced, and that the congrega-
uons find greater pleasure in attending
the churches.
1t is very probable that there are many
OF the pastors throughout the state who
do mol July dSIt6 Win liG olSuOps ar
tcularly is this true of those who have
CITY charges, for it is a difficult matter,
ministers say, to hold such congregations
and secure large attendances for the ser
vices unless there is the attraction of
good singing. The sermon is not suf-
fcient.
Sermons are all well enough Mr.. Cook
good Yet such is also true of song. Sac
red HYMNS, he says. are as efficacious in
the work of the church as sermons. The
gospel in song is more palatable to many
and has often more weighty influence
than what is sometimes but the opinion
of the preacher.
The Bishop thinks the greatest stress
OF al should be laid upon the sermon.
That he regards as the most important
feature of the entire service. None could
doubt such a belief in his mind after list
enng to one or two of his discourses, as
they are scarcely ever less than an hour
in length. All preachers are not so gift
ed as the Bishop, lacking his eloquence,
his intellect and his exceptionally pleas
ing personality, and 1t is perhaps well that
all do not agree with him as to the i'm
portance that should attach to sermons as
. part of church services.
1t mas been said that the occasion of
Church last fall had something to do with
arousng his ire against paid choirs and
the devotion of too much of the service
to singing Just before the service at
which he was TO preach was 20 begin he
entered into a short discussion with the
pastor and two or three of the officers of
the church in the room at the rear of the
pulpit The pastor showed him the print
ed programme for the mornings service,
which contains, usually, the names of the
hymns sung by the choir, by soloists and
by the congregations, considerable space
being thereby taken up. The lessons for
the day are also included. The sermon
announcement is but minute in COMPARE
son with all the rest, and the Bishop found
reason for a little jocular complaint about
it. Mr.. Cook said he attached not the
slightest Importance to what the Bishop
had said on that occasion, believing him
to have been INDUCING in a touch of the
humor for which he is noted
That night at Mr.. S. B. Adams, whose
guest the Bishop was, stories were told.
The Bishop told of having been invited to
preach sermon at cornerstone laying.
He accepted, and a printed programme
was sent him. He looked it over and
found that there seemed to be more space
devoted to the singing than to the expect
Cd sermon. The Bishops self-esteem was
somewhat touched He wrote to the man
ayers of the ceremony, saying that he
did not care to become one of the numbers
in musical entertainment.
The Bishops anecdote, Mr.. Cook said,
was not directed at Wesley Church at all
Bishop Gambler was given an opportunity
to shape the service on that occasio as he
might see fit, the pastor turning the pro
eramme over to him and asking that he
make any changes he might see fit. The
Bishop made no change of any import
ance, rearranging the order of the num-
bers, but taking them all in.
Mr.. Cook says Wesley Church has no
more song service than other churches in
the city. He regards what it does have
as very attractive, and has never heard
friend or foe criticise il in any way. 1t
is his earnest belief that the cause of re-
lieion in Savannah is benefited by the in
PRODUCTION of good music into the churches
10 is his constant effort to see that the
music is always pure and chaste breath
ing -hat religion he breaches from his pull
pt No attempt is made to curtail me
CONGREGATIONAL singing, as there are usual
lv but The voluntary and the offertory by
the choir, with sometimes another solo
after the sermon.
The Bishop also disapproves making an
nouucements of meetings from the pulpit
In Wesley Church that is done by means
OF the programme, one of the reasons Tor
which they are printed. The pastor how
ever, does not disapprove of the plan or
announcing religious meetings, believing
that the cause in which they are held JUS
TILES the use of the pulpit for the dis
summation of information regarding them.
Mr. Cook says he does not purpose cut
ing down the musical features of the
services. He regards them as one of the
n'Ids he has upon his people and chai-
Ienses any one to keep a congregation to-
-clher in a city If he has nothing more
Than sermons to offer at the services. The
congregation of Wesley is greatly pleased
with the programme system, which was
Introduced by Mr.. Cook, and there have
hean many expressions of satisfaction in
ILNIng them al hand for consul IA ton.