The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-12-13


regularly not only at Christmas but
many other times in the year. The
poor pastor, in his troubled sleep,
sees the shadow fitting across his
ftful dreams and, in a more or less
degree, every member of the congre-
CATION realizes the responsibility
bearing upon his individual
shoulders-the only fortunate ones
being those whose souls could be
stirred even by the mystic notes of
the husband of Eurydice. This
Shade" has sprung up with thepro-
gress of civilization" and growing
each year as the world becomes more
intellectual" 1t is one of the lux
uries of modern life, and unless a halt
is called, no one can predict the final
outcome. We allude to choir music,
and the question is now more vivid
than ever before our eyes as the cele-
bration of Christmas is looked upon
by all denominations as the highest
in the church calendar.
For the past several weeks rehersals
have been in order, and no matter
how pressing either business or home
or social duties may be, these impor-
tant meetings must not be neglected.
New music, specially prepared for the
occasion, must be practiced even if
the dining room table at home is still
standing in the floor as a mute wit
ness to the folly of this modern inno-
walton. Special high notes must be
trilled until just the right information
is reached, although the small ones
at home are waiting in vain to be
soothed to sleep by Mothers gentle
lullaby which has been handed down
as sacred heritage from parent to
child for many generations. At last
the eventful day arrives and, having
been pressed by our beloved leader
that it must needs be our duty as
well as our pleasure to attend church
on Christmas morning to take part
in the joyous occasion incident to the
celebration of such an important
event in Christian history, we bedeck
ourselves in our best and wend our
seyeralways to church. An animated
scene is presented when once inside
the doors. The minister, with a
troubled look, is giving the
finishing directions. The leader
of the choir realizing the responsible
ity of his position, is doing his
best to retain composure in order to
inspire the timid ones who have not
as yet "sung in public" The organist
looks grave and even the diminutive
colored youth who pumps the organ
bears marks of responsibility far be-
yond his years. At a given signal
the organ sounds note of warning
and all is expectancy. The congre-
cation, wrought up to the highest
pitch, rises and the music begins.
Naturally those of a ripper age expect
to hear some ofthose old-time hymns,
which were good enough for their
fathers, in which some incident con-
nected with our Saviour's birth, is
beautifully portrayed. Instead of
that, what greets the ear of the I'M
initiate-high notes, low notes,
medium notes, all kind of notes har-
monized together in such confusing
mass as to make one feel, for the i'll
slant, that he has made a mistake,
and instead of being in Church, is
listening to the chorus of some first
class opera. To free himselffrom the
delusion he tries to catch the words
but they are as puzzling as Tagalog.
Dazed with the problem he sits down
to spend the rest of the service in
thinking of the good old days ofyore,
when there were no new-fangled
methods of singing and everybody
could at least join in the chorus.
This is a picture that is not one whit
overdrawn and the only motive that
has actuated its portrayalis the hope
that some good may come out of a
conscientious criticism of modern
church music.
No one can gainsay the as
sertion that there is more Christian
ity in a congregation where each and
every one joins in every part of the
service; and that good singing is as
essential in drawing a large atten-
dance as is an able minister. Bygood
singing, however, it is not meant
that this portion ofthe service should
be confined to three or four. What |
is needed is thehymns that preceding
generations have made even more
and more sacred and with which
every one is familiar. We do not
need to change either our Hymnals
or our Bible. Suppose that some one
was to advance the theory that the
Sacred Book, which has comforted
those far back in the dark ages, was
not modern and up to date and
would advocate something more in
touch with the times-he would be
ostracized from polite society. So
we should pay that same homage to
our grand old hymns that we do to
our family Bible. Nearer My God
to Thee" will be sung in tones I'M