The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-09
Rev. H. A. OFT Would Go Even
Farther.
S ON THE RIGHT TRACK
DR.. Mcfarland Thinks Prof.
Penny Should Be Careful.
DIR. Hayes Would Superseded
Be With You.v

burn school of fine arts, has stirred up
lot of discussion in church circles BIZ
his severe condemnation of the char
acter of music found in hymn books
This morning &ree of the leading min
isters of the city-Francis l.. Hayes, of
the First Congregational church; ]. T.
Mcfarland. of the First Methodist
church, and II. A. OFT, of the First
Lutheran church-each expressed d
different opinion on the subject
Mr.. OFT sustained Prof. penny's posi-
ton in every particular, and is inclined
to even go a little further than Penny
in eradicating so-called dance music
from hymn books. Mr.. Hayes stands
up for the old gospel hymns. and saws
that they are too dear to Christian peo-
pie to be cast aside merely because they
are not quite up to the highest musical
standard. Mr.. Mcfarland agrees with
Prof. Penny about the rag time
pieces. but thinks that many songs that
appeal to peoples hearts are good
enough even if they are not built on
scientific musical principles
In conversation with Il reporter for
the State journal this morning Prof.
Penny said:
My criticism of the character of
music was not directed at the hynnal
used at Washburn college. 1t is the best
hymal there is. and has recently been
adopted at the State university But [
crltfclse in general the light hippant
music which we hear at the Chi lsrian
EndeaVor meetings and the Y M G. A
hmlteq my criticism to the music.
though L must say that ] heartily agree
with the professor of the University OF
Chicago who raised such d storm of
criticism by asserting that the words of
much of our sacred music is doggerel.
lake into consideration the WaV in
winch this music is gotten up, and
there is nothing shocking about sucn a
crlIlclsm- In1S music is a purely COM
merctal proposition. 1t is ground out
by the yard by paid song writers. and
published to SELL The publishers know
that this class Of stuff will last only "A
year or so. and then. they can sell an
other lot of hymn books
When | say that dance music has
been used as a tune for sacred words
L do not mean that everything in 3-4
time is waltz 7 refer only to the
pieces which have the real dance swing
and rythm. There are other pieces
which seem to have been written for
musical idiots There is no tune-thev
might as well be played on d base
drum. For this reason I have offered
the students of Washburn prize of So
for new tune for God Be with You
Till We Meet Again -
Among other specimens of poor music
which Prof. Penny mentioned were
these: What a friend we have in
Jesus Even me- Il am thine, 0
Lord and the tune Refuge to which
Jesus lover of my souT' is sung.
In speaking of Prof. Penny's critic
ism, the Rev. Mr.. Hayes said today:
Il consider that music is the vehicle
of inspiration as well as the vehicle of
alteration. The heavy music is all right
for worship and alteration but for in
SriT3 fiOn we r1nSf have a lighter move
ment, and at times even rapid.
Il do not believe that l should apply
the term immoral to this lighter class
of music. Some things are immoral
approve of the Salvation Army way of
putting sacred words to popular airs,
yet I can see no objection to using any
good music as a setting for sacred
words. For instance, l think that it is
proper to use such song as Robin
Adair' with sacred words.
Il heard that song God be with you
till we meet again sung on New
were just starting for a distant land,
and it is good enough for me. l will
never forget its impressive effect
The Rev. Mr.. McFarland's view of the
case is as follows:
Il believe that Prof. Penny Is on the
right track, but he should be exceed
ingly careful where he draws the Iir1=
All this rig-a-jig music should be ex-
CluO6d from the c0urcnGS, Dut az Inc
same time we must have some sort of
light music. We must to some extent
take popular taste as we find it, AMI
raise it slowly. Prof. Penny says the
music we have appeals to the heels and
not to the head. But it seems to me
that music should really appeal to
neither the head nor the heels, Dur to
the heart. I believe in stirring music.
'TWesley's hymns were many Of them
set to adaptations of popular music of
his day, and for this Wesley was Sc
verely criticised. But he was right, anu
his hymns are recognized as the finest
in the world Bishop Vincent's favor1te
song was the old vesper hymn, The
day is dying in the west. and many
people said that Bishop Vincent's Judg-
ment of music was poor But neverrne-
less, the vesper hymn is popular
Rev H. A. OFT has studied the Ques-
tior of church music extensively, and
said this morning:
IT was greatly pleased when / read
what Prof. Penny had said. He is ex-
actly right. To understand the present
prevalence of light. fiipoant music. we
must go back a hundred years, and see
the revolt of the Puritans against
church. They abhorred everything
liturgical,. and the thing has gone on
until now we have gone to the other
extreme. ami this popular church and
society music is the result. Gradually
the churches are finding out that there
are points of advantage in Hturgical
forms of worship. and I believe that
the good, well-written hymns will be
used more and more
Mr. Otis views on the subject were
expressed by him in an article which
he wrote for his church paper while
pastor of the Luther Memorial church
at Quincy, ILL.,, A portion of this article
is as follows.
ITO a careful reader of the cnurcn
papers of the various denominations il
is noticeable that there is a very posi-
tive reaction setting in among All the