The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-16
Correspondent Writes in
Defense of New Tunes
Originated by Dwight L.
Moody for Popular Assem-
blieS.
Old and Familiar Hymns
Open to Same Objection,
That They Are Dance Airs
Suited to Religious Texts.

To the Editor Of The Washington Times:
l think that the daily newspaper is
made TO serve one of its highest and
best purposes when it becomes a forum
for the discussion of subjects OF popu-
lar public interest. and. anent your re-
cent and somewhat drastic editorial.
Gospel Hymns Immoral" 1 should
like to present to your readers the other
SIDE of the case, thus expressing a SEN
timent that is dear to thousands and
tens of thousands of people in Wash
ington.
Your editorial was a strafght-cut piece
of work There are thousands Of people
who hold similar views. But this doesn't
alter the fact that. according 10 as high
a secular authority as the New York
Tribune, the religious sentiment of
the American public is more nearly
ideally expressed in the Gospel hymns
than in any other class of hymns or
words of that import.
The Point of View.
il is all a question of point Of view, or
taste. In your editorial you rake this
collection OF hymns fore and aft and
attempt to degrade as eminent names
as DwightsL. Moody and Ira d. Sankey
but the GOSEel hymns. as Wen as the
names Of these evangelists. are sacredly
enshrined in the hearts and memories
of vast millions Of church-going people
in America and Europe. and throughout
the world. These evangelists were main
~ responsible for the Gospel hymns.
the advent Of which marked an epoch
in sacred hymnody. the various editions
OF the books containing them having
reached sale in this country of about
2O0U0.OO0 copies. the English edition. or,
rather. the England edition. having sold
almost as largely.
y ere the work done by these men.
and the books they published-for these
Influences cannot well be associated
OF "A superficial character. as your ed-
torial would lead many people to be-
Ieve If they did not TOOK deeper into
the matter. would their work have
lived through a generation. gaining i'm
petus with the years, and moving the
world spiritually deeper than II was
ever moved before?
1t is easy to pen this declaration.
Gospel Hymns immoral It would be
very difficult, If not utterly impossible.
TO convince. by all the facts that re-
Search or human genius could marshal.
any considerable number OF the count
less millions Of Christian people who
have been helped and comforted in their
Christian warfare by the use of these
songs. of the truthfuIness of such a
declaration: it would be more difficult
stu TO convince these same people that
the works of these eminent evangelists
were just subjects OF reproach.
A Question of Morals.
It viii be necessary to narrow this
Il
10 more specifically answer your criti-
cisms- 1t is worthy of note that you
approach the subject from the moral
side. which is a departure in the criti-
cism to which this collection of hymns
IS often subjected. A college profess
Sor. il is stated, has discovered. as the
result Of careful examination. that the
collection contains twenty-five dance
tunes. and this, il is claimed. makes It
immoral
But what is the distinguishing char
acteristic of dance music? II is that it
IS quick or rapid
The philosophy Of fast or slow church
music is this; A hynan is set 70 six-eight
or two-fOur time. according 70 the meter
OF the hymn. usually so that a hymn
containing long lines can be sung in
relatively the same space Of time as a
hymn containing short lines. The time
IS changed TO meet a physical require
ment. and. necessarily the rhythm is
changed, giving the song more motion
or swing.
Older Hymns Considered.
But this rule applies TO the older as
well as the newer hymns and hymnals
For illustration. How Firm Founda-
ton Ye Saints Of the Lord an old and
stately church hymn. is usually sung
as fast as the words can be spoken: to
sing II otherwise would make II an in
tolerable drag. This same rule applies,
In large measure. 20 Sullivans classic,
''Onward. Christian Soldiers" and many
of the professionals and recessfonals Of
the Episcopal and Catholic churches.
There is more Of the six-eight class
Of music I'm the Gospel hymn collection
than is ordinarily found in other hymn
nails, but people who sing reverently do
not sing even these hymns faster than Is
becoming sanctuary worship or privi-
leges. 1 have been somewhat intimately
familiar with the use Of this collection
for years. and ] have never known such
use OF the hymns being made as 20 de
grade them to the level Of dance music.
The collection in question Is not free
from just criticism on certain lines. but
the charge that II contains q large
amount Of dance music Is n libel for
which no excuse or apology will stand
Designed for Special Use.
Further, and with respect TO the gen
eral character Of the Gospel hymns, it
Is necessary TO an intelligent compre-
bension OF their merits 90 understand
that they were designed for use only In
q certain field OF religious activity. TO
wit. evangelization.
When Mr.. Moody began this work. the
Influence OF which quickly extended over
this country and 10 other continents, az
others took IL uD, and followed in his
steps. he and his co-laborers discovered
that the hymnals contained only a few
selections with any particular adapta-
ton TO revival work. Being OF an in
tensely practical turn, he said: Two
will have 70 write such hymns as will
meet our requirements"
The lamented p. r. Bliss, Mr. Sankey,
and others began the work with such
results as the world is familiar with
The fruition Of that undertaking is the
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