The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-01-26
PAPER ON CHURCH MUSIC
How Can We Improve Tread BE.
fore Pennington Ministerial
Alliance.
published by reQucstD


The subject Of church music, on
which you have asked me to con;"lb'
ute a few thoughts. is a many.siGed
one and capable Of treatment from
several different viewpoints. How
ever. believe that what Is really de-
sired is helpful hints, and practical
thoughts for present benefit so !
have chosen as our phase Of the sub
ject How Can We Improve IT, from
the viewpoint Of the man with the
stick.
Given ideal conditions, 1t is no diff
ficult matter 10 produce ideal results.
bu, we are to-day confronted In our
churches. not with ideal conditions,
but with those far removed from the
ideal.
Music In the church is a sadly neg.
lectcd part OF the worship OF God. If
we might be allowed the use of an
expression applied TO our unmarried
sisters by some Of our speakers. 1t Is
IAN unappropriated blessing. ~ Its
real purpose in the worship of God
is not understood by the membership,
and they are Indifferent to that part
OF the service Congregational sing
ing is almost a thing Of the past, and
the average choir and its Efforts are
almost regarded as a necessary EVIL,
something to be tolerated, endured
but not encouraged. Members OF
the church, with the GOd'given talent
of song, regard the gift as peculiarly
theirs by right, and not by gift from
God, and wrapping It in napkin. bury
Il out OF sight, digging 1t up occasional
" for their own personal enjoyment
or ACKNOWLEDGMENT, using It for their
own glory and not the glory of God.
These conditions, existing as they
do in every community and In almost
every congregation of believers, are
brought about by-what? First, let
me say that the lack Of interest III
the music on the part OF the member
ship is, as has been intimated, mat
ter OF education along this line. The
purport and purpose OF this part OF
the service. Is very largely unknown,
and we must attribute to this fact all
of the other causes for the condition
of church music to-day. This Is
shown in the consideration given 20
the subject in the designing ana
building of new house VI worship
A proper place for the instrument and
choir is seldom provided, provision
being made at the last moment, anu
both are relegated 10 a dark corne-
In the most out-of-the.way place pos
sjble. In the matter of the purchase
of an instrument or of song books or
hymnal, the consideration given Is
so much per-" and not what either
has under the cover. The manner OF
selecting the musical director Is also
deemed n matter OF minor impor-
lance. and this part Of the worship OF
God Is often turned over to some
young inexperienced person, and the
result Is that the choir becomes q
hot bed for the propagating Of all
manner of chickering's. jealousy AMI
church quarrels, earning the sobrl.
quet. "the war party" of the church.
How can we alter and improve
these self.evident conditions? We must
start where all things in church life
start--at the pulpit. The member
ship mus. be taught the value OF
music in the worship OF God; the
singing of hymns must be brought up
alongside the reading Of the Word;
the responsibility to God of those
possessing exceptional talent should
be clearly shown, and the use of these