Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-08-16
HYD1NOLOGY AZ CHURCHES ~ LITERATURE
DO "RAGTIME" HYMNS
CARRY A MESSAGE?
Protest of National ogansts Association Arouses Newark
clergyman-MusicaI Critics. He Says. Have Too Long
Ruled the Church-Base Use of Noble Means.

into their hearts and lifts them in
spite of themselves.
THE purpose of church music
is to convey a message, and the mes
sage should be q Gospel message.
The music that does not do this has
no place in the church. So the main
question is not the music, but the
message, and whatever kind of music
or hymn will best convey the mes
sage is the kind that ought to be
used-~call it 'ragtime' or anything
you please. Results are what should
be considered.
"If the melody of southern plan
tation will do the work, that is the
thing to use. If a Moody and Sankey
hymn will do the work, then, by all
means, use it. Church music is not
for the sake of the music, but for
the sake of the effect--to produce re-
suits. The singer is not to sing for
his own glory, but to convey the mes
sage to the hearts of the people. The
music that will reach the masses Is
not the music, I confess, that will
satisfy the critics, but so long as 1t
does the work the critics may be
disregarded.
They Moved Multitudes.
"They say that Gospel hymns do
not wear; in a short time they are
supplanted by others. That may De
true. Neither do sermons wear. Most
sermons will not bear repeating after
a few years; they are out of date
Throw Out the Lifeline and Hold
the Fort and The Glory Song may
have had their day, but they have
done good work and carry their mes
sage to countless multitudes.
srrhe man who can write new
song with a Gospel message and put
a tune to it that will carry that mes
sage down to the hearts of the mass
es of the people, is rendering mag
nificent service. We have been Toe
much conducting our churches TOT tne
benefit of the few. both in preachlne
| and in music. The few should ac-
| commodate themselves to that which
| will reach the multitude-the aver
age man and the average woman:
| or, possibly, what Mr.. Lincoln calleo
| plain people,
| but l have found that what salts
| fies the plain people Is, after all, best
] for the others who consider them
| selves higher up when they get into
q mood that is honest enough to &C
knowledge it. The whole matter
largely centres around the spirit OF
the individual who renders the music
vocal and instrumental.
1.-THE man or woman who is willing
to be fool for Christ's sake. forget
full of what people may think of the
whole matter of music, and who Is
concerned only with the message and
spirit in which that message Is de-
| livered, will not stop to ask whether
a piece of 'ragtime' or classica
when souls are to be reached"
| Another viewpoint.
Per contra, the opinion of the
musical critic on "ragtime" may bt
given in the words of a renowned
English writer on music of all sorts
which have just appeared in Lon
don. He says:
Like an evil odor from a defective
drain, 'ragtime' is spreading itseil
over the land. A person who likes
'ragtime' is not one to be seer
speaking to in the street; and II
speak to him or her in privacy is 1
disgrace.
"Tennyson said something abou
good acts being changed into wicked
| abuses. And that is what has happen
ed to syncopation. Syncopation ha!
been a device used by the creates
masters to the noblest ends; rag
| time is syncopation used, in asso-
| citation with the most villainous
words (does the writer mean curly.
tail hymnsO to the most ignobl'
ends?'