The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-01-23
MUSIC IN THE
CHURCH DISCUSSED
BY THE PASTOR
from thursdays Daily.

From Thursdays Daily.
Rev. W. Z. Evans. pastor OF the
Welsh Methodist Calvinistic church
read this interesting paper before
the meeting OF the Ministers club:
THE subject given to me Is The
\ Importance of Music In the Main
,enance OF Christian Fervor. was
supposed to read a paper on this
subject some two months ago. but
though have had two months OF
grace. must say that ] am very
unprepared today. This subject
appeals TO me as being timely and
important. for the reason that the
manner and form in which praise
should be offered unto God In the
public sanctuary Is question which
sorely exercises large number OF
Gods people In various parts of the
country as well as of the world
today.
However, feel that some one
better adapted should undertake TO
give us paper on the subject.
Though | belong to little nation
that Is universally acknowledged Ia
be n nation of singers, myself am
On exception. have not been blessed
with musical body TO my great
regret. But It might be worse, for
my soul Is musical. So the case here
Is a musical soul in an unmusical
body. And thies partly qualities me for
the task.
Discussed Congregational Singing.
II have one thing to say-that j
do not intend to limit myself to the
literal meaning OF the subject
ascribed Rather shall view the
church of congregational singing in q
general way. This, perhaps, may be
dated back from the time of Luther
He first saw what has so often beer
seen by revivaiists since his time
that music forms one OF the best
possible hand maids Of religion. As
he put II. I am strongly persuaded
and say IL boldly, that aftei
theology there is no art than car
be placed on level with music; fol
besides theology music is the onl,
art capable of affording peace ant
JOY OF the heart.
Again he writes: Music admon
ishes man, renders him mild, gentle
modest and reasonable. Il Is alst
a disciplinarian. Singing is the bes
are and good exercise. Again, 'Th,
singing of scored songs Is good an,
agreeable TO the Almighty. The hear
Is drawn to thoughts divine by musi'
lure and good. and thus the con
science troubled saint comes to /;
happy mood
When Modern Hymn was Unknown
Previous to Luther's time tn,
modern hymn was unknown and tn,
music OF the sanctuary was limiteI
to choirs. Modern congregations
music has a twc-fold origin. In tn,
first place we have the old churcl
music, dating ut least from the tim,
OF David. such music consisting Who'll
~ of chants. The expression 'whei
they had sung a hymn would b
more corr ectly rendered when the,
had sung chant.
There were several spasmodi
efforts on the part OF the earl
Christians to introduce congrega
tional form OF song. but such effort
were always discountenanced by tn
priests. The music was therefor
limited 10 chants and such ehantin:
was. I'm the medieval church, cor
fined entirely to the monks an,
boys. who looked jealousy upon thei
privilege and forbade the congrega
ton to join in vocal worship. excep
by murmuring the responses. Thi
was the sacred music prior TO Luth
er's time.
Then Came a Revolt.
with him came a great revolt
not anly against false doctrine bu
against the meager forms OF churc
music, revolt not only against tn
priest rs a mediator. but also agains
priestly pretensions to be sole sacre
singer. Modern congregational sins
ing. like the reformation, had Il
birth In Germany. We all know tina
, Luther Is said to have remarke
He didn't see why the devil shoul
, have all the good music He prol
! ably did make this remark. at an
| rate the essence of it was a favorit
T idea Of his. His idea was to launc
!. the reformation upon sea {
national song, or rather to use
national song as a great propellin
force. And he was not very caref,
as to the sources from which h
!. obtained his music, as long as b
: got II.
But this was only for tim,
!. Luther's great idea was to get par
a phrases OF the Psalms, metric;
cnes IL possible. which could b
sung to the national airs, and whic
might become national psalms.
Different Methods In Music.
!. As we might expect from tn
a historical origin. there are at ii
e present time two entirely differer
q methods OF employing music publ
u wCrshiD One I'm which the singing