The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-25
Church Music Has
Merits, Also Faults

In music You come into sympathy
with the truth YOU never do under
tho preaching OF a discourse. How
many times have ] come to church
on a Sunday morning jaded and some
what despairing, saddened at any
rate, and before the organ prelude
was completed undergone change
as great as though had been taken
out of January and pumped down
into the middle of May, with spring
blossoms on every hand.
With these words, quoted from an ear
nest American minister. Mrs. j. Louis
Strohauer closed a paper on American
Church Music" delivered last Tuesda!
afternoon before the music section OF th'
Ladies Liternry club. Mrs. Strohauer
organist at the First Methodist church
artistic sense OF her arts influence, ant
is entitled TO speak with authority, SONS
excerpts from her excellent paper rol
low:
We say that the political and social
He OF nation may DC (udge9 very
largely by its religious life, end 1t Is
true that the church has in a great
measure been responsible for the
progress of every nation You VIII
agree with me that music Is one or
the lmpressionable minds OF all who
come in touch with X; Music wields
a greater influence over man than any
other art When we thoroughly un-
dcrstand and appreciate the mental
effect Of tone. the mental effect OF
color. then we are able TO under
stand that "in soul music has Its
origin and II is to the soul OF man
that IL appeals contend that tho
proper kind of music in the church
service will have far greater and
more lasting influence upon con-
gregstion than the usual sermon we
hear,
In studying this subject OF church
music. IL is interesting TO note the in
luence that music has had upon the
growth of the church. II is equally
interesting 10 note some things which
have retarded the growth OF the
church. For instance. lack OF good
hymn tunes: which In a measure ac-
counts for poor consregatio tional sing
ing, deerth OF good American com.
posers OF church music, dearth OF
competent organ!sts. tnctful choir
leaders. and clergy who lave suffi-
cient knowledge OF music to be Jusu-
fed In offering suggestions or criti-
ciSms
Few people realize what an impor-
tant part hymn singing has played In
the development OF our own church
music. and yet how sadly that part
OF our religious worship has been neg
mel through which q congregation may
collectively voice their offering Of
praise and prayer. the one medium
through which all can unite In an
inspiring act Of worship, and the only
means by which the people as whole
can be swayed by a single emotion or
upliftcd by common impulse. II is
Important then. that our best hymn
tunes should have a place In our
church service. Fundamental worth
artistic merit. historic associa tions.
1tness as 10 time and piace-all are
factors which should be given due
consdcra ton in the selection of hymn
tunes.
Church music is an art made up OF
two elements-prayer and music-aud
cannot be judged by one of It's ele-
ments tested as entity, | do not
speak OF prayer in the sense OF mere
petition, but in its broader, wider
meaning. lifting OF mind and heart
70 God. Prayer and music must COM
bine to make one art. the music must
pray, the PRAYER must sing. This.
then. Is the true test of a musical
composition suitable for church serv-
ice. In opera we recognize the same
principle. There the law OF drama is
the law of music. This principle Is
generally recognized by operatic COM
posers but a musician is often dunn
founded when asked to apply II to
church music.