Evening star., 1922-03-24

cause of the variety that could be
obtained-she salaries sink into ins:g-
niflcance.
Undoubtedly. better music was sup
piled by the phonograph. and un,
doubtedly better music could be had
from that source than from many
quartets receiving higher salary. but
the artists who made the records
were leaders.
However, artistic as the music Is
from that source. 1t lacks the one
thing essential to, church music IN
particular. and that is the personal =!
not to figure in. the church perhaps
could have Canned" ser1nons-ser-
mons. of q learnedness beyond the
training of the clergyman whom the
congregation could afford to engage.
There 10 no question of the advantage
Congregations could hardly be ex-
pected to come out and listen at
tentively to a photographic sermon:
There would not be the personal
"feel" to hold Its attention. 49,.
II i - 4r..a :.
This is equally. true of the music.
,Artist1cally perfect. the photographic
record still lacks the enthusiasm OF
the choir singing to the individual
congregation. The sympathy Is lack
Ing. The beauty is appreciated, but
there is none of the appeal to the emo.
tions that follows a good anthem or solo
or duet that is well sung by persons
in full view of the congregation.
Good choir music is an attraction
that draws people to the church sup
n
likewise. Few churches would thin':
OF stint.ng In the engaging OF
Clergyman. The best obtainable is
the aim of all, yet the attitude of
many seems to be that the less spent
on music the better. failing to real
lie that the entire service. including
an excellent sermon. may be marred
by Indifferent, inartlstic music.
y Il y
IN contrast to the church cited
which substituted the phonograph
there, Is another church which took
the other point Of view. The music
was such that the congregations
were much too small, and particu'
larly in the evening. when. it seems
mething more than a sense OF duty
is needed to bring the people out.
This church decided to engage :
better organist. and therefore raiset
the salary of the position to $1,000 :
year. A better choir was desired
and the salaries were raised, making
total cost for the quartet 5000
Realizing that those engaged mus
also have material to work with. ;
, further sum of 5000 was voted fol
! the purchase of anthems.
| The result was that soon the at
! tendance Of the evening services wa
greater than at the morning services
| for the regular congregation wa
| swelled by members of other churche
who were drawn there by the music
! The last Sunday night Of every montl
was a musical service, with the pas
! tors remarks limited to a very few
| minutes, and a cantata was alway
| given, or else some excerpts from
! some oratorio. After the lapse Of
short time. while the reputation O
| these services was being spread.
| usually was found necessary to plac
| extra chairs in the aisles to take car
of the increased congregations. Tn
attendance would often be NOR
than 500. and the pastor of the churcI
was the most enthusiastic supporte
of the musical service.
| The clergyman who took exception
to the wheezy choirs is right. The
! should be done away with, but III
| question is whether or not it shoul
be by the substitution Of a phono
graph or by the engaging of a choi
that has progressed beyond tn
wheeZy class.