Year: 1859




mon occurrences of the day, although am hap
py to know that that they are not quite so fre-
quent as in days gone by. This Improvement Isl
in great measure, the result of musical educa-
tion, and let our friends in the church and con-
gregation, remember that the more the singing
school and choir meetings are encouraged the
less difficulty willthere be in this respect. IF
every one understood music sufficiently well to
join in general chors and especially if all conld
read plain music at sight, then with suitable books
in hand, the congregation might sing for sea-
son. as at the anniversaries after the lead of
skillful precenter. Yet, even then without spe-
cial practice, as | have seen, the voices would
soon degenerate. Bad voices would thus in
crease in number and be found in process of time
to create continual annoyance After all which
could thus be done in musical practice, there
fore the style of singing, however good in the
first instance, would soon be found to decline.
The history of the past is full of instruction on
this point and one of the painest inferenees to
be derived from it is, that there is no possible
method of conducting praise which can sanction
neglect of cultivation in the worshippers. The
church herself should supply from her own mem
bers-though not to the exclusion of others-a
sufficient number Of leading singers so -infu-
enced by christian spirit, as to establish sweet
harmonious sympathy between themselves and
the congregation. Those of the choir who are
spiritual will be found to exert salutary infu-
ence. The simple strains Of the lecture room
give excellent practice in the congregational
method, the leading singers sitting together and
acting as choir in fact though not at all in
seperate capacity. 1t is the duty Of the choris
ter to sustain choir meeting and have an un-
derstanding with his singers in regard to their
position in the choir, SO as not to have continual
jarng with each other for the want of proper
management. Choirs are often badly situated,
being placed back of the congregation, thus Civ
Ing sufficient opportunity for Indifferent singers
is such conduct to be tolerated in the house
Of God and on the Sabbath day ? If so, dispense
with the choirs and employ steam organ, be-
cause steam never winks at some one just before
the hymn is commenced never filters and laughs
because some one sings loud, never whispers du-
ring the sermon, never writes notes and passes
them to others while the minister is preaching,
never jerks note books and pull chairs from be-
meath singers, never gazes over the congregation
to see who wear little bonnets, long trails, and
carry eye glasses 1t seems to me as if in this
matter the adversary of souls has everything his
own way There is doubtless much in the pres
ent arrangements which needs modification -
But let the work be taken up in an earnest, in
telligent, and christian manner, and common
sense and sound experience will lead to the ne
cessary changes. My advise would be, gire the
care Of the choirs into the hands Of the choris-
ters, if they are capable of disehargiDg the duty
involved upon them. If not dismiss them at
once, for no ch oir can succeed unless the leader
can command the respect due to the important
part of chorster If the writer has spoken with
some positiveness he has felt constrained to do
Others There is really no necessity Of turning
backward the car of improvement. Let it be
placed pom the right track and kept there
Then there will be nothing to fear. The prayer
of all should be, " Oh for a harmony of sentir
ment and feeling as we'll as Of VOICE ~ Happy
the choir where this il. found, Surely aforetaste
of the joys Q the heavenly ehoircan be had upon
earth, where these things exist and all can
truly say and feel, "blessed, thrice blessed, is il
to sing praises to the Most High -