Year: 1875




wise than did the civil one


CHURCH MUSIC AND CHEAP PEW8.


The Protestant Episcopal Church Congress,


which has recently been in session in Phila-


delphia, although not acting with any special


authority, nor empowered to dictate in any


sense tie policy Of the Church, nevertheless


represents in 8 large degree the general


spirit Of the Church, and at this session the


spirit seems to have been a very practical


one. Although some time was spent in dis


cussing the relations of Professionalism to


Vaticanism, there were many features Of


church worship of very plain, practical na-


ture, which were quite thoroughly investi-


gated. Among these were cheap pews and


the proper character Of church music. The
former question is one of the ut


most Importance in church manage
| ment. The Church nowadays, at least


the Protestant Church, does not reach


the poorer classes, because the poorer classes


cannot afford to pay the pew rents. In
| point of fact, it is almost impossible for


people Of moderate means-that is, people
living upon average incomes-to endure the


burden of taxation imposed upon them if


they desire to rent pew, and this fact keeps
thousands Of people away who might go to
church regularly if prices Of pews were


brought within their means. They can econo-
mize On almost everything else in their bills
| of living, but they cannot economize on pew
/ rents, as these are fixed at standard regula-
| ton figures. They are too proud to 60 to
| churches and occupy pews without paying
for them, and SO they stay away from them
altogether, applying the same rule to
| pews that they do to other things,
that is, giving them up altogether
| If they cannot afford to pay for them. The
| despair Of the case is that most of the
churches have been built at great cost and
are heavily mortgaged, and, as their revenues
are derived mainly from pew rents, they call
not reduce them without running behind
hand every year. As it is, there is q deficit
in nearly every church, and it has to be made
up with almost every conceivable form Of ell
tertainment. That church is fortunate which
makes both ends meet.


Upon the second question,-that Of church
music,-the discussion was Of peculiar inter-
est The Rev. DR.. POTTER, President of
Union College, argued that the music of the
stage should not be brought into the church
at all, and that there should be such musical
education in the theological seminaries as
Will give ministers q correct taste, so
that they can regulate the singing in
their churches. This is an admirable point.
The ignorance of ministers with regard to
music is very deplorable. Not one in ten of
them can tell Yankee Doodle from PLEYE1's
Hymn Those who do know anything about
it have not advanced much beyond Penny
royal" If the church would also odd to the
requirement the additional one that music
committees should have some knowledge of
there might be some harmony in the musical
arrangements of churches. The Rev. W. H.
COOKE, Of New York, delivered himself upon
the subject in very sensible manner. While
he was opposed to the narrow and angular
bounds of old ecclesiastical music, be was
also opposed 81 to the modern taste that sane
tions adaptations Of operate tunes, and
listens with approval to tho Jubi1ate
Deo," sung to an air from - Barbe-
Bleue." The preacher is right at both e1-
remes, but the great difficulty is in drawing
the line between them. The Rev. ]. W.
SnAcK1EFoRD took strong grounds in favor Of !
congregational singing, and also favored mu-
sicnl instruction in the divinity schools.
''America," he said, lis the only country |
where the music in divine worship is COM
mittel exclusively to two men, two women,
and an organist in the gallery" His plan
for the promotion Of congregational singing |
was for the minister to insist upon the con-
gregation taking part in the singing. "Re |
should adopt book, drill the congregation
in simple hymns and chants. and make the
choir lead the singing instead OF monopo-
lizing it." The Rev. Dr.. GEORGE W1LDs, of |
New York, also took the same view,
and considered the delegation Of the
music to paid choir exclusively
very serious abuse. There is much of truth |
in all these recommendations, and some
error. There are two classes of people in
every church. With all due respect to the
ministers, it is undeniable that music is
powerful attraction in drawing people into
churches, and this class of people wants good
music, well performed BY those who are COM
petent to do it skillfu1y and intel1igently.
Brown, Of this class, enjoys good music al
wants to hear it without being annoyed by
SMITH in the next slip, who is bowling ont Of
tune and time, because he thinks he is help
ing on the worship. But the class to which