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Page 103 text:
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this view of it strike thee?-The New England Yearly Meeting School and its Principal do not undertake to teach music, as a part of the regular sanctioned course. But pupils not of our faith, and others by their parents' wish and sanction, desire or demand musi- cal instruction g and the Principal rather than leaving them to go into the city for it, where he could not extend his oversight, per- mits them to have a competent teacher, of whose moral character he is assured, to visit them, at the Institution, as a matter entirely apart from it, paid for by the pupils themselves, and in no way compromising the Yearly Meeting, as the Trustee of the donor's fund.-I think this might be done, without much difficulty. I write hastily and without any communication with Friends hereabout g and leave the matter with thee, feeling prepared to be- lieve that whatever thou dost, will be conscientiously done, and in all probability the best that under the circumstances could be. Thine truly, JOHN G. VVHITTIER. Has thee seen my ballad 1' The Kingls Missive in J. R. Osgood's Memorial History of Boston, just published? Clark Shove, of Fall River, gave a grand piano, and the Com- mittee consented to the introduction of pianos and teaching of instru- mental music, according to the spirit of the above letter. Eighth Mo., 4th, 1881. The Providence journal the next morning had an editorial on pianos at Friends School, beginning Shade of Moses Brown ! The friends of the measure felt that the broad, catholic spirit of Moses Brown in the day of his strength would have been with them, and that they had adhered to the very spirit of his teachings. The principal said to the Committee, in 1883, that it would be an excellent thing to have some pictures of the great characters of the Society on the walls, to suggest to the people who come and go the mission of the Society as shown in its distinguished members. Subsequently, as the principal was about to visit England, James H. Chace, of Providence, who for many years has been one of the most efficient men on the School Committee, suggested to him that if he found works of art when abroad of the kind mentioned in his former remarks he might purchase the same, and draw on him for a very generous sum of money, or any part thereof, which he would donate for the purpose. His meditations over the ocean resulted in the determination to spend all the money upon a bust of John Bright, under the convic-
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Page 102 text:
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an art to be taught like every other art, in school, with direc- tions as to its legitimate use. The principal put that direct issue to John G. Whittier, because he was himself an artist, loyal to the So- ciety, its history, and its future. A man of the deepest penetration into principles and measures. When one has great responsibility for his infiuence, nothing can exceed the strength and confirmation of a discerning, far-seeing counsellor, whose heart and interest is deep in the cause. His opinion was asked in confidence which has been never violated to this date. But now, as the issue is history after twenty years, and his response so to the point, I cannot with- hold it. He uses words which make me hesitate, but they are only brimful of native pleasantry, and could never be taken seriously by any one who knows anything of that gentle soul, full of love and tender, humane thoughts and feelings towards his fellow creat- ures. DANVERS, I2 Mo. 16, i88o. MY DEAR FRIEND :-Thy letter is just rec'd. I am sick with a severe cold, and unfit to write or think, but will say, at least, that I can well understand the difficulties of thy position, and wish that I could see a way out of them. The fact that the School greatly depends upon students, not of our faith, makes the case more complicated. I need not tell thee, that I have no scruples against music as an art, or natural gift. It is innocent enough in itself, but it may be abused or gmisdirected, as in corrupting, sensuous compositions and songs or in military matters. I see nothing in it more inconsistent with Quakerism, than poe- try, rhetoric, or painting. We both think the old Quaker testimony against it, as aform qf zworsfzzf, is right. In the present state of our Society,-the manifest drifting from the great central principle, and resort to the devices and expedients of other sects,-I am led to fear, that the teaching of music in the School might be found in many instances the preparation of our young folks to practice it in our meetings. They might come back to us, to sing Moody and Sankey songs about 'K Holding the Fort. I like the old reverent waiting better than the 'K Howling Dervish style of carrying on a meeting. 6 It seems clear to me, that Friends of our Yearly Meeting are hardly prepared to have a teacher in the School entirely devoted to music. If members of other sects, or Friends' children with parental sanction, wish musical instruction, could not an outside barbarian, a city music teacher come and attend to it? I should not like to decide for thee: for thy judgment under a full knowledge of the question, is better than mine. How would
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