Phillips Bible Institute - PBI Yearbook (Canton, OH)

Page 48 text:

banish must: The Christian minister will have much to do with Church music. It is an integral part of the Church service. Its effect is stimulating and unifying. The music may be instrumental or vocal. It may be by a soloist, the choir, or the congregation: but it occupies nearly 501 of the time of any service. Should it. therefore, receive only a little attention by the student for the ministry? Popular evangelis- tic singers and some extraordinary personali- ties who have charge of music in large church- es, have helped some to bring about more wor- shipful singing in our Churches. The music publishers, also, have taken a heartfelt interest in the development of Church music: and about all that we have today, in sacred songs comes from our consecrated music publishers through a commercial tilter. lt remains for the ministers to take hold of the Church music, discuss it in the conventions, give sacred song services, sermons on the subject, and to make a little study of the history of Church music and create a revival in song. It will not be too much to say, with the Apostle, that we should admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, that we should make melody in our hearts unto the Lord. lt is a question whether any- body should neglect the gift of song. There is no doubt about one's duty to pray, or the place of prayer in public service: and is not praise quite as important as prayer? -lonathan Edwards said, in his sermon on self-examination, that the duty of singing is on all Christians. His exact words are these, As it is the command of God that all should sing, so all should make conscience of learning to sing, as it is a thing which can- not be decently performed at all without learn- ing. Those, therefore, who neglect to learn to sing live in sin as they neglect what is neces- sary in order to their attending one of the ordinances of God's worship. If this is the duty of all Christians, how much more is it the duty of the minister to be able to lead in this grace also? There was a time when such ministers as Mathers, Edwards, and Dwight, of XYoodstock, Prince of South Church, Bos- ton, preached to their people, exchanged pul- pits in order to impress their several congrega- tions with the importance of the matter of singing in the Churches. Thomas Hastings, Nathaniel D. Gould, Richard Storrs VVillis and others, wrote val- uable books emphasizing the religious and practical side of Church Music. Lowell Ma- son, Darius E. jones and George J. Webb started a journal, The Choral Advocatef' to create a wider and more intelligent interest in the music of the Churches, and leading cler- gymen supported the enterprise with influence and pen. And, as a result, we have the Ameri- can Church Tunes that have done so much good in this country, in England, and in the Mission tields of the world. The present in- terest in Church music is not sullicient to be an impetus to the teaching from the pulpit. Therefore, there is a great opportunity at this time, to bring about a revival which will stir the Churches more than the Christian En- deavor movement, or even Sunday School Movements have done in recent times. Let every young man studying for the ministry get the vision of a wide-awake Church in the future, that is singing and glorifying God, and he will see the necessity of preparing himself to be a leader of SOllg. P. M. KENDALL, Professor of Music. 9- ' Page Forty-two