ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 32, 25 November 1843, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Sacred Harmony. (To the Editor of the Southern Cross.) ■ Sir,— Will you allow me the favour of occupying a small portion of your valuable space on the subject of the singing in St. Paul's Church. A suggestion was made by your correspondent " Musa" to the lovers of Sacred Harmony, calling for improvement in the singing department, which, hitherto has really been little better than a burlesque on that important branch of Divine Worship. "-Lapis," a correspondent of the Auckland Times, rather inclined to be facetious, has recommended tho omission of singing altogether, and proposes as a substitute, the reading of the Psalms of the day. This may do very well for such enthusiastic Christians as "Lapis," whose fervour, ever ready to burst into a flame of pure devotion, needs not the aid of congregational harmony to kindle it ; but would it suit the phlegmatic character of the majority of worshippers? I think not. I have no doubt ninty-nine out of a hundred, nay, even " Lapis" himself, must admit that Sacred Harmony is calculated to soothe the turbulent passions of the soul, to abstract it from worldly speculations, and lead to the contemplation of the sublime realities of futurity. Besides I would ask, what is the object of assembling together ? Does not praise as well as prayer form an indispensible part of Divine Worship? Surely then, we may reasonably hope amongst the respectable congregation of St. Paul's that a small sum might be raised to obtain the assistance of a violincello player, and a singer capable of leading, notwithstanding the embarrassed state of the finances of the Church. " Lapis" also asserts that " the musical volunteers who came forward while the Court House was open, were not steadfast, they considered it merely as a toy of the moment, and cast it aside as soon as the novelty of the thing subsided." This is not true in reference to the violincello player, who was taken seriously ill, and continued unable to attend for nearly three months, and upon his recovery, the others who assisted in the singing, had most of them left Auckland, and were scattered through the country. Sincerely hoping that tho discussion of the subject of harmony may not produce one single note of discord, and that the suggestion of " Musa" will be adopted. I am, &c, " AjTTITHONY."