THE PRESBYTERY.

Evening Star, Issue 3685, 14 December 1874, Page 3

THE PRESBYTERY.

To the Editor. Sir, —It appears that the Presbytery have a majority in favor of the organ as an accompaniment to the psalmody to the church. Unquestionably among a people whose means are ample, the procuring of an instrument in keeping with their church can have no valid objection There is considerable room for rendering the services attractive and impressive in a direction that seems lo be altogether overlook d I would draw attention to the ineffective vocalisation of our minist-rs. A little study of the principles of elocution would do much to ensure the management of the voice, so as to bring out all the force and beauty of language employed as the vehic e of sacred truth There are many possessing good voices that, with cultivation, would make more agre°able preachers. It is not enough to be in earnest, with a thorough appreciation of what is to he read or spoken ; there must be study of the management of the voice, or say the manner of the discourse, as much as of the matter or subject to be presented to the congregation. An able teacher of elocution is as essential to the human voice as a skilful tuner to an organ. Quality of tone, emrba sis, and inflection are to he brought out and improved under a master far more effe tually than by the study of works on elocution. I Professor Blackie in “Self-Culture.” 1874. says, “'t is not to be supp'sid that a preacher in respect of distinct and effective utterance has nothing to learn from a professed master of elocution. Acc raplished speaking, like marching or dancing, is an art, for the exercise of which, in many cases, a special training is necessary.” Bearing upon this I would cite the well known answer of the celebrated Betterton to the Bishop of London Being why people were frequently moved to tears, and had their deep st and most powerful pas-dons roused by the representation of some s-Wy upon the stage, yet the fame individuals should remain so utterly untouched by discourses from the pulpit unon uhjec f s of the utmost importance to them, affecting not only their temporal interests here, hut also taeir eternal happiness in the world that is to come—“My Lord,” replied Betterton, * it is simply because wo try to be in earnest; you preach truth as if it were fiction. and wa represent fiction as if it were truth.”—l am, &c., Vox.