SANKEY ON CHURCH MUSIC.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2466, 12 February 1881, Page 4

SANKEY ON CHURCH MUSIC.

.. Mr Sankey lias lately been delivering bis opinions on the subject of church choir music. He does not object to quartet choirs, but ho would have-a. large chorus choir around the quartet, to join it in certain parts. He likes solos and special pieces by the trained singers, yet he would have at least two hymns in which the the whole congregation could join. He says that the minister should join in the singing, arid not be fumbling over his notes as if be had nothing to do with praising God. The minister should not only sing himself, but urge all to sing. Choirs ought to behave like ladies and gentlemen. They have ho business to be whispering or flirting, or reading newspapers while the-minis-ter is preaching. They ought to sing distinctly, so that the congregation can understand the words. The church is not an opera, to gratify a taste for artistic music. It should furnish the music that will please and edify the majority of the worshippers, and not merely a cultured and fastidious few. The children should be brought to tlie church and accustomed to take part in the singing. In Mr Spurgeon’s church the children all sit together, and great pains were taken to train them in singing. Ministers ought to pray for a special blessing on the singing. It i$ a means of grace as Well as a Scripture reading on the sermon. And, finally, the hymns and the sermon ought to be in harmony with each other.