CHURCH MUSIC.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 25, Issue 8, 1 August 1935, Page 2

CHURCH MUSIC.

Sir, — In the article upon "Church Music" m the July number of "The Waiapu Church Gazette," the first thing that strikes me is an apparent misunderstanding of the Psalmists' words, "The beauty of Holiness." Holiness is neither an art nor music, it is a far greater thing — freedom from sin — and is not dependent upon the possession of a fine voice nor upon musical training. Then, although "assertion is not argument" the asser-

tion may, and often does, contain a truth. The article gives two reasons why I may not join m the singing: First, I should "mar the effect" of the beautiful music of the choir. Am I then to worship the choir? Second, if I attempt "to join m the music with my voice I should actually lose most of it." Am I then being worshipped by the choir? Clergy and choirs are too apt to think that what is pleasing to them must necessarily be pleasing to God, but singing is the natural expression of joy and thanksgiving ,and may not He who gave us our voices prefer that we should use them. As a very small child I acquired the notion (which I still hold) that God hears every individual voice m the great chorus of praise, and that if I keep silence He will miss my voice, and be grieved with the ingratitude of His child, no matter how beautifully others are singing. A similar idea is better expressed by Browning m his poem, "The Boy and the Angel," m which God misses "my little human praise," although an angel takes the place of the boy and uses the same words of praise. The appeal of beautiful music to the hearer has its place at missions, and on other occasions, when we are not specially assembled for worship, but I cannot "render thanks for the great benefits I have received" or "set forth His most worthy praise" with the lips of the choir, any more than I can "hear His most Holy Word through their ears. "A. M. W." Ormondville.