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Worship in Song

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 29, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 21.

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Worship in Song

By D. E. Lindsey

D. E. LINDSEY
It is with much pleasure that I have read in the Review several short articles on church music and singing, and I wish to add a few thoughts. The musical leader should be a Christian, for sacred song is more an inspiration than an art, the expression of emotion rather than of vocal culture. The basis of all musical effect is feeling. Since feeling is from the heart, so must its expression be, else it is in an unknown tongue. The understanding, or head merely, can utter no music, least of all religious music. Sounds may be given in time, pitch, and power, but music will be wanting. The effect at best will be counterfeit. It may be beautiful, but for some reason it will not reach the heart. Some false quality will betray execution. The solemnity will be hollow, the softness flat, the loudness a strain. If feeling, then, be requisite to perfect musical utterance, how shall one express the sublime conceptions and emotions of the worship of God, whose heart has never bowed in reverence and adoration before Divinity, thrilled with the joy of pardon, melted with pity for the Saviour's sufferings, or beat responsive to a Saviour's love?
Piety is the essential qualification for good religious singing. To this may be added many minor qualifications. The hymns should, moreover, be such as are elevating, such as have a high inspiration, an uplifting power. It should be remembered that singing is worship; also that singing is one of the most important aids in preparing the heart and mind for the reception of the truth, by inducing a docile spirit, and is most effective in fastening, as with iron bands, the truth already communicated.
Then let our songs well up from full hearts, hearts full of love for Jesus. O, how much we need the inspiration of the Holy Ghost to help us to sing in our Sabbath schools and churches! Let the old sing, the middle-aged, the young men and maidens, and the little children. Let all join in glorious songs of praise to God and the Lamb.
Clyde, Ohio.