SINGING by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 31, 1901

SINGING

By Editor

SINGING is an important branch of the worship of God. It was formally ordained and enjoined by the direct instruction of Jehovah. It was granted all possible accessories, the aid of pipe, harp, organ, and stringed instruments of all kinds,—anything, in fact, that would make a musical sound and accompany and blend with the human voice. The human voice is a wonderful instrument, capable of an almost infinite variety of changes in pitch, tone, stress, strength, and expression.

This voice can be cultured and improved, the same as one can improve by practice in the use of an instrument. There may not be many ears trained to discern the difference between the rough and the polished, the uncultured and the cultured, but the latter is the standard, and from this the true pleasure from music is derived. Those who have turned their attention to the training and culture of the human voice, have undertaken a good work, which should be encouraged, and all success in that line should be appreciated.

After the repeated admonitions we read in the Old Testament, to praise God with a loud voice, and with all kinds of instruments of music, the more musical instruments we can see and hear well performed in the worship of God, the more we seem to be reminded of the order of heaven, which is full of harpers, harping with their harps. John says: “And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder; and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps;” and the song they sing on this occasion is the “new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures [R. V.] and the elders.”

Some years ago, friends of music in Battle Creek, thinking our church services might be greatly improved if we could enlist some of the good musical talent among the members, organized a church orchestra. Its benefit to the singing and its good services were very apparent, and much enjoyed by some. But unfortunately, by the generality it was not appreciated nor encouraged, and under these depressing circumstances, disappeared.

Now the friends of singing are rallying again to establish a choir; and a good body of singers have been enlisted, sufficient to form the nucleus of a good choir; and now an article appears in the REVIEW at which the singers have abundant reason to take exception. The article is on the subject of “singing,” REVIEW of December 17, page 815, and contains some statements which are beyond the bounds of moderation. In the patent business when the applicant has made a claim which is too strong, he enters a disclaimer on that point. So we feel called upon to enter a disclaimer in reference to some of the statements in that article. We refer to those expressions which draw a comparison between the notes of a song and the shrieks, wailing, and groans of the lost. But it may be said that it is declared that it seems so to some. This does not help the matter any; for no one has a right to let it seem so, much less to assert that to some it seems so; for when we say this, we are going altogether outside of our province; for no one in this state of being has ever heard the shrieks of the damned, and we trust that none of our readers ever will, unless it be from that side of the impassable gulf, on which Abraham and Lazarus will be established in their eternal habitation.

We hold that no notes can ever be drawn from the human voice this side the close of probation, no matter in what condition of pain, disappointment, remorse, or despair, than can for a moment be properly compared with the shrieks, moans, and wailings of the lost. Therefore no such comparisons should ever appear in the REVIEW; and none would have appeared, had the matter been fully considered.

The way we enter a disclaimer against articles for the REVIEW is by declining to let them appear; but the particular expressions referred to, inadvertently slipped by us.

Singers who have an interest to try to improve the singing, and thus add interest to the worship of God, however far short they may come of their ideal, should receive credit for contributing to the best of their ability to aid the good work; and their efforts, put forth with the honest design of serving and praising God, should not be classified as above.

And there are, both among the brethren and among the sisters, some who have a gift for solo singing. To speak of no others, if the soul-stirring solos of Brother Sheafe could be rendered at all our general gatherings, we believe it would send a thrill of inspiration into every heart.

The object of these lines is to encourage our churches everywhere to foster the taste for music that may exist among the young people, and among the adults also, that it may be developed and consecrated to the service of the Lord, and His cause have the benefit of it, instead of leaving it all to be absorbed in channels that may be, to say the least, questionable; because music is a divine gift, and ought to be devoted to divine purposes. EDITOR.