Excerpt from Church Music in the Metropolis, Its Past and Present Condition: With Notes (Critical and Explanatory) With the varieties of ritual, however, the poetry and. Music of the Church form a very considerable ingredient, and it is to this portion of it that the subjoined pages are chiefly if not wholly devoted. SO great has been the advance of music in general during the last half century that its claims on religious services could not be with stood. If anything, the Church ought to lead the way of improvement. The arte divine was conferred on man. By his Maker to praise Him, and, according to the faculties possessed, man is bound to exercise and mature them, t.e., if he can comprehend the dignity and value. Of his privileges, and the responsibilities attendant upon neglect. As a matter of course, the diversities of ritual, already alluded to, carry with them a diversified pro gramme of music. In some instances this preponderates and in others it seems to struggle for the barest existence. Among the causes assigned for these differences are pleaded the conflicting views of those entrusted with. Church management on one hand, and on the other the want of material support. Some churches can main tain highly efficient choirs, while too many go in for number rather than ability. Better this than none at all. The time has passed for either the Old or new version off the psalms in metre, and the hideous interpretation of them on instruments, fitting rather for the parade on' orchestra than places Of public worship. One instrument: is now appointed to lead, and all the worshippers are in vited to follow. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.