| Citation |
BG.766.011
10 Mar 1766:11,12 (571)
Messieurs Edes & Gill, Since it is the character of your
paper impartially to publish every thing deemed important to
the interest of a society, or any of it members, as it is
transmitted to your hands, then a female may be emboldened
to apply to you. I assure you then that your giving the
following a place in your next Monday's Gazette, will
greatly oblige your constant reader, C-------.
I have had the privilege of a religious education; have
been taught to fear the Lord, and attend his ordinances from
my earliest years; and no part of divine worship has ever
appeared more solemn, more exalted, more analogous to the
employment of the blessed above, than PSALMODY; none
therefore was ever more pleasing to me: this has often made
me lament the dulness, the indifference, the jarring
discords with which it is heavily dragged on, in our part of
the country, to this very day; one with any tolerable ear
can never attempt to join these churches in it, but every
devout ardour is greatly cramped, if not altogether
extinguished, the sound scarce ever failing to contradict
the sense: Hence I have long wished some reformation in our
church musick; -- but wished in vain.--Till, a few weeks
ago, my parents were pleased to send me hither to a boarding
school: I attended publick worship, the next Lord's day, at
the New South; where all I had complained of I found
corrected; the singing was conducted in such a manner, as
was, at once, expressive of the truest devotion, and
conducive to check the wandering mind, fitted to elevate the
languid soul, and administer reproof to every untuned heart.
The sublime entertainment that afforded, kindled the most
eager desires to be able to imitate their exalted strains; I
was not insensible of the goodness of my voice; it had alas
too often distinguished itself in the service of vanity! in
which I wish mine were the only voice of my sex; I therefore
resolved immediately to apply for instruction in that
delightful art.--Next day a friend invited me to spend the
evening where a singing-party were to meet for the
improvement of learners. I was much pleased with the
opportunity,--and went.
But--to my great surprize,--I found a large company, in
all the spirit of gaity, professedly convened for amusement,
or instruction in the use of the voice, and declaring by
their whole conduct this was all they meant, yet employed in
uttering nothing but the most solemn addresses to the Deity,
in prayers, confessions, praises; after tuning their notes
to such language, as I have heard our worthy parson, from
the pulpit declare "it would be daring impiety even for the
serious to use in Church, unless in the present enjoyment of
the fullest assurance of faith": the most elevated
sentences of the inspired Psalmist, paraphrased, and fitted
for the sweetest moments of the Christian's life,--nay the
Hallelujahs of the enraptured choir above, dwelt upon the
singers lips, the whole evening; interrupted now and then by
a chearful joke, a glass of wine, or the repeated plaudits
of the hearers:--Perhaps 'tis owing to the ignorance of
stiffness of a rustick education, but I sat dumb, shocked,
and greatly offended. Conscience whispered, is not this a
solemn mockery of Jehovah? or do all these mean what they
say? if so, happy souls! if not, is it not lying to the
searcher of hearts? Blasphemy? horrid trifling with the
name of God ? In these thoughts I was not a little checked,
by the presence of a Rev. Divine; so sure (methought) I
judge amiss; otherwise, his great knowledge and
distinguished piety would not suffer him, by his
countenance, thus publickly to abett a practice in which the
Lord has declared he will not hold any man guiltless: This
however did not fully satisfy me. I durst not go again.
All my own private reasonings fail to justify it; and being
a stranger and unknown, I have no access to the sentiments
of those who would instruct me; I am therefore, at last,
reduced to the necessity of having recourse to this publick
manner of begging, in the humblest, and most respectful
terms I can, that the Rev. Gentleman above referred to, or
some other of the sacred character here, would condescend to
favour me with such light on this subject, thro' tis same
publick channel, as may relieve a mind that is burthened. I
now their lips keep knowledge: and I may safely presume
they will, by no means, take it amiss, if one, who cannot
otherwise, does even thus enquire the law at their mouths:
since their answer may enlighten and satisfy many, in town
and country, who may be perplexed with the same painful
scruples, in a matter deemed of no trifling moment by their
humble servant, Clarissa. Boston, Feb. 18, 1766.
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