| Citation |
NYG(W.761.085
28 Sep 1761:31 (142)
I think I have somewhere read in the works of Mr. Addison,
of the great absurdity used in divine service, by some of
the congregation, in loudly repeating that part of the
service after the minister that they ought only to join in,
in the responsals. But surely had Mr. Addison been now
living, he would have took notice of as great an enormity
now practiced among the old plebeans; which is, the hoarse
and dissonant noise made by some of them, (as soon as the
Clerk had begun the psalm) bellowing out such discordant
notes, so injudicious to the Clerk and organ (being
sometimes a whole, or half note higher or lower, as their
fancy directs) that I think it surely impious. For am
sensible that it disturbs devotion. As psalms well sung,
(nay even with a bad voice, if with judgement) surely
affords a most divine melody, and certainly inspires in the
zealous mind a greater warmth of devotion; so these breakers
of sound may very justly be pronounced disturbers of piety.
To instance the truth of what I have asserted: Last Sunday
I went to Chapel, (I will not say with more devotion than
other young girls, but of this can affirm, that my eyes
seldom wandered from my prayer book, and had the highest
sense of the omnipresence of the Deity that my prayers were
address'd to) and as soon as the psalm was given out, one of
the above-mentioned plebeans (who sat in the next pew behind
me) not only rais'd his voice, at least half a note higher
than the clerk, but, poor old man! he mistook the psalm,
and sung a contrary one: This, in spite of all my devotion,
created in me an immoderate laugh, which had well nigh
choaked me, by endeavouring to stifle with my handkerchief:
And thus was my piety quite overthrown. Would therefore
advise all these breakers of sound, for charity sake, to
leave off singing in the church, without they pay more
regard to the leaders of it. Perhaps my elders may say,
that the sacredness of the place ought to have aw'd me into
better behaviour: But surely at my years they might have
committed the like error on the same occasion. And the
reason that I make this publick declaration of my
sentiments, is, in hopes that the better disposed persons,
who may read this (and who perhaps observ'd and condemn'd
me) will think that a smile is the church is not always an
indication of a depraved mind, or having no sense of God
before one's eyes. [signed] Amanda. New-York, Sept. 16,
1761.
(We thank Amanda for the preface to the foregoing
declaration which she was pleased to send us; but must beg
her pardon for observing, that we are afraid she will lose
credit, notwithstanding her great piety and devotion, in her
not shewing some small degree of charity for the old
gentleman, by allowing for any defect of seeing or hearing--
and are apprehensive he will turn the tables upon her.)
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