CHURCH MUSIC

This is a fictional (actually not so fictional) letter from a demon to Satan about his efforts to bring in worldly styles and music into church meetings.  Check for yourself if this article is not sarcastically correct - ed.

The following letter from one of the Missionaries of the Prince of Darkness to his master upon the subject of church music was intercepted, says an exchange by some contributor to the New York Musical Review in which it appeared:

In obedience to the commands of your infernal Highness, I have the honor to report the progress and present state of the important enterprise committed to me. That of obtaining control of the church music in America. And to averting it to the service of Your Highness. In performing this duty, I am able to congratulate Your Highness on the progress which has already been made. And a bright prospects for the future. It has been necessary to proceed with some caution in this work in order to avoid, as far as possible, alarming those righteous persons who, acknowledging no allegiance to Your Highness, might otherwise defeat our purpose. It affords me great satisfaction to report. That these are in a state of as entire turpitude with regard to the musical portion of church service as could be desired. In order to quiet their consciousness, I have suggested to him that as they do not understand music, they have no duty with regard to it, that they might leave it to those who have knowledge. With a little caution, I believe that Your Highness has nothing to fear from them. They seem quite willing that you should shake their music as you please. Indeed, a large majority of churchgoers and even members seem greatly delighted with the changes which have already been affected by the agents of Your Highness and are disposed hardly to second my future efforts.

I have the honor of reporting that the introduction of opera singers into church choirs desired by Your Highness has been so well accomplished that there is even a competition among congregations as to who shall secure them. The secular rising of church music has steadily progressed with marked effect in furthering Your Highnesses ends. Open airs, dances, and negro airs have from time to time been cautiously introduced with impunity. It was necessary to move with much circumspection at first, and accordingly, I attempted only some airs whose secular associations were not so unmistakably on your Highness's side as might otherwise have been desirable. Thus. "Old Lang syne" was one of the first set to sacred words for use in social and religious gatherings and its success has been complete. Some of those who were confirmed in their opposition to Your Highness have undoubtedly used this air without much detriment to the worship they were paying to your Highnesses's great enemy. But it was a step in the right way, even with them. While with others, it has served to revive thoughts of convivial gatherings and other associations most favorable to our cause. Just at a time when it was most important to Your Highness to destroy certain religious impressions which had been made. Other secular airs have been from time to time introduced with entire success. It is true that some stubborn foes have opposed a warning voice. But I have raised against him the cry of "old fashioned," "illiberal ability," et cetera. I have asked if the devil should have all the good music? And similar questions which have often silenced your foes. Your Highness, will, I trust, excuse this liberty with your august name. In consideration of my loyal purpose.

The introduction of as much as possible of your Highness's favorite School of Music, the theatrical adjuncts, has not been lost sight of. I have reported the successful introduction of opera singers in the place of the Asaphus, Hermanns, and Jeduthan as leaders of the worship of those who have withdrawn from the assembly of Your Highness. The consideration of the disapprobation with which your enemy must regard such worship cannot fail to be of infinite satisfaction to Your Highness. As the number of this class of public singers is small, it is of course impossible that many churches should be supplied with them. I am however laboring in a similar work because the results promised to be much more extensive. This is the general introduction of the music of the opera as church music. An important step in this direction has been attained in the insertion in books of Psalm tunes, recently published, of various familiar airs. As well as dancers, waltzers, etc. I have, for instance, succeeded in getting in Julians, Prima Donna, Waltz, as well as many others. It has of course been necessary to affix to them sacred words as yet, but a time may soon come when even these may be dispensed with and works more congenial to your Highness's taste to be introduced. Meanwhile, I had the satisfaction of reporting that even now the words are not important from the fact that the majority of churchgoers give their chief attention to the music. This absorbs their attention so completely that when it is of a sufficiently light and frivolous character, and especially surrounded with your secular associations, Your Highness has little to fear from words.

In addition to this, I am happy to state that there are some who openly advocate music without any words at all, holding up the idea that art is the principal object of worship, and that perfection and art is the great thing to which all efforts in church music should be directed. That Your Majesty will approve of this sentiment, I doubt not, since whatever tends to dethrone Deity must have a favorable influence on your Highness's cause.

The practical benefits of having operatic and dance music and singers in a church. Well, that once occurred to Your Highness. Thus, while the first time is performed, a portion at least of the audience will be reminded how gracefully a favorite dancer turned a pirouette to that particular air the night before. In the second, they may recall how deliciously the Signor sang the same music to its official amorous song at the opera. It is, however, unnecessary to expatiate, as all this and much more has long since occurred, to the subtle cunning of your Infernal Highness.

I have the satisfaction of assuring Your Highness that I have large expectations of what may yet be accomplished. So indifferent to the whole subject seemed the clergy, that I apprehend, you need to fear little from them. They may be easily quieted with a mere sensual musical effect. So that if the music goes smoothly and helps to draw a full house, they are satisfied. Besides, I have been successful in many cases in stirring up the bitter opposition of the people to any interference on the part of the ministers on this subject. So that for their own security, it has become necessary in many places for them to give up the singing exercises entirely into the hands of the occupiers of the organ loft. Your Highness has well remarked that if you can gain an entire sentence in the music gallery, you need not be afraid that you can easily neutralize any efforts against you which are made in the pulpit. If I can now succeed in introducing a foreign language such as Latin or Italian, I may then soon use the opera text. The dresses and dances may soon follow, rendering your success complete. It seems almost too much to hope, but when what has already been done is considered, the idea does not all, after all, seem so preposterous.

There is one movement that is pregnant with danger to your Highnesses's interests in respect to this enterprise and which I have not failed to oppose with all the cunning and falsehood at my command. I allude to the efforts which have recently been made for the revival of congregational singing. Should this style of church music again come into vogue, there is reason to fear your Highness's interests will suffer severely. If the people themselves begin to take an active interest, and indeed actually could take part in singing the praises of God, my efforts to keep out the truth, and spirit of worship will, I fear, be useless. For it is necessary, in this manner of singing to use only a few simple tunes, and the exercise becomes one of actual worship rather than a mere musical performance. When the people take part in the singing themselves, there is little opportunity for the introduction of your Highness's servants from the opera or of the attractive opera and dance music. I have therefore labored actively in opposition to this measure. I endeavored to first to enlist choirs and organize against it by persuading them that if this style of music should prevail, their services would be less appreciated. I have also urged, through such mediums as I could command, that the highest form of art should be used in the praise of God and that in congregational singing this is impossible. I have succeeded in persuading some very good men to use this argument very pertinaciously and to enlarge upon it extensively. I have urged against those who are most prominent in this movement's interested motives, and in all other ways have endeavored to destroy their influence. In short, I left no Labour on performed to prevent the success of this measure, which I deemed fraught with so much danger and which might prove as injurious to your Highness's purpose as was the universal Psalm singer at the time of the so-called reformation. In the times of the daring and reckless Luther, or at the time of the renegades, who, fleeing your Highness's authority, so effectually renounced the world, the flesh, and Your Highness on the inhospitable shores of America in a former century.

In a future report. I hope to have the honor of giving a satisfactory view of instrumental music. For I have often found it easy to exert an important influence upon the organist, and to induce him in voluntaries and interludes, to serve Your Highness most effectually by throwing out the most fascinating reminiscences of pleasurable assemblies most destructive to religious thoughts and emotions. Assuring your Highness that I shall labor unremittingly in the responsible work committed to my care, and that I shall be wholly devoted to your Highness's service. I have the honor to subscribe myself.

Your Highness. Most humble, loyal servant.

Heighaart

January 15, 1856, Signs of the Times

Even some New Schoolers notice what is happening: