Nathan Bangs · 45 of 73

Book II. From the First Conference in 1773 to the First Regular General Conference in 1792. · Chapter 3 · Of the Spirit and Truth of Singing

Question 1. How shall we guard against formality in singing?

Answer

By choosing such hymns as are proper for the congregation.

By not singing too much at once; seldom more than five or six verses.

By suiting the time to the words.

By often stopping short, and asking the people, “Now!, do you know what you said last? Did you speak no more than you felt?"

Do not suffer the people to sing too slow. This naturally tends to formality, and is brought in by those who have either very strong or very weak voices.

In every large society let them learn to sing; and let them always learn our tunes first.

Let the women constantly sing their parts alone. Let no man sing with them, unless he understands the notes and sings the bass as it is composed in the tunebook.

Introduce no new tune till they are perfect in the old.

Recommend our tune-book; and if you cannot sing yourself, choose a person or two at each place to pitch the tune for you.

Exhort every person in the congregation to sing, not one in ten only.

Sing no hymns of your own composing.

If a preacher be present, let him alone give out the words.

When the singers would teach a tune to the congregation, they must sing only the tenor.