So important is the singing to Congregational worship, that without it the effort to please God seems dead. The Lord gave man the gift of singing that he might more fully express himself in his feelings of joy or sorrow, of strength or weakness. In the gift of song we have one of the greatest powers for good or evil. The Giver intended it for good—unto edifying—unto building up of the body of Christ. If we restrain and discourage this effort where God has commanded it’s use, we are sinning against God and man. In every awakening of the church past or present, there has been with it an increase in the grace of singing. In a dead congregation there is likely to be little of singing for edification.

One male member singing while the others listen is commanded in the New Testament, I Cor. 14 :26; "What is it then brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, bath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." The each one refers to individual effort, "according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith," Rom. 12 :3. Verse 6: "And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given us," etc. I Cor. 14:4-6, "Now there are diversities of workings, but the same Spirit, And there are diversities of ministration, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of workings, but the same God who worketh all things in all." Verse 14: "For the body is not one member, but many." Verse 21:"And the eye cannot say to the hand. I have no need of thee," etc.; but each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching" etc., according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith." I Cor. 14:26 refers to the individual effort of the male members according as they are gifted. All things are done for edifying or building up the Church as cornmanded.

In the apostles times the psalms, hymns, spiritual songs were sung, Eph. 5:19, 20; Col. 3:16, 17. Consequently a gifted male Christian singing before the congregation is just as edifying as one who is teaching by speaking. The Lord has commanded it and the early church practiced it.

It is edifying for a gifted male member to sing before the congregation in individual effort, rather than for those who have not singing voices to join in, in the collective effort. As one remarked "sounds like a lot of cows bawling." This is as much out of place as Alexander Campbell’s "cowbell in a concert." "God is not the author of confusion but of peace," I Cor. 14:33. Brethren who have not the gift of singing usually have some. other grace for service, and should refrain from making confusion in the singing.

The history of the Old Testament was ‘written for our learning, see Rom. 15:4. David an inspired prophet of the Lord, set aside for this service, those who were skillful singers, see I Chron. 25, this included men and women (verses 5 and 6). Under the new covenant women are commanded to be in subjection as also saith the law (of Moses and David etc.) I Cor. 14:34. Hence women so gifted may engage in the service of song under the leadership of man, I Chron. 25:5, 6. When the true religion of that time was in a state of decay, the skilled singers and levites who did the work were fled every man to his field in order to make a living, Neh. 13:10. Hence we see of how great importance this phase of the service is to the house of God. Let us remember that "the eye cannot say to the hand we have no need of thee." Take away the skilful singers from the congregation and we have a crippled, maimed church. That important part of building up is lacking. Soon the candle light may die. Let us rather practice the edifying things that the Body may grow—a healthy, vigorous, spiritual house, a glory to God and a blessing to man.(Continued D. V.)

L. L. McGill