Bulletin Articles: Full Article for Record Number 1045
History Says: Congregational Singing
by Larry Ray Hafley
In the Old Path Guide of July, 1879 (exactly 125 years ago as I type this-LRH), Frank G. Allen, in an article entitled, "The Church-Its Worship," and under the heading, "Singing," wrote:
Their singing was a real heart-service, and consisted of "psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs" (Eph. 5:19, 20; Col. 3:16). In this delightful service, the whole congregation doubtless took part. "The psalms of David were chiefly used in the ancient church."
It has been contended recently, that the singing of the first churches was not congregational, and therefore our congregational singing is as unauthorized as any musical performance in the worship. The facts of history are clearly against this statement. In his Ancient Christianity Exemplified, than which no work known to us contains more reliable information with reference to the primitive Church, Dr. Lyman Coleman says:
The prevailing mode of singing during the first three centuries was congregational. The whole congregation united their voices in the sacred song of praise in strains suited to their ability....The most ancient and the most common mode of singing was confessedly for the whole assembly, men, women, and children, to blend their voices in their songs of praise in the great congregation. Such is the testimony of Hilary of Augustin and Chrysostom. "Formerly all came together and united in their song, as is still our custom." "Men and women, the aged and the young, were distinguished only by their skill in singing, for the spirit which led the voice of each one, blended all in one harmonious melody."
Comments: Not history, not quotations from ancient authorities (no matter their esteemed integrity and reliability, nor the depth of their scholastic credibility), but the Scriptures are our authority (Col. 3:16, 17; 1 Pet. 4:11). Yet, it is refreshing to view again another testimony to the divine plan as announced and pronounced by the Spirit of God and followed by the saints throughout the sorrowing centuries. The echoes of the songs of Zion resound and reverberate down through the corridors of time. Their melody is picked up by the ear of faith and put to the lips of the faithful who sing anew the timeless songs of both antiquity and eternity. May it ever be so. Then, on the other side of the moon and stars, when we blend our voices with angelic armies and heavenly hosts and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, it will indeed ever be so!
