| Citation |
BG.760.006
21 Jan 1760:21,22 (251)
To the Printers, Sirs, Mr. Page the news-paper carrier
having left off riding our way, on account of the difficulty
of the season, I did not know that you had made my letter of
the 28th of Oct. last public, till happening to be in
Boston, on the fifth of this month, and having some business
at a booksellers shop, I heard an honest man enquiring for a
Bible that had no Popery in it. I easily guessed at the
reason of his being so cautions; and entering into discourse
with him about it, he took your gazette of the 17th of
December last, out of his pocket, that I might read what had
been published; imagining I had been a stranger to the
affair.
[para.2, line 20:] But at the meeting I mentioned above,
the prayers were pertinent and fervent. And the singing too
sirs, tho' many people look on this as an insignificant part
of worship, I was charmed with. They had an excellent
version of the psalms, not in use among us: And there were
a number that seemed to be perfect masters of psalmody, who
struck in together in the first line; which was a method
quite new to me.
But what in my judgment compleated the beauty and
solemnity of that part of the worship, was to see a
considerable part of a devout assembly, standing up to sing
God's praises;--and of both sexes too! In our parish the
women will not open their mouths to sing at all. But there
they not only sung, but joined in the laudible practice of
standing,. . .
[col.2] I could mention, did not your business call you
away, a great number of texts that speak of standing to
worship God; and tho' singing is not particularly mentioned,
I cannot see why it should be excluded! nor why arguments
for standing in other parts of worship, will not conclude
(as I said before) as forcibly for standing in that part
[Biblical quotes]. . . [11 lines] I was pleased to find a
person that seemed so desirous that public worship should be
carried on with the greatest decency and decorum: And I
can't but express my wish not only that the practice of
standing to sing may become universal; but also that those
who behave irreverently in time of public prayer, by staring
about, and sometimes bowing to their acquaintance, and at
other times lolling and stretching, and behaving in other
respects indecently, would consider seriously in whose
presence they are, and the solemn duty they are engaged in.
Your's Z.A.Y.B. January 14, 1760.
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