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Show moreLetter from George S. Ffinden concerning the musical services. Sent from Blessington House, Lee. [noted: Easter Tuesday]. Unsigned letter Transcription: "Blessington House Lee Easter Tuesday Dear Ffinden, I hope we may meet again in a day or two, but we may not get a quite chat and also I prefer to write about a notion which has occurred to me, before I can be supposed to have had any conversation with others about our service on Sunday. I came straight away after luncheon in time for [] at St Stephen's and had not a word with any of the []. My question is of the musical service. I had it before me many years ago, and deci- ded against attempting it when some of the most valued members were inclinced to introduce it. My reasons were 1st - that I did not think that the poor and ill instructed portion would enter with and be improved by a musical service, however good, but would rather be repelled, and that to them the greatest con0 sideration should be shown by the stronger brethren- 2nd - That I could not make it good enough to be attractive to cultivated minds. I like such a service with a good trained surpliced choir, but that I could not get at Downe I quite object to a mixed choir of females and my [] want of high musical power made me un- able to say the Priest's part with sufficient accuracy- These were my considerations. [], and I took some pain to ask about; wishing in a mat -ter where no principle was involved to do what was most equable. I have, no hesitation in saying that if I were myself a lay Churchman in Downe I should prefer that the prayers were said, rather than sung even at the best that practice can attain with the materials- If I may venture to [], it would be that you should this week take as many of your regular attendants [] and [] as you can with consultation, say that the sung service is an experiment, to begone on with or not as is considered best, and then act accordingly. It would be easy and graceful to do this [] but [] easy, if in a short time an objection on any grounds should come from below. I hope you will take this in as friendly a spirit as I mean it."
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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