The Negro's church,.

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The Negro's Church

adults, the services are planned mainly in terms of adult desires and experiences.
THE SONGS USED IN THE SCHOOLS
The purposeful use of songs as a means of bringing the
worshipper to a realization of the church's wealth of history
and belief, and of giving him at the same time an appreciation of religious music, is gradually overshadowing other uses
suggested by custom or the necessity to "pep up" the service.
The schools in the 608 churches, either by choice or through
a lack of knowledge and appreciation, make a wide use of
hymns that express, almost wholly, adult ideas of religion
and life which the children have had little or no opportunity
to experience and are therefore unlikely to understand.
The schools use such songs as "Sweet Hour of Prayer,"
"Nearer My God to Thee," "Stand Up, Stand Up, For Jesus,"
"What a Friend We Have in Jesus," "I Came to the Garden
Alone," "I Need Thee Every Hour," "Nothing Between," and
others that are distinctly based upon adult experience. It is
unlikely that the experiences of persons even fifteen or seventeen years of age would enable them to understand fully the
religious significance in such songs. Songs like "All Nature's Works His Praise Declare," "Praise to God and Thanks
We Bring," and "Little Voices Through the Temple Stealing," are probably more suitable for younger folk. It is,
therefore, pleasant to report that several churches were found
using songs of this type.
THE PRAYERS
There are many interpretations of the value of prayer as an
element of public worship, among which at least these two
may prove generally acceptable. (1) That the public prayer
should be social rather than individualistic in its tone and conception, and should assist the worshippers to include others