History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

179].] FEDERAL CONSTITUTION—MANUFACTURES, 531
urged by those who opposed the innovation was, that many
of the people had no psalm-books, and could not know
what the choir was singing, unless it was read by the dea-
con. The change was gradual, and began with the first
hymn only, but by degrees it was carried through the
whole service. When the choir was first introduced into
public worship is uncertain, but probably it was about this
time. There was very little use for a choir under the old
system. Choristers seem to have been employed to set the
tune "and lead the singing before the choir was formed.
But it is probable that the choir did not come in till after
the old method of singing was abandoned and singing-
schools were established. Evidently there were schools for
teaching music in 1773, and probably, if a master was
hired, he was paid by subscription. The chorister, how-
ever, was employed much earlier than this. About 1755,
Daniel Pomeroy was chorister, and he was followed in the
office by Joseph Root, Joseph Parsons, and Timothy
Dwight, Dea, Ebenezer Pomeroy was an excellent reader,
celebrated for the manner in which he '
' Deaconed the
Psalm," line by line. After the new method was adopted,
Josiah, Isaac and Jacob Parsons, Caleb Strong and others,
would leave the meeting-house just before the last singing.
The singers frequently met at Dea. Supply Kingsley's to
practice, and occasionally at Major Hawley's, He was
not much of a singer, but was very fond of music, Northampton
was noted in Mr, Edwards' day, before the evolu-
tion of the choir, for the excellence of its church music. ^
The reputation of the town in this respect was not suffered
to diminish. The choir, in a few years, became one of the
largest associations of singers in this region, and contained
many fine musicians.
1 In Mr. Edwards' account of " Surprising Conversions," during the great revival
of 1733 to 17.35, he bears the following tribute to the excellence of this part of the
Sunday services: — " Our public praises were then greatly enlivened. God was then
served in our Psalmody, in some measure, in the beauty of holiness. It has been observable
that there has been scarce any part of divine worship, wherein good men
amongst us have had grace so drawn forth, and their hearts so lifted up in the ways
of God, as in singing his praises. Our congregation excelled all that I ever knew in
the external part of the duty before, the men generally carrying regularly and well,
three parts of music, and the women a part by themselves.'"— p. 13.