The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1854-04-22

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Preudiccs founded on religious or con,
scientIous scruples. are among The most in.
veterate, aud not unlrequently Emong the
most unreasonable. Such are the pren
dicss formerly existing and not yet by
any means entirely chiefly among
/ the descendants of the puritans and the
early reiormers, respecting the use OF in
strumental music, aud It's introduction into
the worship of the sanctuary. Sometimes
J they extend to instruments only OF Ger
/ tain character. Wind Instruments such AS
the flute, &c, are tolerated, while all such
as owe their efficacy to eat gut and hair,
are banished from the church. and their
use deemed scarcely reputable in the fam
lily circle
There is hamlet--to matter where
inhabited mainly hv tho descendants of the
Scottish Covenau,ers, who have inherited
from their fathers not only their sturdy
unhcnding integrity, and whole souled pr
ETY., bat all their bitter hostility to =" the
sinful practices OF the men who WELD the
fiddle bow, or who join the dance.
4 Young minister had come to settle
among them. With smile ever upon bis
couuteuapce and kind word for every,
body, while zeal for his Masters work
shoue out in every action, he soon drew
around him the sympathies and the love OF
his humble pari.hioners. But ere long he
perceived change, irieGdly greetings
were coldly returned mysterious hints of
siul Of al eli
occasionally reached his ear knots Of
men were seen gathered At the corners of
the streets. engaged in earnest converse.
ton, indicating by their looks and gestures
that the occupant of the humble parsons
age, that stood full IN view supplied the
theme
4 vague rumor had begun to Hoa,
through the hamlet, very deeply affect
ing. IN the estimation OF the stern old
Scotchmen, the moral character OF their
minister II was heard with incredibly.
and Indignantly repelled; but It gathered
strength doubt WAS succeeded by conf.
deuee until the most stubborn incredibly
could resist no longer; the unmisiakable
sounds of tortured cstgut,' proceeding
from the parsonage itself, reached the ears
OF that knot Of men, and the awful fact
stood revealed that their minister PLAYED
the fiddle Such an euofmity could not
be tolerated The elders OF the church
came together, in secret concave, to con
suit upon the course TO be pursued in such
an emergency, and as the consummaton
Of their deliberations, committee was ap.
pointed to wait forthwith upon the minister
at his home, " aud deal wi him m "a faith
fitness, aud bring back report OF the
resal, Of their mission 10 the remaining els
ters, who would IN the meantime auxiausly
await their return.
During all this time, the pastor himself
had not been an unconcerued observer OF
what was going on among his people /,
neither was he ignorant ot It's calse.
Conscious, however, OF recliude, he did
not think that duty required of him the
sacrifice Of an exquisite and holy graiidca.
ton to satisfy unreasonable preludices that
he believed would be removed by u Judi
cious course. From the window OF his
study. he saw the committee OF the elders
approaching with unwilling steps, aud i'm
rtcdiately conlec,urng the object Of their
visit, be determined a, once TO NEE, the
question in a way tina, they lt,e expected
Meeting them with his usual cordially, he
ushcted them into his snug study, and with
out giving them an opportunity to enter
upon the subject Of their mission be com
meuced an animated conversation upon a
subject that Immediately arrested their at