Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1854-08-31
The Fiddle with Heavenly CrOak.

iDilOMiAk I0hu EuNfEapuuueNL OF tile
New York Musical Review and Choral Adyo-
cate, will repay perusal. There are many
prejudiees which hang ike dead weight upon
the progress OF society, or Of the individual
who cherishes them, which are no better found
ed than the one efectually removed By the par
son.
Prejudees founded on religious or eOnscien-
tious scruples are among the most inSeteTats
and not unfrcqueuty among the most unrea-
sonable. Such are the prejudices formerly ex-
isting-and NOT yet BY any means entirely ex-
tinct-chiefy among the descendants Of he Pu-
ritans and the early Reformers, respecting the
use OF instrumental music, and its Introduction
Snto the sanctuary. Sometimes they extend
only to instruments o. acharacter; WIND IN stru-
ments, such as the quite, DC, nre 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. a -IE ss
There is hamlet--Ro matter where---inhab-
tied mainly by the descendants Of the Scottish
OoYenanters, who have inherited from their
fathers not only their sturdy, unbending integ-
rity and whole -souled piety, but all their bitter
hostility to ''the sinful practices" of the men
who WELD the fiddle bow, or who ;oin the
dance. -
A young minister had come to settle among
them. With smile eyer upon bis countenance
and kind word fol everybody, while zeal for
his Masters work shone out in every action he
SO n drew around him the sympathies and the
70 Of his humble parishioners. But ere long
ne perceived change; friendly greetings were
coldly returned; mysterious hints Of the awful
guilt Of ministerial backslidings occasionally
reached his ears; knots Of men were seen gath
cred at the corners Of the streets, engaged in
earnest conversation, indicating by their looks
and gestures that the occupan! Of the humble
parsonage, that stood full in view; supplied the
theme. 81.
A vague rumor had begun 10 float through
the hamlet, deeply affecting, in the estimation
Of the stern old Scotchman, the moral charac
ter of their minister. 1t was heard with ncred-
ulity, and Indignantly repelled but it gather
ed strength; doubt succeeded to confidence,
until the most stubborn incredulity could resist
no longer; the unmistakeabe sounds Of "tor-
tured cat-gut," proceeding from the parsonage
itself, reached the ears Of that knot of men ,and
the awful fact stood revealed, that their minis
ter "played the fiddle" Such az enormity
could not be tolerated. The elders Of the
church came together in secret conclave,
to consult upon the course to be pursued
in such an emergency, and as the consumma-
ton of their delberation. committee was ap-
pointed to wait forthwith upon the minister at
his home, "and deal wi him in a. laithfulness'
and bring bGck a report of the result of their
mission to the remaining elders, who would, in
The meantime, anxiously await their return.
During all this time the pastor himself had
not been an unconcerned observer ofwhat was
going on among his people; neither was he ig-
noranL Of its cause. Conscious, however, Of
rectitude, he did not think that duty required
of him the sacrifice of an exquisite and holy
qualification, to satisfy unreasonable prejudices
that he believed would be removed by judi
cious course. From the window of his study,
he saw the committee of elders approachinG
with unwilling steps; and Immediately conjecs
uring the object Of their visit, he determin-
ed at once to meet the question in way that
they little expected. Meeting them with his
usual cordiality, be ushered them into his snug
study, aud without giving them al opportunity
to enter upon the subject Of their mission, he
commenced an animated conversation upon sub
ject that Immediately arrested their attention
Music was his theme. He spoke of it Rs ar
aid to devotion-of its power to subdue the
soul-to elevate itabove the earth-to bring
it into almostimmediate communication with it,
Creator. He described the venerable Psalm
ist of Israel pouring forthwith the enthusiasm
of inspiration those glorious songs of Zion, tha
ever since have been the comfort aud delight o
the people of God, and sweeping with histrem
bling hand the strings of his harp, until tht
swelling sound was echoed back from the sur
rounding hill tops. Carried away with th'
ardor of his own feelings, he rose from hi
seat, and taking from case that stood in on'
corner of o room a well-worn violncello, b,
sang to its accompaniment one of those immor
tai chorals, so dear to every christian heart, ant
Especially 10 every Scotchman, Possessing
lrich, full voice; and no little skill in the man
agemelt or his fayorte instrument, he poured
out such food Of harmony as had seldom
greeted the ears of his spell bound listeners
The stern old men were conquered, conquere
by the very weapon that they had come to con
demn. AS the pastor returned the instrume1
to its accustomed place, the elders arose an
.a grasped his hand, and, without alluding to tn
I" object Of their visit, they babe him good bye
: : Meanwhile, as time wore away, the remain
y ing elders, who were anxiously awaiting tn
: return of their committee, somewhat doubtful
perhaps, of the result--became impatient {
y their protracted delay drawing no very favol
. able augury therefrom. At length they entel
: : ed and resumed their places in the august Gil
:. Icle. Somewhat embarrassed al the novelty
/ their position as envoys who had failed eve
at to speak of that for which they had been sen