The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-08-01
THE FIDDLE WITH A HEAVENLY cRoAK."

"THE FIDDLE WITH A HEAVENLY CRoAK"
The following from correspondent of tho
New York Musical Review and Choral Adyo
cato will repay perusal. There are many
prejudces which hang like dead weight up
on the progress of society, or of the indyidua
who cherishes them which arc no better foun
ded than tho one SO offoctually removed by
the parson:-
Prejudices founded on religious or conscion
tious scruples are among tho most lnveterate
and not unfrequently among the most unrea
sonable. Such are the prejudices formerly
cxisting--and not vet by any means entirely
oxtinct-chiefy among the descendants of the
Puritans, and tho early reformers. respecting
the uso Of instrumental music and its introduc
tion into the worship of the sanctuary. Some
times they extend only to instruments OF GER
tain character; wind instruments, such as the
flute, &C., are tolerated, while all such as owe
their efficacy to cat-gut and hair, are punished
from the church, and their use deemed scarce
ly reputable in the family circle.
There is a hamlot--no matter whore; inhabi
ted mainly by the descendants of tho Scottish
Covenauters, who have inherited from their
fathers not only their sturdy, unbending in
tegrity, and whole souled piety, but all their
bitter hostility to "the sinful practices" of the
mon who wied the fiddle-bow or who join the
dance.
A young minister had como to settle among
them. With a smile ever upon his counte-
nance. and kind word for everybody
whilo zeal for his Masters work shone out in
evory action, be soon drew around him the
sympathies and ovo of his humble parishoners.
But ero long he perceived change; friendly
greetings were coldly returned; mysterious
hints of the awful guilt of ministerial backsli-
dings occasionally reached his ears-knots of
men were seon gathered at tho corners Of the
streets, engaged IN earnest conversation, ndl-
eating by their looks and gestures that tho oc-
cupaot of the humble parsonage, that stood IN
full view. supplied tho theme.
vagne rumor had begun to float through
the hamle', deeply affecting, in tho estimation
of the stern old Scotchlnen, the moral charac-
acier OF their minister 1t was heard with in
credulity, and Indignantly repellcd; but it
gathered strength; doubt succeeded to conf
dcnce. until the most stubborn incredulty
could rcsist no longer; tho unmistakcabe signs
of tortured cat gut proceeding from tho
parsonage itself, reached the cars OF that knot
of men, and tho awful fact stood revealed, that
their minister "played tho fiddle" Such an
enormty could not 90 tolerated. The elders
of the church camc together in secret conclaVe
10 consult upon the course to be pursued in
such an emergency. AMI as consummation Of
their deliberations. committee was appointed
to wal. forthwith upon the minister at his
no nc. "and deal wi him in a faithfnlness,"
and bring back areport of thei" mission to the
remaining elders who would in the meantime
anxiousy await their return.
During all this limo tho pastor himself bad
not been an unco icernod observer of what
was going oil among his people; neither was
he ignorant of its cause. Conscious. however,
of reclitudc. he did not think that duty re-
Quircd Of him tho sacrifice Of q holy gratifca-
tion, 10 satisfy unrea asonabe.prejudices that he
beloved wuaid De removed by tuloious
course. Feom tie window IF his study he saw
the committee of the elders approaching with
unwilling steps, aad Immediately conjccturing
the object of their visit, he determined o t once
to meet tho question in way that they little
expected. Meeting them with his usual cor
dialiiy he ushered them into his snug study,
and without giving thom an opportunity to en-
ter upon the subject of their mission, he COM
menced an animated conversation upon sub
ject that Immediately arrested their attention.
Music was his theme. He spoke of it as an
aid TO dovotio of its power to sDbdue the
soul--te elevate il above tho earih--'o bring il
into almost Immediate communication with its
Creator. He described the venerable Psalm
ist Of Israel as pouri forth with the enthusi-
asm of inspiration those glorious songs of Zion,
that had ever since been the comfort and de-
light of tho people of God, and sweeping with
his trembling hand tho strings of his harp. un-
til The swelling sound was echoed back from
tho surrounding hilltops. Carried away with
tho ardor Of his own feelings, no rose from his
scat. and taking from case that stood in one
IF the room we'll worn violincello, he sang
to its accompaniment one Of those immortal
chorals, 50 dear to every Christian heart, and
especially to every Scotchman. Possessing a
rich full voice, and no litllo skill in the man
agement of his favorte instrument. he poured
out such flood of harmony as had seldom
greeted the ears oe his SPELL bound listeners.
The storm old men wero conquered. conquered
by the very weapon that they had come to
condemn. AS the pastor returned the instru-
ment to its accustomed place, the elders arose
and grasped his hand, and without alluding
to the object oftheir visit, they bade him good
bye"
Meanwhile, as the time wore away. the re-
naming oldors, who wcro anxiously awaiting
tho return of III cir committee, somewhat doubt
full, perhaps, Of tho result-becamo impaticn,
of their protracted delay-drawing no very fa-
vorablo angury therefrom. At length they
onterod and resumed their place in the au-
gust circle. Somewhat embarrassed at tho nov
city of ther position, rs ENJOYS who had failed
oven To speak Of that for which they had boon
sont, they sat for time in silence, until one
more impatient than the rest, exclaimed, "liao
ye dealt wi the minister, and bac yo destroy
cd tho de'il's wcaponf' "IIout ava, mon, wi
your dealin'," indigna ntly replied one of tho
committee: "its name o your wee bit sinfu
dancin fiddles, but it's great. big fiddle. wi a
heavenly croak."-[R. L. c., Bloomfield, N. j.
SINGULAR OccURRENcE.-The following !:
from the CentreviIe Timesi-Undcr the obi,u'
ssy head in to days paper will be found the
denth of Mr. Jacob Reese. On the day Of his
death Mr.. Resse was engaged in seeding oats