, 1881-05-29


wrangle. between opinion and fact, and these
are always the bltterest Of wrang!es. Still,
with all the superior knowledge TINT belongs
to tho old, it is not easy to understand their
position or the reasons for their opposltson TO
this noble instrument. They assoctite IL
with frivolity when it Is the most dlgnlhed OF
Instruments, and with fashion when it Is the
least fashionable. II fashion could haFo lis
way it would introduce lutes and nlandoltns,
which are now tile instruments Of our mott
crn cult aud are deemed the only
instruments sufficiently utter to express the
devotion Of the religious csthetc. 1t IS 4
curious anomaly that they will cling to tie
irreyerent fiddle and unctuous, though hypo-
critical, bass vjol, when all the traditions
show that these instruments have been
mainly used in the service of tho world, the
flesh, and the devil, for which they are al-
mrably fitted. Whoever heard Of an organ
in IL beer saloon, variety hall, at dance, Ill
Il theatre, or in any locality devoted to the
alnring pleasures or sinful pursuits OF the
world? Yet the violin is always to be found
in them. 1t is hot long since tllut to DC
called fiddler was considered q term OF re-
proacll Iasanini, the greatest Of his pro-
fession, was commonly reputed to bc pos
sesscd Of tile devil. In the early days OF the
English theatres it WAS not uncommon
for the gallery to empty all sorts OF
dccayed vegetable growths upon the
devoted heads Of the fiddlers, and
suggestions at times to Kill a fiddler
or throw him out of window were always
hailed with acclamatious By the audience. rs
to the bass viol it is simply an overgrown
fiddle with alL its vices emphasized, and the
| more dangerous because they are thlnly DIS
guiscl beneath Il veneer OF proprlety, while
every one knows TINT the bald-headeu OLD
men who play them lead very incorrect lives
from their association with this PecksnlH OF
instruments.
We have been led to these remarks because
one Of these Quarrc|s has lately broken out
in d prominent church in Toronto. at re-
cent meeting OF tho church motion was
made by the younger members to nave an
organ as al auxiliary to the service. Tho
old members ut once opposed 1t, ami
! 4 controversy began. The young people.
however, being determined to have their or
gam. went to work, raised the money, and
bought it, without saying anything to the old
people. 1t was erected during the week, and
on Sunday morning WAS In its place, with all
organist on the bench. The young people
| were On tile alert to enjoy tile new music.
The old people SAT strangely quiet The
! hymn was given out. The young people rose
| with aLucrity and pric,1ed up their ears. The
old people rose soleinnly, but with u peculiar
expression Of countenance- The choir stood
up, ready to lift their voices to the familiar
1uetrc. They waited for the notes from the
| organ. The organist had pulled out
his stops, was lingering the keys,
and trcains the pedals, and the blower
| was pumping for dear life, but there was not
a sound from the organ. It was as silent as
the grave. Then the old brethren anu sisters
pitched tho tunes themselves, and sque;1ked
away in IL triumphant manner on their FIJI
yorit "pennyroyal," while the young people
stood with feelings which, to cnll them mad,
does feeble justice to tho subject. 4 SUBJ
scuuent search for the cause showed that
| some of the old people had assembled to the
| loft on the previous night and smearcl the
entire inner works Of the organ with glue, so
| that it WIS incapable OF emitting 4 sound.
| TO the present time there has been no rec0ll-
| Citation. The young people want the OLD
ones to get the glue ont of the organ, and
| the old people want the young ones to get
! both glue and organ out OF the church alto
| gclher. At present they are so far divided
| that even glue will not stick them together.
| The church is disturbed to its organic foun-
| uatiOn3.