Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-04


1t is in no sscreligious spirit, or with the
view OF bringing religion into disrepute, that
we allude TO the squabbles of the various re-
ligious denominations. All that we say on
this subject is for the purpose of showing
that the spirit OF free thought is abroad, and
that it is now almost impossible for the
churches to define the limits within which
men should act and speak, and even think
The people are emsncipating themselves
from the thraldom of despotism and the
prejudices which had their birth in an age OF
bigolry and ignorance. The people are
reading, writing and thinking for themselves
and are acting upon their own honest con-
victioDs of right, and not upon the command
of others. No good cause suffers by investIg a,
ton. The feuds in the churches is no evidence
Of the decline of religion. On the contrary
it indicates that the people are anxious To
rid themselves of much childish stuff and
injurious Notwithstanding the har-
vest of opinion and sentiment with the view
of separating the grain from the chat. A
few days since the Presbyterian Church, in
its General Assembly at Springfield, Ill,
was profoundly exercised over the sin a min
ister committed by dancing in private par!or,
and for some time bitter religious feud has
existed in the Irish Presbyterian Church upon
the question Of the sinfulness of using organs
and other instruments of music in the wor-
ship of God Incredible as it may seem
that a frst-cass ecclesiastical battle
could be gotten up in this century
of the christian era upon such a
question as this, resulting in the division OF
families, the breaking up of churches, and
an Unreasonable amount of ill-feeiing and
bad blood among members of the same
household and faith, it is nevertheless true
that such a fight has been and still is going
on in Ireland. In some places, according to
the published accounts this contest is being
wsged with as much herceness az the war
against the expressions OF the British gov
eminent The older and more conservative
brethren, who have set their faces hard as
lint against the introduction OF the organ,
which they call "profane box of whistles"
say there is no authority in the Scriptures
for "worshiping with a machine" and they
dissertation of the sanctuary, while the
younger and more progressive members say
this is a silly prejudice, a foolish and sense
less superstition which is injuring the church,
and they will no longer be governed by the
bigotry of the Bourbons, who learn nothing
and forget nothing. To show how far the
feeling is carried in some quarters, and what
a hold superstition still has on some of the
members OF the Irish Presbyterian Church,
it is only necessary TO refer TO the statement
of the Belfast WttneSs, that the death OF two
of the most prominent clergymen on the
side of the organ is "a very striking
Providence" in rebuke of the party, and
is regarded by many clear indi-
cation of the Divine displeasure toward
those who have drought this burn
ing controversy on the church." When
there is SO much division in the
churches as to standards and what consti-
tutes true and undefiled religion, there is no
justice IN charging the secular press with
hostility to christianity when it dares TO
criticise the biggotry of the churches. Here
in Memphis only few evenings
since the immense organ made for the Court
street church was inaugurated with great
pomp and ceremony. Nothing was wanting
to add splendor to the occasion. The
wealth, the beauty, the fashion, the intelli-
gence and representatives of all the religious
denominations were present. In one vast
roar OF harmony and a wild majesty of
power the new organ touched the chords of
human sympathy, made men and women
more anxious and determined to reach that
heaven filed with beauty, love and music.
But, strange to say, here in America and
ireland professors of religion regard the
music of a church organ as an abomination,
a dissertation of the church, sacrilege and