The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-05-05
Music In the &. r. Church-COnver%nti on
Win Rev. Dr. Mcclure.

lev. Df. NcCIufc, pastor Vi tHe Y. L.
Church, In this city, informs us that the
announcement in yesterdays issue that
the vote on the question OF instrumental
music in the church worship OF the denomi.
nation, Us sent TO the Associated Press ia
dispatch from Rochester, n. " not from
the General Assembly Of The church, rs
was assumed in our reference to the dis
patch, inasmuch rs TIE Assembly has not
yet met, and will not meet until the 9Th
inst, at which time it will meet in Mon.
moath, Illinois. In the course OF IN in.
teresting conversation with the Doctor on
the subject OF the dispatch, he expressed
himself as in accord with that sentiment OF
the denomination that is demanding the
repeal OF the restriction on instrumental
music, and says that undoubtedly it is the
aggressive and growing sentiment Of the
church, especially OF the younger people,
very many OF whom have become &C.
cus,omed to the. use OF organs in the Sun.
day schools and in family worship. He
says that the same agitation is going on IN
Scotland rs in this country except thatihe
sentiment against restriction is not as lar
advanced on TINT side OF the Atlantic as in
this country. In regard to the action OF
the General Assembly on the subjecYst its
meeting on the 9th, it may be said that
while the vote oil the presbyteries will
OF course be announced, yet it does
not follow from mere announcement OF
the vote that the restriction will be re-
p.aled. That formality may or may not
be deemed expedient by the Assembly.
There may be considerations that will de.
eide the Assembly not to declare the re-
striction cxpunged at present Respect for
the conscences OF the large minority OF
the church opposed to the introduction OF
instrumental music may restrain the As.
sembly from carrying into etIec. the voice
OF the presbyteries, and the question be
thus allowed TO remain in allegiance for
some time 10 come. Meanwhile, it is alto
gether likely that such churches as are
practically unanimous in favor OF instru.
mental music will proceed gradually 10 in.
troduce it, and while such procedure will
no. be exactly canonical, yet, having the
sanction Of cmajority OF the presbyteries,
it cannot be regarded as matter calling
for official animadverSion. Speaking ior
his own church here in the city, the Doctor
gays that while 4 majority OF the member
ship are in favor OF instrumental music.
yet he would not favor its introduction as
long as Il respectable minority held the
other view. There is some danger that the
question will yet result in schism in the
denomination. There is large and deter.
mined party Of opposition, who threaten
TO secede il the restriction is repealed, and
therefore it il matter OF great concern as
to the action OF the coming Assembly. Il
is 10 some extent the old question over
again OF introducing the revised version C..
the psalms, which ut one time gave the
church good deal OF trouble, but which
was gotten over by introducing them into
the Sunday schools and into the miscel.
laneous singing exercises OF the member
ship. The present difficulties will need
perhaps TO be handled in the same way,
and as the musical sentiment is the grow.
ing sentiment, and destined to be CONFLICT
" ascendant at an early day, it can afford
to wait.
There are other denominations through
out the country to which this question in
the U. p, Church must be one OF much in.
serest. Among these are the Disciples,
who in their earlier days held in all their
vigor the restrictive views OF the Scotch
Prtsbyterians on the subject. But in this
body, us in other denominations, these
views have undergone essential moditica-
ton under the influence OF the musical
culture o. the agc. So much so tina, ut this
time the introduction OF an organ into Il
church is no longer subject for oiFense to
the church at large. The Quakers still! hold
oil course to their exclusive views OH the
subject, but even among them music hatll
such charms Tor the Young people that the
original severity OF the Quaker view Of
music in general has been modified,
DR.. McClure's chief objection to the in
PRODUCTION Of instrumental music Is tina,
it not only superscdes in many cases con-
gregational singing, but opens the way TO
the secuarizatian OF au essential mart OF
the church service. lie says he has been
shocked 10 hear operatic music and solo
singing iii churches, thus making the ex.
crcise pure matter OF entertainment in.
stcad OF part Of the church worship,
i:cucr lar, be says, hold on to the singing
alone than to have this practice introduced,
And this tendency to a legation OF Il part
OF the worship OF church to proiane
keeping, so to speak, is to him difficulty
connected with the future Of the question
OF rather serious import. Hence he feels
that the new departure OF his dcnomina.
ton that is apparently near at hand, is
one that may very properly give the con.
sciences OF many OF the membership much
concern--a concern that is entitled to the
respect and even the iorbearancc OF the
majority. ~