The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-05-03
CoRRESPONDEN NOE.
A Plea for DR.. Begg.
MoNGAUP VALLEY, N. Y,
April Oath, 1882.

MeSsrS. E6ttorS,-In your issue of the
18th inst, you pay your respects to the
Rev. DR.. Begg, of Edinburgh, and speak
of him as man of little mind, because
of notice he gave of mouon against
the use of organs in the Free Church
Few men in this country can have so long
and intimately known the Rev. Doctor as
your humble servant; and think 1 may
safely say that if the Doctor is distin-
guished for anything, it is for a love of
the simplicity that is In Christ" and
courage in contending for that simplicity.
Knowing full well that in the upper
chamber in Jerusalem where the apostles
met there were no organs, nor stained
glass windows, nor bouquets of flowers,
ETC., and having been taught by history
that one departure from gospel simplicity
naturally leads to another, SO that there
IS no telling what the end may be, he is
naturally anxious to guard his fellow
worshippers against being corrupted to
the smallest extent. Knowing, moreover,
that there are some Christians so deter
minedly opposed to instrumental music,
that they could not be where it prevailed
without moral discomfort, he has simply
to secure for congregations composed of
such worshippers an opportunity, with
out loss of pecuniary substance, of follow
ing the good old ways, should their Gen
eral Assembly abandon it.
The introduction of organs into church
es leads to number of things which the
godly of the last generation could not
tolerate. 1t leads to occasional tunes in
the house of God, in which no one Joins,
or is expected to join the instrument. 1t
familiarises worshippers with the playing
of the piano at home, and that without
vocal accompaniment on the Lords day.
1t leads to competition Of Presbyterian
congregations, on the score OF music, with
Roman Catholic gatherings, in which
these last are far the most likely to be
most successful. 1t banishes the Psalms
OF David from religious assemblies; dis
sipates money that might be spent on
more profitable occupation; leads young
people to decide what churches they will
attend, upon insufficient grounds intro
duces musical concerts into sacred build
ings; and makes those who do not under
stand what true religious feeling is, think
themselves very pious if conscious that
they have felt the music to be very grand
and very thrilling.
Far be it from me to insinuate that
there cannot be sincere worship where
there is instrumental music. Experience
has proved the reverse, and that most en-
phatically, Gas at the Moody and Sankey
meetings,) and | feel sure DR.. Begg does
not deny this; but it is one thing to ad-
NIT that handicapped animal may win
race, and another to advocate that all
animals that run races should be handi-
capped. 1t is one thing to be willing to
preach where there is an organ, and an
other to introduce an organ into ones
own congregation where there never has
been one, and where many may have con-
scientious objections to the use of one.
DR.. Begg's motion seems to have been
intended to secure for persons of this last
stamp, liberty to worship according to
their conscience, without having las in
the case of innovation they would have)
to 90 to the expense Of erecting new
churches and all the other necessary &C.
clesiastical structures
DIR. Begg is one of the most fearless and
u qqlnwearied opponents Of Popery in Great
britain or any land; and it would be a
great qualification to the supporters oil
ANU, Christ to have it to say that by bis
own body (Presbyterians) he was thought
man OF little mind" l do not recol-
lect I9 that love for the simplicity that is in
Cnrlst brought against the great apostle
OF the Gentiles this charge, even from the
mouths Of those who most delighted in
all the rites of Judaism.
However small the organ question may
seem to many, the Doctor, have nc