Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-08
INSTRUMENTAL MUsIC As WORSHIP.

The United Presbyterian Synod, convened
at Pittsburg, Pa, is in great ferment over
the question whether instrumental music can
be used with propricly in the worship of
God. The house is divided. Strife and dis
cussion disturb the serenity of the orthodox
brethren. Some will have it that the stately
organ, with its mouths of gold' is an in-
strument of the evil one,an abomnation, and
an unsanctified nuisance. Other brethren, with
more music in their souls and less in their
chns, stand up modcstly and put in
plea for the noble instrument so long asso-
ciatcd in history, and song, and story with
the worship of God. For years, the ques
ton has been veXcd one at Presbyterian
synods, and now it appears to have come to
the critical point. 1t seems hardly concciva-
BILE that, in this liberal and enlightened age,
the conservative party should get the better
of their opponents, even in a Presbyterian sy-
nod yet it is possible that such may be the
case. The party opposed to the Use of in
struments in churches is very strong one
very determined, very stubborn. They will
summon all their strength at the crisis and,
with the tradition, the spirit and example of
orthodoxy to back them, it may be that they
will carry the day.
Looked at from any other than Prcsby-
terrain standpoint, of course, the question ad-
nits of no discussion. Instrumental music,
by common consent of the great majority of
worshippers, has been accepted as one Of the
most inspiring and effective means of devo-
ton. If music in any form is admitted as an
element of worship-as it universally is
then instruments, the natural support and
accompaniment of the human voice, are in
dispensabe. There is, also, not only the his
torical, but the biblical argument in their
favor. The earliest and most in
spred Inscriptions of praise to God were &C.
companied by the sound of the timbrel, the
harp and the trumpet. There is scarce as in
stance to be found in the Old Testament
where the worship of song ia not associated
with the sound of instruments. And the fact
that the grandes! and highest praise which
can be paid to God, the worship of the
angels, is never the voices of the mighty
host alone, but voice and harp inricher harm
ony, adds its testimony to .the.scriplurai ar
gument. But the most convincing argument
of all, why instruments of music should
be admitted as an clemenl of worship is the
one based upon theirown unaidcd value in
devotion. Voices lack the clement of varied
power which belongs to the true instruments
of worship. The human heart feels the ncccs-
sity of something so widely and deeply ex-
pressivc us its own varying moods. The
church organ is, perhaps, ithc only instrument
which can act as keyboard to the soul. Its
range Of expression is wonderful. One mo-
mcnt it cries out with all the divine rapture
of thousand voices, and then instantly sinks
to the soltcst prayerful whisper of troubled
soul. 1t has its chords of sadness and of
joy; of praise and of petition of thanks
giving and of prayer. No voice, or chorus of
voices, could possibly attain the
varied expression of well-managcd
church organ. 1t is the triumph OF musical
creation, the consummation of the art whose
chief aim is TO give utterance to the thousand
voices of the soul within. Tint such an in
strumcnt can be "an abomination," a "snare
of the devil" is most absurd piece of over
pious prejudice. Rightly used, it is one of
the most helpful and edifying means of con-
grcgational worship. The soul which can
not respond to the inspiring strains of one of
those grand ''psalms of sound"-thc produc-
tions of some of the saintliest souls that ever
had vision of heaven opened to them
is certainly In no danger of getting
suggestion of any other sort from the noble
instrument, as it peals its praises over the
heads of the congregation, We do not, of