Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-10
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THE WAR ON THE ORGAN

The General Assembly of United Presby-
terians has been in session at Pittsburg, Pa,
during the pas; week, and for two days en-
gsged in an exciting debate on church music.
The contest was go snimsted that it was
thought for a while that the denomination
would be vent asunder. The puritans in
sisted that all instrumental music in churches
wss wicked, that the singing Of hymns was
the only music appropriate 70 church, and
hat all other was s.rrilege sud d.s -crs-
licn. The enemies to insirumental NJ u-ic in
their church vera especially hostile to the
believing OF the solemn, deep, n iestic org an.
They seemed 10 think that there was some
thing lBdcrous in worshiping God by
putting wind through the nozzle Of Dig
bellows snd daulnsble roaring through
pipes OF various dimsnsions. The organ
vas pronounced On abomination, aud
its use az siufui, because it was
nowhere recognized by the Bible.
We arc told by this sacred book that
"All Israel brought up the ARK Of the cove
mani Of the Lord With shouting, and with
sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and
with cymbaIs, making a noise with psal'eries
ard hsrps," and we presume these Pi,tsturg
fanatics, while excluding the organ, are will
ing 10 fill their church edifces with the
iangling discord of the trumpeps blare,
tie comets piercing sbriek and the GYM
ba4s changing sound. II il be sinful TO
make wind through the bellows OF an organ,
IL it not equally sinful to initiate the cheeks
snd blow the corDet, which lie recognized as
an instrument of worship? The fanaticism
which would exclude the organ from the
church would also exclude the stoves, The
pews, the carpets and most the paraphsrnslia
OF the churches Of the present day. Church
edi6ces should not be converted into opera
houses. But in this war on the organ We are
| for the organ FIRST, last and all the time. The
| fanaticism which would exclude it from ouI
| churches is a. pnsi;auicsl 80 that which in.
| spired the blu. AVS which made it a crime
| for a man TO kiss his wife on Sunday. The
| deep, solemn tones OF the organ are pecu
| lisrly adapted TO church worship. They lit
the soul 10 heaven and inspire our purer ant
| better nature. We commend the enemies o.
| the organ to the besulilul tribute which james
Russeli Lowell pays to this grand iustrli-
| reeus:
Then swelled fhe organ; up through choir anc
l nave
1 The music trembled with an inward thrill
| OF bliss ST It's own grandeur; wave on wave
In Hood OF mellow thunder rose, until
The hushed air snivered wit4i-tbe throb it gave,
l Then, posing for moment II stood still,
| And sank and rose again 10 burst In spray
| That wandered into silence far away
| Deeper and deeper shudders shook the air,
| As the huge bass kept gathering heavily,
| Like thunder when it rouses in its lair,
| Aud with It's hoarse growl shakes the low hung
sky,
1t grew up like darkness everywhere
1 Filling the vast cathedral-snddenly
trom the dense mass boys treble broke -. =
Like lightning. and the fun toned choir awoke
Through gorgeous windows shone the sun aslant.
| Brimming the church with gold and purple mist
Meet atmoshere to bosom that rich chant.---4
Where fifty voices in one strand did tHlst~
| Their vari-colored tones and lstsTI~ $3.50
me fhfttisfc cloud. while far below
The organ heSYed its surges to and fro.