The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-25

instrumental music in the United Pres
byterian Church is brought to the front
again by two lengthy pastoral letters pre-
pared BY the committee appointed by the
General Assembly last May. Rev. Frs. J.
T. Cooper and D. A. Wallace unite in the
majorltyIletter. Rev. Dr.J. p. Lyle writes
a letter TO embody his own views. The aim
Of the Assembly was to quiet contention
and satisfy the church Of the constitution
atty OF what had been done, and to appeal
TO the brethren to accept the result in a
conservative spirit. The pastoral letters
are in this vein, appealing to both sides for
Christian forbearanCe. The constitutions
ality Of the act Of the Assembly in the mat
fer Of the overture is Of course affirmed,
and the brethren are asked to acquiesce.
The majority letter says:
In the frtt place, the Assembly, BY a very
decided majority, declared the overture 70
nave received the requisite number OF votes,
and that declaration has been restiirmed BY
A yery large msj Jrity. Should not this TACT,
dear brethren, have great influence upon
your minds In leading you no longer to make
Ibis point q matter Of contention between
you and your brethren !?
In the second place, 1t may be well for you
10 bring before your minds the thet tnat
'whSteyer Irregularities, II any, there may
hnye been In the Assembly or 81 In deter
mining the judgment OF the Caurch, there
can be no doubt that 1t IL now the Judgment
Of the Church that there ought not 10 be o
statute prohibiting the use OF an instrument
III the worship oil God.
While uniformity Is desirable, and should
10 made al object, yeLIn a Church embracing
IA MANY copEregaIIU-s an absolutely perfect
uniformity Is hardly 10 Do expected. II does
not exist In several other matters. Some OF
Our congregations use the old and some the
new version of the Palms; some dis .ribute
tokens OF admission 10 the Lords table, and
others make no use OF them; SEINE make use
of tabieL aud In others commandments re-
mania their pews; In some select choirs are
employed; In others they are not allowed;
SOME stand during the singing OF the last
Palm, and in Others the worsbippeTs retain
their seats.
In other words, the question Of iDstrr-
mental music is left with each congre.
CATION, a settlement which seems reasona-
BILE enough and ought not to give offense'
Dr.. Lvtle %counsels forbearance, acceptance
under protest, and hopes there will be no
thought Of secession. At the same time
he holds some opinions concerning the
organ and does not hesitate to express
them,-
ut Is for a lamentation, and shall be for q
lanentation,n that the United Presbyterian
Church has been carried from her moorings
by the current OF ritualism and woridiness
which IL sweeping around her; and 1t bodies
no good to her future peace and spiritual
welfare. The organ Is undeniably Of Popish
origin; 1t was held in abomination by all the
leading reformtrs; Churches renowned for
their soundness Of doctrine and purity Of
worship In other respects Stunned u by y
kind OF Instinct, or intuitiye perception OF
its evil tendency, without the barrier Of sta
tute lsW, It continues TO be a cause OF dit-
turbance In the congregations OF denominG-
tons which have long tolerated its use.
SpirtualIy.minded persons In these demo-
Mutations readily acknowledge that the best
results In worship are obtained without II.
They feel it 10 be u hindrance, and would be
glad 10 be rid Of II.
DR.. Lyle Is severe on the organ, an in
strument which many good people feel to
be a noble aid in the ceremonial, however
plain, OF religious worship. With many
Protestants it makes no difference what ia
the origin OF the organ, or how much the
early reiormers Stunned it; the organ isnot
vicious in itself, aud the early reformers
did many things which il has long been