Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-06-06


he asserted, brother was at church
last Sabbath at the Fourth Church
and found the old version in use there.
The pastor of the church in which the
Assembly is held showed his good
sense in making the acceptance of the
contingent upon the agreement that the
new version should be adopted. He
asked the audience if it would have
been possible under the old version to
have arranged the service of praise
which was arranged on the night the
Assembly opened. The action taken
by the last Assembly was eminently
proper. 1t is not tramping on con-
science and is good sense. II simply
gives congregations who desire to in-
troduce instruments the privilege to do
so-leaving it entirely at their discre-
tion.
When DR.. Young had concluded
there was an outburst of applause,
which was checked as promptly as pos
sible by the Moderator, who begged
the audience to refrain from demonstra-
tions of applause.
DR.. J. Carson advanced to the plat
form and said: when the union de-
signated by those dates above the pull
pit was formed, there was no clapping
of hands indicative of victory over op-
ponents. The great question was
"How can we come together 7" not
"How can we answer each other ~ l
stand here" continued the speaker, ''as
the representative of the memorialists
to this body l am oppressed with
the responsibility resting upon me, but
am encouraged by the consideration
that if the cause be not of the Lord,
any mistake 1 may make will not make
much difference only should be dam
aged. If it is of the Lord, l have con-
idence in the belief that He will be
able to overrule for good any injury
which may done through my feeble ef-
forts. The voice which comes to US
to-day is the voice of 6,004 ministers
and members of the Church, and voices
the cry of $4,000 membership of the
Church. 1t is cry of sthe oppressed,
and appeals to this General Assembly
for relief from oppression which is
pressing way down on the church, like
the old man of the sea, the spirit of the
world, in the shape of the organ. Who
ever complained of restriction of their
liberties in this church until this organ
question was brought forward? Who
ever heard of any memorial coming up
complaining of oppression until the or
gan question had been introduced ?
This has been the history of all the
churches in which instruments have
been introduced. 1t always comes in
like robber as it is. 1t was never
authorized in the Presbyterian Church,
but it found it's way over the wall as it
did in some of our churches, even be-
fore the overture was heard Of Since
this action last year we hear of the in
Producing of the organ in other
churches, bringing alterations, dissen-
sions and divisions Hence we ask for
protection against this oppressor and
tyrant.
The memorialists say that their dis.
satisfaction is real and pronounced.
They are not ignorant people and are
not bigoted or fanatical. They include
some of the best men in the church,
and when they speak of dissatisfaction
there are some real grounds. What
are the grounds, and how are they to
be removed? Shall they be answered
as Rehoboam did the Israelites, by tel
ling them that, while their loads had
been light, he would make them
heavier, and while they had been chas-
tized with whips, they should be chas-
tized with scorpions. Is that the kind
of an answer the memorialists should
have received? The report of the COM
mittee is merely finging back into their
teeth the action of which they are COM
planning, repeating in effect the words
of the notorious politician: "What
are you going to do about it?" The
report even takes away the concealing
word in the action, making it even
more offensive. 1t says if you don't
take that you can't get anything. Is
that not trampling on the consciences
of the memorialists. The Assembly
enjoins upon the church not to force
the measure, but the Assembly set a
very poor example, and the present
Assembly is pursuing the samo thing
in giving instructions to lower courts.
THE MAJORITY.
| lam ersuaded in my own mind
that there vas not a proper majority
for the lepeal of the rule, although
there is no disposition at this time to
question the legality of the action, but
the information which has been obtain
ed shows that by votes which should
not have been cast and others which
were cast in opposition to wishes of
their sessions, the repeal was clearly
defeated, and the Assembly was moral
ly bound to announce to the church
that there had been no clear judgment
from the church and should have sent
it back for such an expression that
could not be mistaken. No one but
the Qmniscient, except the Presby-
teries, could tell how the church would
vote on the question, and the only way
to determine the matter is to put the
church clear and simple in the form of
an overture. | cannot say with DR..
McDill that | will follow the church
wherever it leads When the voice of
the church is clearly expressed in over
ture, | will bow to its will For what
l will do | will be responsible only to
God / will follow the pillar of fire as
closely as possible, and will recognize
no other leader. | hope to die in the
United Presbyterian Church, bat
whether ] will 2, not l cannot say.
1t is not becoming to deal in threats,
and 1t is for this reason that we come
to the Assembly. We believe it will
bring peace not only to few congre.
cations, but to the entire church, and
will obstruct a movement which, if not
checked, will eventuate in appalling