The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-03-22
THE FIDDLE in CHURCH.
An Incident Attending Its Introduction-Re-
tiremeRt of Minister Whose Character
Was Challenged in 1889 for Bringing "An
Instrument of the Devir' Into Church.

instrument OF the Devil Into Church.
Rev. III. Colclazer, of the Wilmington M.
Il. Conference, who has just retired from
active work in the ministry after fifty-six
years of service, was the first Methodist
preacher to introduce instrumental music
in the church services in the West, if not
in the United States, and nearly fifty years
ago cornet, a big bass fiddle and other
instruments assisted the congregation of
his church in their devotions. The first
time the then young preacher had the au-
dacity to attempt such an innovation was
at Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1889, upon
the occasion of the dedication Of a new
church he had just completed Bishop
Harris, who is now presiding over the Viii
mington Conference, and who had then
just been admitted to the Michigan Con-
ference, of which Mr.. Colclazer was then
leading member, thus recalls the circum-
stance and one of its interesting incidents
The Conference was about to be held in
/ Ann Arbor, and Brother Colclazer con-
,cluded that the day before-the Conference
session opened would be good time to
dedicate his new church. A bass fiddle,
the especial horror of most Methodists at
that time, and one or two other instruments
were engaged thing hitherto unheard of
in Methodist church. Old Bishop Soule
was to dedicate the church, and, uncon-
scious of the terrible fiddle, was ON his way
to the building, accompanied by Mr. Col
clazer, when the latter remarked he was
very sorry that he could not get all the
music he wanted. The Bishop at once, in
very diguifed way, asked: ''Do I under
stand you that there is to be instrumental
music at the dedication of this church ?"
"Oh, yes, replied the young pastor, not
understanding the full import of the
Bishops remark
"Well," Indignantly replied the Bishop,
eff that is so you may go and dedicate your
church yourself, and l will go back to my
lodgings, which he straightway proceeded
to d. but the church was dedicated with
the musical programme as previously ar
ranged. Mr. Colclazer's new departure
created lively sensation, but it was not
until a year or two afterward, when Mr..
Colclazer established instrumental music in
church in Detroit, that it became the
subject of widespread discussion In that
city the Methodists had hard time to get
footing. The Episcopal Church was
very strong, and the church to which Mr..
Colclazer was appointed, although the lead
ing Methodist church in the city, was not
so attractive as others there, and was some
what out of the way.
One of the first things Mr. Colclazer
did was to establish two fiddlers, cornet
player and other musicians in the choir
gallery as assistants to the singers. The
result was that some of the old members
left, but others hocked to the church, and
it became, as it has remained ever since,
one of the most popular churches in De
troit. But when the Conference met at
the end of the year there was music of
quite another sort for the pastor. The af-
fair had become the talk of the West.
When Mr.. Colclazer's name was called at
the Conference his character was chal-
lenged, and hot debate, lasting for several
days, followed. The "ungodly fiddle was
denounced and referred to as an "instru-
ment of the Devil" which would destroy
the church if its notes were not at once
hushed.
Mr. Colclazer's character was finally
passed, but it was evident that many who
voted for him were as much opposed to the
fiddle" as those who voted the other way.
In few years instrumental music was not
an uncommon thing in Western Methodist
churches, and now full orchestra playing
airs from "Pinafore" would probably not
craata cuch q Sansation in n CITY Methodist
church in the West as did the new fddlers
accompanying the singers of Wesley's
hymns in the Detroit congregation.