Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-13
THE FIDDLE IN CHURCH.

A Minister Whose Character Was Chal-
lenged for Bringing can Instrument of
the DeviT' into Church.
Rev. II. COlclazer, of the Wilmington
NJ. 4. Conference, who has just retired
from active work in the ministry after
htty-siX years Of service, SAYS the Phila-
delphia Record, was the first Methodist
preacher tOintroduce instrumental music
in the church services in the West. if not
in the United States, and nearly fifty Years
ago a cornet, a bass fiddle and other in
struments assisted the congregations 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 Whining
ton Conference, and who had then inst
been admitted to the Michigan Confer
ence, of which Mr.. COlclazer was then a
leading member. thus recalls the circum-
stance and one of its interesting lnci-
dents:
The Conference was about to be held i'm
Ann Arbor, and Brother Colclazer con-
cluded that the day before the Confer
ence session opened would be a good time
to dedicate his new church. A bass fid-
die, the especial horror OF most Metho-
dists at that time, and one or two other
instruments were engaged, thing hitb-
ertO unheard of i'll Methodist church,
Old Bishop SOule was to dedicate the
church, and, unconscious of the terrible
fiddle, was on his way to the building. ac-
cOmpanied by Mr.. Colclazer, when the
latter remarked that he was very sorry
that he could not get all the music he
wanted. The Bishop at once, in a very
digniied way, asked:
''Do / understand you that there is to be
instrumental music at the dedication of
this church?7
''Oh, yes" replied the young pastor. not
understanding the full import of the
Bishops remark.
'Well," Indignantly replied the Bisbop.
elf that is so you may 90 and dedicate
your church yourself, and / will 20 back
to my lodgings" which he straightwav
proceeded to do; but the church was dedi-
Gated with the musical programme as
previously arranged Mr.. Colclazer's
new departure created a lively sensation.
but 1t was not until year or two after
ward when Mr.. COlclazer established in
strumental music in a church in Detroit.
that it became the subject of widespread
discussion. In that city the Methodistg
udu a HdIu time 10 get a footing. The
Episcopal Church was very strong, and
the church to which Mr.. COlclazer was
appointed, although the leading Methodist
church in the city, was not so attractive
as others there, and was somewhat out of
the way.
One of the first things Mr.. Colclazerdid
was to establish two fddlers, 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 flocked to the church, and
1t 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 sew
eral DAYS, followed. The sFungOdly fiddle''
was denounced and referred to as an ssin-
strument of the devil,' which would de-
strOy 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 ''fddle" as those VINO
voted the other way. In few years in
strumental music was not an uncommon
thing in Western Methodist churches.
and now full orchestra playing airs
from "Pinafore" would probably not Gre
ate such a sensation in city Methodist
church in the West as did the few fiddlers
accompanying the singers of Weslev's
hymns IN the Detroit congregation.