The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-06-05
MACHINE MUSIC IN OUR CHURCHES.
DR.. Lindsay Puts Life into The Sub
jec:-In Good Temper He Replies
to IL. 8. q.

! DUE WEST, S. g., May "a, 1889.
| Editor Press and Runner:
| | shall have nothing TO say In reply TO wha,
is personal and abusive in K. ). G's letter. II
| il does him any good, he Is welcome to 1t, and
I think Will lie able to survive oil the dam
age IL may infliCt upon Inc.
| There is one sentence which lie intended as
an argument against "lnstrumental Music,
which calls for a moments notice.
1--WE prefer TO be found with such men as
Spurgeon, breckenridge, Chalmers. Mason,
Thornwell and last, but not least, the old
Christian hero John /. Girardcau. avn
Now, this argument Is q very simple one
and can be understood. without any labored
exposition, by the, most common capacity;
These men were opposed to instrumental
Music" and Il. S. g., has such respect for
these dignitaries that lie thinks their view
must be correct and he therefore accepts IT
and is governed by 1t and wants everybody
else to adopt it. Well, don't share II IN this LII
opinions as authoritative except they &C
cord with truth and right. They nre not a
rule of faith and practice to me. L VIII not
believe thing simply because some, or even
they may be- ,,
Let me make one or two other applications
of r. S. G's argument One or these great
men believes that immersion Is the only scrip
tural mode of baptism and that TO baptize In
fints Is O useless and perhaps foolish custom
VIII r. S. g., accept these beliefs II Mr
Spurgeon's opinion in opposition TO ',lnstru-
he is q great and good man then why Is not
his opinion and practice In reference TO bap-
tism to be sanctioned as well. If the argu.
ment Is valid in the one case, then Wny is II
not valid in the other?
Again, all the men he mentions believed
and practiced open communion and they be-
| lieved that close communion was unscrlPtur-
al and unchrstian Now Will ;; o., o tolIG% wb
not? If their greatness makes their opposi.
ton to instrumental Music" an argument
| worthy of respect, why should not their op'
position to close communion be just as force.
| ful. This is good logic and II. 8. g.. Will not
! be able TO find any flaw in It,; yet ne would
revisit at the conclusion to which 1t inevita
bly, leads.
| of human composure and they believed that
to require Christian:people TO Gonflne them.
selves exclusively to scripture Psalms was 9
and that it would be depriving them OF 9
sncred and precious liberty. They believed
| that the imposition OF such burden was
| indaism and not Christianity. Now II their
Greatness makes their opposition to "Instru
mental Music" n valid argument, why shouio
not these same great names make thelr OP
position to the exclusive use OF the Bible
Psalms 10 be respected and followed? II
their learning and piety require US to bow
down to them In the one case, why not In the
| other? Logic has certain rules 10 be gov
erned by and one of these Is to 60 on TO 1ts
conclusions without regard TO the feellngs ano
| profeSSesSions Of people.
| If r. S. &. can answer these questions sat
isfactorily and get out OF these difficulties In
which his argument entangles him he is 8
shrewder man than l take him to be. Nor &c
| believe that this can be done even with the
help Of "a number of our most prominent cit
izeiis, any one OF them greater In act and
higher in position than our critic"
| But am not yet done with h. >. Ct. Allow
me to carry the "war into Africa" by indulg
ing In fancy sketch. will suppose II. 5. u
has finished his earthly career and entered
upon the heavenly home under the guidance
| OF his angelic conductor he has visited anc
| feasted his vision on many scenes OF lowell
ness and his soul has been made TO thrill un
der melodies that he never heard In the ter
rcstial state. While leisurely strolling along
the golden streets, and drinking In the celes
| tial Joys, he suddenly turns corner and Il
confronted with "harpers harplng with theli
| harps."
He prlcks up his ears and says to his con
| ductor, .'wllat does this mean DO you have
Instrumental Music" here ? Peter open tha
gate must get out OF this place. ] can't stay
where there is what DR.. Glrardeau and othel
| great men pronounce on abomination. IL
have none OF your "strange fire.
| Surely there must be something awfullI
wrong about principal that would lead u
such O sad ending even banishment IRON
heaven, though 1t should be sanctioned bY
the ''old christian hero John l.. Girardeau'
and several greatnesSes. j. y. l..