The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-06-26
HARPs AND HORSES IN HEAVEN.
The Apostle John had Heaven Open
ed Before Him, and He Says HI
Heard the HRrps and Saw thu
Horses.

nOEScSs
DUE WIsr, s. c., JuneSIS, 1889.
Editor Press and Banner:
am certainly very much obliged to "B. w
Whllden" for the Information contained in
his article about the heavenly harps in last
weeks Press and Banner. 1t Is more than
information-that word Is altogether too
faint to express the importance Of the COM
munication made. 1t might with more pro-
priety be called q revelation. A little ex-
He says the "harpsF used in the apocalypse
are symbolic. No reason for that Ia given or
even attempted. 1t is his assertion. He says
so and that settles the matter. To ask for any
proof would be an impertinence. He has
spoken and his simple dictum decides the
matter.
The general subject of symbols in the Scrip
lures has been discussed o great deal BY our
theologians and experts in exegesis. l have
read hundreds of pages on the matter and
studied over IL with much care. Especially
has my attention be directed to the question,
"How are symbols to be distinguished from
facts and from metaphors?" But in all my
reading and thinking, never got hold OF the
thought till read this article, that this ques-
ton was to be answered by the mere say,so
OF Mr.. Whilden: He makes ms oracuiar
utterance and not the slightest reason or evil.
dence In proof Of this utterance is given. 1
say this is more than information-it is pos
itive revelation. l take off my hat In CRATE.
full acknowledgement OF the distinguished
honor done me.
My respected revelator cannot prove tina
"harps'' In heaven are symbolic unless his as
sertion is accepted as proof, which decline
to do; more than that he cannot prove that
there are not horses, and white horses too. In
heaven. Horses have some noble qualities.
They act their part in this world better than
many men, and If heaven Is the reward OF
well doing in this sublunary sphere, ! don't don't
have about as good chance to get there as
even some seven-visaged men that l
know of. But aside from this. horses may be
utilized In the celestial state to carry burdens,
or transport the. saints on their excursions. |
don't know anything in the Bible that would
prove that they cannot have a place up
there, except Mr.. Whilden's assertion, and d
more satisfactory than that.
Why, II Job were to miss in the other state
that war.horse of which he gave such mag
nificent description here on earth, 1t might
take away one OF the leading attractions
above.
l have no doubt there will be material
things in heaven, and II that be SO. why may
there not be among these both harps ana
horses to range over the celestial prairies. -,
defy anybody to prove that "Bucepheius,,, -,
or "Dexter," or "Maud ST." or "LongfelloW"
or "Old Sorrel" and other celebrated horses
the upper regions. And II that be SO, may
they not be even an attraction? The horse Is
one OF Natures best pieces OF workmanship,
his trim, well-made limbs, those curves
that fiji "Hogarth's ideal of beatty" the grace
fulness OF his movements, the very ''poetry
Of notion" why even q saint might not only
admire him, but even be glad to sit behind
him and hold the ribbons as he dashed along
the glory pavements over there.
The apostle John had heaven opened before
him, and he saw with his own eyes right Into
II, and he says he heard the harps and saw
the horses. Now, / believe ] will accept his
account. and reject Mr.. Whilden's asser-
ton that they are not there.
think it hardly fair 10 say that referred
TO the "harps' as an argument for instru-
mental music In churches. will continue to
think tha.t most of my readers will under.
stand that had another object In view in the
little sauib that | wrote about the 'harps''
than to present ali argument for instrumental
music