The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-27
faE INSPIRED SONGS.
United Presbyterians Sing
Only the Psalms.
~,sg TIME FOR MORAL REFORM
- Everybody Register and Vote, says
Mr.. Major -salvationfsts and
Departing Officers.
nee TIME FOR MORAL REFORM

ous distinguishing mark Of the United
pyssbyferian church Is that IL uses In its
~srsa:p no songs except the Biblical
vs.lras As previously announced. Rey.
n. Howie preached yesterday morn
~ ,n defense OF this practice. In his In
.raazrtion he drew a distinction between
susssred and inspiring songs. maintaining
,szf the former are all contained IN the
pains Of the Scriptures, as all inspired
,rEings are to be found In the Bible.
TIE United Presbyterian church" said
,ss preacher, holds that the Insured
sppxs were given By the Holy Spirit and
commanded 20 be used for devotional psr-
ss&s No other compositions, however IN
sssr.ag and soul-helping. should take their
riace Sermons and religious books and
sorgs have their use. but not I'm the line OF
hsng substituted for what God has given
4 the Bible for certain purposes. The fact
"a. minister finds a book full Of beauti-
III Christian thoughts and suggestions OF
CHRISTIAN duty Is no reason why he should
sbstitnte this book as the one from which
% select his texts. and because Christian
fSas religious hymns inspiring and help
al In lifting his soul TO a higher life ia
rot a conclusive reason why he should use
tsem in worship In place Of the God-given
Bble songs. Gods instruction and COM
randmsnt do not admit Of human change
ser I command you, observe 10 DO IL: thou
shalt not add thereto nor diminish from
r. There Is no dispute among Christians
that the PsalTns were composed under d.
vine guidance. and used by divine dirsc-
,son In Old Testament times. Christ Him
ell iH6orsed the songs OF the Sweet
Psalmist Of Israel as being inspired. when
He said: That all things must be fulfilled
which are written in the Law OF Moses
To- be. pr1s.hafo nj In ~.
esrEsng me- They were used by the Sa-
yor and were enjoined 10 be sung by the
ayostles"
The minister traced the history OF song
ssryice In the Christian church. showing
that Psalms were exclusively employed un-
q 30 years after the death Of Christ, when
the first uninspired hymns were introduced,
but were not generally used until the
fourth century. In 1910 the Psalms again
began to come prominently into use. Cali
win, founder OF Presbyterianism. took the
ground about this time that whatever was
sung In churches should be taken from the
scriptures, and upon the accession OF
Queen Elizabeth the inspired songs were at
orce brought into general use In England,
and until 1907 few hymns were used; but
d this year hymns were introduced into
ths church, and from that time until the
present their adoption and use has been
century until the days Of Calvin and Beza-
Mr.. Howie explained that the word
hymn In the text was not used by the
trsnslaiors as designating the songs OF
David, the Hebrew title for book of Psalms
selng translated as being THE Book Of
Hymns" or Songs OF Praise" The word
psalms was used In Its generic applica-
ton. The modern distinction between thu
words 10 arbitrary.
spired songs are un9enominationalI they be-
long to every one. and are for every one.
- Is tho whole Bible. This cannot be said
Of any other church hymns. They ara
more or less denominational and secta-
rin. 1t Is safe to sing the Psalms: they
are Gods truth: 10 become familiar with
them Is 10 become familiar with the Word
OF God: they help US to worship God most
IN accordance with Christs teaching when
He said; God ia a spirit. and they that
worship Him must worship Him In spirit
and in truth"