Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-06-25
UNCLE TOMS LETTER

As have but little news worth re-
/ lating | would like to give my opinion
on instrumental music. There is moth.
| ing so charming and soothing among
. the human family and it is appropri
ate and fits in nicely in all of our So
cial recreations of every kind and dis
cription except revival services or
meetings where souls are sought 10 be
saved. Instrumental music in such
services is farce. humbug, and all
out of order. David. the sweet psalm
ist of Israel and great musician, was
never able to cause King Saul to re-
pent of his sin of disobedience, but on
ly to soothe Saul when in his grouchy,
ungodly moods. Our Holiness people
are here at Tracy CITY with tent and
organ, cornet, fiddle and guitar on a
soul Saving tour, they claim, but like
David in the case of Saul, the king.
we can write failure, for no man has
ever yet been converted under the
strains of instrumental music 1t does
not produce that sorrow that st. Peter
refers to in his epistles to the church.
Only one time in the history of our
country has music almost brought
about peace between two great Opus
ing armies, aud that was in the COS
when the Federal and Confederate
armies lay opposite each other with
only river between. The bands on
one side began to play "Home, Sweet
Home. The bands on the other side
caught the same spirit and began to
play the same tune. The field officers
saw the effect it was having among
the soldiers and FASTENED to stop the
music fearing mutiny. Our sinners
have very high conception of the
christian religion and while they love
music, l doubt very much whether a
single intelligent sinner would en-
dorse music in the sacred solemn wor-
ship of Almighty God, worship
where-the souls of men and women are
the prize the church seeks. I've stood
up in the defense of our Holiness peo-
pie, but cannot endorse this latest
of instrumental music in
revival and have decided to stay away
from such Holiness tomfoolery If it
is money they are after, why not trav-
81 as a vaudeville show2 Why steal
the livery of heaven to worship the 5
devil in7 Why come to Tracy City ,
whose people are poor and hard press
I'd and try to lure and bewitch them
70 follow after method and plan ,
jried on the first King of Israel and /
proved failure. Away with all kinds
If instrumental music, even the organ, {
n revival service and return to the
I'D fashioned way of saving souls. l
The devil has mighty near full control a
# lots of christians in this old world. !,
We need to repent in sack cloth and
shes instead of lulling ourselves to |;
leep as in the case of Saul. We've -
.ained no victories in Tracy, there U
ore our songs and dances are all ont
f order I've lost quite lot of con- 4
dence in our Holiness people. l see h
hey are ready to follow just any old q
hing that proclaims itself holy and h
hey appear to know as little about r
oily, solemn and sacred worship as
og would know about side pocket. N
10 wonder sinners have such little I,
onfidence in them. There is SO little II
sal genuine sacred respect for Gods n,
orship, most especially where the Y
,uls of men and women are concern le
!. l am not opposing any moral or es
'cial recreations among christians is
hatever, for there is social side of a,
fe, also spiritual side, and don't SO
link the spiritual side is dependent in