| Show MUSIC IN DIVINE WORSHIP THERE are matay mahy peculiar notions among the various sects of christendom that are difficult to account for particularly when they all claim to be guided by the holy scriptures one of these remarkable freaks is the opposition to music in churches which was waged so fiercely many years ago in Sc scotland oMand and continues to this day even on this side of the broad atlantic at the national convention of the united presbyter lans ians opposed to instrumental music in churches held at pittsburg pa on the last the feli following Gwing resolution was adopted i 4 Belle believing instrumental antal music in connection with the worship of god to be without authority of divine appointment under the New Testament dispensation and therefore a corruption of that worship it is our duty to refuse in any way to countenance or support its use and we hereby counsel all our brethren to stand firm and not defile or wound their consciences by any compliance aliance with that which is contrary to the conscience or ia regard to which conscience is not clear it it is in perhaps correct that there is no direct appointment of instrumental music for divine worship in the new testament but neither neit lier is there of psalm singing in public hymns and spiritual songs gongs were advised by the apostles to 10 be sung by the saints one to another when joyful and making merry but ant there is i no more authority for one than the other as a feature of christian public worship ora hip the idea that musical instruments are sinful springs from ignorance and is part of that strait laced puritanism which for bade laughter on the sabbath and made religion aa insufferable bondage and a hideous nightmare the sound of a violin the most expressive instrument known to mortals used to be denounced as the devils music arid and among very pious new england folks even now causes a shudder especially when a dance tune is played musical instruments have been used in the worship of god for many thousands of years A trumpets were lash honed of silver for religious services in israel by express command of jehovah see numbers x in the seventh month in the first day of the month ye shall have a sabbath a memorial of b lowine blowing of trumpets an holy convocation lev 24 the cymbal the psaltery the narp ane dulcimer the violin the sackbut the the cornet the flute and anit the organ are mentioned in the old testament as instruments used in divine worship wo and were ordained for this purpose pur ose by men whom god recognized as ats his servants that he approved of such methods of praise is evident from many passages like the following it came even to BASS as the trumpeters trum peters and singers we wan as one to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the lord and when they lifted up their voices with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick and praised the lord saying for lie he in good for his mercy en dureth dureta forever for ever that then the house was filled with a cloud even the house of theford the dord Bord so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud for the glory ot of the lord had filled the house of god 11 chron v 1814 ot course this was under the mosaic law but how can reasonable people think that what was pleasing to tile the al im igney iu in a the way ivay of praise three thousand years ago aeo is displeasing to him today to day andon and on what principle are things which in former were instruments of god in latter times turned into inventions of the devil and with them heman and jeduthus n with trumpet sand cymbals for those that chat should make a sound and with ith Hia cal instruments ot of god 1 W es xiv 42 under the christian dispensation no commandment was given or intimation uttered that music should no noi L be heard in the churches iti it I 1 not re required qui red perhaps in such writings of the apostles as have come down to us but neither was it forbidden the op posers of instrumental music who believe in singing as a part ot of public worship have to go to t the e old testament for authority for their psalmody and why not then tor for divine sanction n of worship with musical instruments their inconsistency is forcibly apparent in singing the psalms of david which they regard as inspired inspired fori for tear david himself on this th 8 question estion praise ye the lord praise nim with the sound of the trumpet praise him with the psaltery and harp praise him with the and dances aunce praise him with stringed instruments and or organs a a raise praise P him upon the loud cymbals praise him upon the high sounding cymbals psalm CL again take a psalm and bring hlafter hit tier the the pleasant harp with the psaltery blow up the trumpet in the new W moon in theotime the time appointed on our r solemn feast day for this was was a statute for israel and a law of the god of jacob 21 psalm but the organ hating united presby Ite rians are perhaps riot jik more peculiar athan those people who through simi ilar traditions cradit ons regard as kinf sinful ul on the sabbath any kind of music that is not in an slow time and in solemn tone nione it used to be a common saying paying that the devil had all the best stunes 11 there is no evidence that satan takes delight in music the th wil spirit departed from saul when david played on the harp but brat sometimes was so provoked by the music that it moved upon saul to cast a javelin at the player if dabid harped as p badly as some amateurs toot on t ape n cornet ot or thrum on the piano or senea squeak on the fiddle there might have beba beail some little justification both for iS auland and the spirit that prompted him to stop the performance but serious ly there is no such thing as 6 profane music masic 11 the profanity of ribald songs is in the words music is divine beware of the man or woman who has no smi ul for sweet harmony I 1 put notton not too much faith in the of those who are shocked at the lively str ns of genuine merry music I 1 of course there Is a time for all things regard should be had for fitness in musical as well a as 8 other matters the words and the music ought to be adapted to each other solemnity is an essential to devotion and yet it is not jot 13 always requisite that the mus musical cal part of divine worship should be doleful praise and rejoicing HO go naturally together and the sacred song may be inspiring arid and lively without mag dofing do ng any violence to the sacred character of the proceedings god loves lover a glad flad heart and a cheerful cheer lul countenance and a long face with a lugubrious expression preg sion is as great a mistake as the suppression of musical instruments or the exclusion of cheerful musie music from the public worship of the almighty oneff one of the prevalent errors in the ae euse of sacred mus icis the custom of singing and playing at funerals hymns that are certain to agitate the nerves of the sensitive and burst the seals of restraint which the mourners have placid placed over the fount fountains inns of their tears often when the bereaved have been abelew able to their grief within proper bounds the f funeral dirge which choirs seem to think the one thing needful on such occasions will cause an outburst of sorrowful emotion that aa r as both violent aud and contagious there is no need to barrow up the beelin feelings S 0 of f women aud and children whose sympathies s are already wrought up to a painful tension they need soothing rather than irritation aud the convulsive sobs that often make obsequies a torture to all present are provoked by the plaintive strains which many imagine to be an essential part of the sad rites over the dear departed our choirs are much to be commended however for the excellent music which they provide for or public services ancl an for the public public spirit which they abey display la in gratuitous labors in this direction and if they would all cease the common practice of preparing for the final nymn or anthem before the preacher has closed his discourse and the habit of whispering in which some of them indulge in sight both of the speaker and the congregation their valuable services would be still better appreciated proficiency in both vocal and instrumental music for public worship is very desirable and the efforts now put forth to promote it among members of the choirs is truly commendable our singers and players should learo learn to read music 11 at sight and regular practice I 1 is S necessary to all who expect t tj sing or play in concert congregational singing combined with music from the organ and other instruments is a grand feature of public worship which we hope to see encouraged cou raged and supported the simultaneous expression of gratitude and praise f from rom the whole body of worship pers is inspiring to the congregation and also to those who are to address them and must be pleasing to 10 the heavenly hosts who listen listell to chehar the harmony music thrills the soul with pleasure and prepares the mind for keep keen impressions it is designed f for or good but is of often ten prostituted prostitutes to evil those these who are most susceptible to its healthy influence are also easily impressible to its power for harm and unless endowed with force to resist it or with impulses that tend in the right direction may be led astray by its seductive enticements that there is instrumental as well as vocal music in heaven is evident to those who understood the truth that there Is the perfection of all things in nature that men and women are the of deity and that thai all the faculties fadul ties and qualities of our present being beine will be brought to their full culture and development in the great future f a and in higher spheres and the glimpses of that better world which have been accorded to mortals recorded in holy writ or treasured in unwritten human experience disclose both methods of praise to the great eternal from the glorified lim mortals who surround his throne the perpetual harping of winged angels which is the chief feature of the modern sectarian heaven is certainly a burlesque on the world to come but nevertheless those who are arif 1 to dwell in a the tha Ine presence sence of god goci and the lamb and enjoy the light and wisdom and blessing and power of the grand councils and solemn assemblies sem blies that will be held on high will participate in the occasioned by the harmony of celestial voices accompanied compa nied by instruments of every kind in their lull full perfection tuned to the music of the spheres and all expressive ot the highest emotions of exalted purified and joyful immortality while the chorus la is swelled by the redeemed in the hights and depths and broad extent of ransomed rans omed immensity where all are of one heart and one mind and discord is banished tor for ever |
