INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC.

Evening Star, Issue 3718, 22 January 1875, Page 3

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC.

"■’'j • « i ax v kjivt To the Editor. Sir,—There is a certain class of men whose m ;ntal visions are so limited that it is impossible for th;m to 1 ok beyond the peculiar notions in which they have hern brought up and educated who look upon those noth ns as infallible, and in which they not only believe th mselves but would fain force them upon everyone else. lam led nto this strain of thmking by the appearance of a letter in last Friday’s issue of t ie Evening Star, signed “ A Member of the Chu ch.” Your correspondent prefaces his remarks by referring to the fact that there are certain questions to he considered by the ’resbyterian Synod at its present sitting, and, with the usual tolerance to be found amongst those of his class, expresses a hope that the representatives of the Church will not “further disturb the peace of their Zion ” by even considering these questions. Now comes the query—What are these uestions to which “A Member of the Church * refers, and which he says will be attended with such grave results ? Do they involve a change of doctrine, or do they in any way interfere with the liberty of the members of the Presbyterian communim? Certainly not 1 < )ne is the question of union with the Northern resbyterian Church, and the other deals with the advisability of introducing instrumental music into the various Hre-byterian Churches As to the first question, I do not think there can be any doubt as to its advisability, and therefore I will not further trespass on your spa ;e by giving my reasons. As to the other, I think a few remarks would not be out of place. Your correspondent himself gives no reason why instrumental music should not be introduced. ■’ e merely says:—As to instrumental music, let that once be pressed even permisaively—that inaiduous method of introducing an objectionable practice so often now resorted to—and J would not give much for the funds of our Church, as I know many of the brethren are waiting anx’ously the result of this Nynod to guide them in the future,” This paragraph is evidently the production of one who is blinded by prejudice ani soured by bigotry. Not one single argument does your correspondent adduce against instrumental mude; all that his letter amounts to is : “I say that it is objectionable, and therefore it must be so”— an arguni’ nt, if argument it can be called, peculiar to the self-rightto is Pharbee "As to the remark of your correspondent that if instrumental music is introduced into the Presbyterian places of worship, be “ would not give much for the funds of the Church,” I would not insult the members of the Presbyterian communion by even supposing that any large number of them would withdraw their support from the Church if instrumental music be introduced, even if that be the intention of your correspondent Now for a iew words with reference to the advantages of instrumental music. What objection your correspondent can have to it I cannot conceive ; for, as 1 have already said, althougn he has stated that it is oh jectionable, he has not pointed out what his onjcciionis. in my opinion, instrumental music, viewed in its pnq er light, is a great aid to devotion, in that it engenders feelings within us that cause us to lift up our hearts wi hj thaqkfulqess pjrpse to our Croat ofpr gra tiog ua such a beautiful means of praisiug Him. What, I ask, could be grander more beautiful, and more elevating than listening to the strains of an organ pealing forth some composition of one of the old masters? Perhaps the most remarkable passage in the " hole of \onr corresoondent’s letter is that wherein it is stated that “ministers had better mind their work, proper—the preaching of the gospel, and endeavoring to win souls to ( host.” Purely your correspondent does not overlook the fact that it is a part of every Christian’s duty to praise Ins Maker, and, I adt, what is a greater help to a service of praise than I instrumental music? “A Member o? the Church must have read the psalms, and it is needless for npi to remind hiip that from beginning to end we have mention made of instrumental music having been used in tho o d Jewish Church. Jn conclusion i would add that, it is just such men as your correspondent who have caused so much disturbance in the Church, and tha. therefore I think his remarks in reference to “disturbing the peace of his Zion ” lave been written in bad taste.—l am, &C., 4 U toss to Mvsiia