(continued from previous page)
Some
instrument users, apparently aware that there is no validity in
their psallo argument, claim instrumental music is only
an "aid" that is therefore justified by generic
authority. They liken it to church buildings, eye-glasses, and
walking canes.
"Assemble"
authorizes nothing but assembling, and when brethren come
together in a rented building, under a tree, or in a building
they own, they do nothing but assemble. We believe a place of
assembly is expedient, but the place is subordinate to
the thing done (assembling), and not something in addition to
that which is commanded — not coordinate with it.
One
sees with the eyes, whether through glasses or not. One walks
with the legs, whether aided by cane or not. The glasses do not
constitute some additional sense, nor the cane some additional
act. Glasses and cane, are subordinate to seeing and walking.
But
when one plays an instrument a different act has been introduced
— something coordinate has been added so that now we sing and
play. Factually, one does not sing with a piano (i.e., it is not
the instrument of singing); one sings with the voice. One plays
with the piano — it is the instrument of playing, not of
singing. The piano, therefore, is not an aid to singing (the
thing commanded), but an aid to playing ( a thing unauthorized).
Yes, you can understand this.
On"
tract writer makes the instrument the means (aid) "to
achieve togetherness in singing," and later, "a method
of teaching
