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 While
in Bangor, Maine, in bro. Ralph Smart’s study, I had
opportunity to examine a book called: HYMN STUDIES
— ANNOTATED METHODIST HYMNAL, by Charles S. Nutter; Tilton,
New Hampshire; Feb. 15, 1884.
On
page 18 of this book there was hymn no. 27, “Praise The Lord.”
We give the first and fourth stanzas:
1.
”Praise the Lord, his glories show, Saints within his courts
below, Angels round his throne above, All that see and share his
love.
4.
Strings and voices, hands and hearts In the concert bear
your parts; All that breathe, your Lord adore, Praise him,
praise him, evermore! Henry F. Lyte, Alt.”
What
interested us particularly was the comment which followed the
above hymn. Mr. Nutter, author of this Methodist Hymnal, said:
“The fourth stanza would not have been admitted into any hymn
book by the early Methodist. Instruments of music in the church,
and especially those with “strings,” were an abomination to
them.
“Dr.
Adam Clarke said, “Music as a science I admire; but
instruments of music in the house of God I abominate and abhor.”
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John Wesley said, “I have no
objection to instruments of music in our chapels, provided they
are neither heard nor seen.”
Readers
of church history are familiar with these “quotes” — but
in a Methodist Hymnal??? Hummmmm!!
There
are some great people across this land of ours. Like the young
men of the University church, Lexington, Ky., who study with the
preacher, bro. Bob Crawley, and go “out” to preach. Like the
white and colored brethren in Piscataway. N. J. , who work
together in harmony, and are hungry for the truth of the gospel.
Like the young preacher (bro. Huntoon) in Dexter, Me. with home
Bible classes every night of the week, and on some days. as he
strives to plant the truth in the far northeast.
Sincere
Christians in the Ohio river valley are realizing that in their
swing from the ultra-conservatism of the past they have been led
into errors of institutionalism and the social gospel. and are
reviewing their course in the light of God’s word. Sound
churches in Indiana are growing in number and strength. And more
and more saints are realizing that their allegiance is to Christ,
not to some “party” doctrine, nor to “mainstream movements”
of ANY people. God help us.
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