[Note: Many of our readers are probably
aware that instrumental music was not used in the worship of the first
century church. In fact, instruments were not introduced into the Roman
Catholic Church until more than 600 years after time of Christ. The
Greek Orthodox Church has been very slow to allow them. Most of the
major Protestant churches began without them. Robert Turner makes an
interesting observation along these lines in the following article.]
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 [noted Methodist
commentator] said, "Music as a science I admire; but instruments of
music in the house of God I abominate and abhor."
John Wesley ["founder" of Methodism]
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!!
