Church Organs by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 12, 1879

Church Organs.

By Editor

ALL who have read Will M. Carlton's poetry on "The New Church Organ"--and who has not read it?--have laughed over its quaint and happy hits. But happy hits are not necessarily good arguments. There is something to be said on the other side of the question.

In the Baptist Banner there has been some controversy on this subject, one styling himself "Fogy, Jr." having given his reasons for objecting to the use of organs in church. To these "A disciple" replies, and from the reply we quote the following:---

"He tells us his first objection to the church organ is, that 'it is an innovation. The New Testament knows nothing about it.' On the very same principle, he must object to church houses, pulpits, hymn books, and printed Bibles. The New Testament says nothing about them.

"But Fogy, Jr., proceeds to tell us that the organ causes divisions. Some members of the Fogy family even leave the church on account of it. Just so the old Fogy generation objected a few hundred years ago, to printed Bibles. They said printing was an invention of the devil. So also a century or two ago they objected to note books. What really causes the divisions in all such cases, is not the improvements, but the disposition the Fogy family have to make everything go their way, or 'fly off the handle.' Hence, Paul commands us rather to avoid the Fogies, than the organs and note books.

"We are next told that the organ destroys congregational singing? This I doubt not will be news to many readers of the Banner. In our church the people sing much better when the organ is used. The organ is not intended to superseed congregational singing at all, but rather to aid it."

On this last point we have a word to say. In some cases we know this is the truth. We are acquainted with a church which had not a male voice competent to lead in singing. Tunes were generally started by one who was always willing to lead, but who could not distinguish between F, and F sharp, and always sung them on the same tones! Instead of "making melody," the singing was discordant.

Now, it happened that in this church were several females who were accomplished musicians. Of course there was no worship to them in the harsh, jarring discords which passed for singing; but they could not be expected to lead a congregation. There were also many people of cultivated tastes who attended the meetings, especially when there was preaching. Hence the singing was a cause of constant mortification to the ministers, and to the members who could distinguish between harmony and discord, and a source of amusement to those who were not so directly interested.

Under these circumstances the ministers advised the purchase of a "new church organ." But "Fogy Jr." was there, and insisted that "it would spoil their singing"---that it would break up their congregational singing. But the necessity was pressing, and the organ was bought. And when a modest sister of good taste and thorough training struck the keys, the congregation joined in with a will, and all but a few of the "Fogy family" were delighted. Since that time the singing in that church is really devotional, and the congregation easily sing together.

But was "Fogy Jr." convinced by the result? Not at all. His course from that time forward showed that he cared as little for "harmony" in the church in other respects as in the music. Alas, poor man! if he was accustomed to the disagreeable work of self-examination he would discover, what others have long known, that his persistence and zeal are not exercised for the welfare of the church and the furtherance of the cause, but for the sweet satisfaction of having his own way. We fear he will fail of joining the harmonious songsters who are "harping with their harps," in the heavenly Zion. We almost hope he will, unless he gets converted from his present ways, for we have known too much of discord and contention here, to have a desire to have them perpetuated in the world to come.