The Midway Melodeon

An Early Historyof the Instrumental Music

Controversy Among Churches of Christ

October 19, 2006 ** Memorial Blvd. Bible Study ** Prepared by Chris Reeves

Events Leading Up to Midway

• Feb. 22, 1851 - A letter signed by “W” was sent to J.B. Henshall, editor of the Ecclesiastical Reformer asking about I.M.; Henshall opposed it (Eccl. Ref., Mar. 1851)

• Aug. 1851 – John Rogers wrote Alexander Campbell asking him about I.M.; Campbell responded later in the year to “G”: “But I presume, to all spiritually-minded Christians such aids would be as a cow bell in a concert” (Millennial Harbinger, Oct. 1851)

Events Leading Up to Midway

• 1856 – Tolbert Fanning said he “regarded the organ…as mockery of all that is sacred” (Gospel Advocate)

• The prevailing and predominant attitude among Christians up to 1860 was that the use of I.M. was worldly, denominational, unspiritual, an innovation, and tended to entertainment

The Midway Melodeon

• The first use of I.M. on record among Christians was in 1859 at the Midway Christian Church, promoted by the preacher, L.L. Pinkerton

• A small melodeon was played in the home for the practice of church songs, then later moved into the church building for worship; Thomas Parrish played the melodeon

• The melodeon was opposed by an elder at Midway named Adam S. Hibler and removed by Hibler and his slave, Rueben

The Midway Melodeon

• The melodeon (first or second?) was found later in the home of Mary Nugent of Versailles and purchased for Midway College and placed in its library

Midway “Church of Christ”1844 – 1895 Building

Midway College Library

The Midway Melodeon

Midway Christian Church

A.D. 1895

Midway Christian ChurchStained Glass

L.L. Pinkerton

The New Midway Melodeon

L.L. Pinkerton GraveLexington Cemetery

(1812 – 1875)

Adam S. Hibler GraveNear Paris, KY

Events After Midway(Opposition to the Instrument)

• January 1860 – Ben Franklin wrote that that I.M. may be used “Where the church never had, or have lost the spirit of Christ … If the church only intends being a fashionable society, a mere place of amusement” (American Christian Review)

• 1861 – Isaac Errett opposed I.M. saying that it was born of “pride…the New Testament knows nothing of choir singing and instrumental music” (“Church Music,” Millennial Harbinger, Oct. 1861)

Events After Midway(Opposition to the Instrument)

• 1864 – W.K. Pendleton oppose I.M. and said that it interfered with singing (Millennial Harbinger, Mar. 1864)

• 1864-65 – J.W. McGarvey opposed I.M. by appealing to the NT as the only rule of practice for Christians; the OT is not the rule; the NT is silent about it; to introduce it is presumptuous (Millennial Harbinger, 1864-65)

1) Jewish temple worship2) Angels harping heaven3) Silence of the NT4) Aid or expediency

• 1864 – Moses E. Lard opposed I.M. on the grounds of the silence of the scriptures (Lard’s Quarterly, March 1864)

• 1864 - Ben Franklin wrote that I.M. could not be put on the ground of opinion or expediency and those who promote it should be marked

• 1867 – Dr. H. Christopher opposed I.M. in St. Louis• 1868 – Z. F. Smith opposed I.M. on the grounds

that it was used in the OT but not the NT (American Christian Review, Feb. 1868)

Events After Midway(Opposition to the Instrument)

• 1868 – I.B. Grubbs opposed I.M. on the same grounds as Lard and McGarvey (Millennial Harbinger, Nov. 1868)

• 1868-69 - Robert Richardson, answering H.T. Anderson, pointed out that expediency must have the law of Christ behind it (Christian Standard); Richardson also answered the “psallo” argument in Eph. 5:19 (American Christian Review and Christian Standard)

• 1870 - J.B. Briney wrote that expediency could not add to the command to sing

Events After Midway(Opposition to the Instrument)

• 1860 – L.L. Pinkerton wrote Ben Franklin: “So far as is known to me, or, I presume to you, I am the only ‘preacher’ in Kentucky of our brotherhood who has publicly advocated the propriety of employing instrumental music…”; Pinkerton appealed to the “aid” / “expedience” argument; he said the singing at Midway was so bad that it would “scare even the rats from worship”

Events After Midway(Promoting the Instrument)

• 1864,66 – W.K. Pendleton placed I.M. in the realm of expediency (Millennial Harbinger, March 1864; Nov. 1866)

• 1864 – Thomas Munnell argued from the “absence of any Scripture condemnation” (Millennial Harbinger, April 1864)

• 1865,68 – A.S. Hayden answered McGarvey saying that I.M. was in the realm of expediency and he objected to McGarvey’s argument on the silence of the scriptures (Millennial Harbinger, Jan. and April 1865; Jan. and June 1868)

Events After Midway(Promoting the Instrument)

• 1865 – S. Salsbury defended I.M. appealing to the OT and the book of Revelation

• 1868 – J.S. Lamar, answering I.B. Grubbs, argued that I.M. “belongs in the domain of freedom” (Millennial Harbinger, Dec. 1868); Lamar also appeal to Psalm 87:7

• 1868 - Benjamin Franklin estimated that about 50 of the 10,000 churches used an instrument

Events After Midway(Promoting the Instrument)

• 1870 – Isaac Errett argued in favor of I.M. as necessary to enable (aid) one to sing, but counseled against it if it would cause stumbling (Christian Standard, April 1870)

Events After Midway(Promoting the Instrument)

• Some brethren opposed both the instrument and the Missionary Society (Amer. Chr. Rev. and G.A.)

• Others opposed the instrument, but accepted the Society as an expediency (Lard, McGarvey, Graham, Apostolic Times)

• Others opposed the instrument at first, but later accepted it and the Society (J.B. Briney, Christian Standard)

• Two attitudes:– Change with the world; adapt; permitted if not forbidden

by the NT (“anti-progressive”)– The NT church is fixed; all things must be sanctioned

(“anti-digressive”)

Events After Midway(1860 to 1900)

Two Important Areas of Study( The Area of Silence )

Some Think• The Bible is “silent” means “silent” as to the specific words used (like “instrument,” or “church building,” “song books,” etc.)• Silence is permissive, not prohibitive

Bible Principle• The Bible is “silent” as to authority expressed• Authority must be first expressed (general or specific) – Lev. 10:1-2; Heb. 7:14• Silence is prohibitive

Two Important Areas of Study( The Area of Expediency )

Some Think• Expediency means anything that is helpful; any aid that helps in the work and worship of the church is permitted

Bible Principle• Expediency must first have authority behind it (1 Cor. 6:12; 9:21)• Law prescribes; expediency carries out what is first prescribed •Expediency operates within and under law• Aids (expediencies) cannot be additions to law expressed

• Col. 1; last para. “a matter of preference…”• Col. 2; sec. para. “a progressive…” … “means of

expressing faith … improve…”• Col. 2; last para. “instrument of Satan”• Col. 2; last para. “dissenting church members…”• Col. 3; last para. “the Church of Christ, which to

this day prohibits the use of instrumental music in worship”

History of the Melodeon(Comments on the Midway Library

Document)

What about our future?

What will the young people believe?What will the preachers promote?

What will the elders defend?