A few years ago, there was an elder of the Highland church of Christ, in Abilene, TX by the name of Roberts, who was on a mission to assist churches of Christ in implementing the chorus into their worship services. According to reports that I read, a number of churches accepted his services, but some with difficulty. Some of the elderly people had problems accepting this unscriptural innovation, but in many instances they were overruled and one eldership even suggested they (older people who objected) find another place to worship. Imagine that!

The reason I relate this is to remind all of us how one thing leads to another; sin begets sin. So, the next step from the chorus in the worship services is the instrument of music in worship.

We need to be reminded also how the mechanical instrument was introduced into the worship services of the church in the first place. Brethren who had already accepted the missionary society concept in the field of evangelism, increased their efforts in the matter of worship. The subtilty with which the instrument was introduced into the worship originally depicted a well-designed plan, and materialized through a carefully exercised time frame. Brethren conceived the idea to employ the instrument as an accompaniment to singing at weddings and funerals, and was first placed in the basement of the church buildings and initially employed in rehearsals for weddings and funerals. Eventually, after a time, it found its way into the worship service. Now, brethren today need to be reminded of this history, in light of what is being done today. One glaring discrepancy in this is the lack of proper control which should be exercised by family members in such cases.

Brother Homer Hailey (Hailey’s Comments, Vol. 2, p. 680-682) is reviewing an article by Roy Deaver, in which Deaver relates how the instrument was introduced into the worship service at Thorp Spring, TX in 1894. A petition, signed by over one hundred brethren pleading that the instrument not be introduced was presented by an elderly brother, Joseph Addison Clark; on the plea that the mechanical instrument was not authorized in the New Testament to be engaged in worship to God. Brother Clark presented the petition to his son, and upon conferring with certain in the church, announced that he (the son) had promised that the instrument would be used, and then turned to the organist and said, “Play on, Miss Bertha.” This was done in spite of the petition, pleas, and tears of many brethren.

Now following the brief look at some historical facts with regard to the origin of mechanical instruments of music in the church, observe, if you will, dear reader what is going on today. Within the last five years, I have attended funerals where mechanical music was played with no singing, and sometimes the music was not gospel music at all, but country or popular music. (Now these were funerals of our conservative brethren.) I have known of some brethren who played bluegrass music at funerals. Brethren, what’s going on? What’s happened to “Amazing Grace,” and “Praise God From Whom All Blessing Flow?”