“If worship transforms us into kinder, more loving people, then why do we fight over worship?” Paul Basden
The controversy over the organ continued to be played out in church circles for years.
John and Charles Wesley, the founders of the Methodist movement, were both song writers. Charles Wesley was the most prolific. He wrote 6,500 songs during his lifetime. He often used bar tunes as the musical background for the songs he wrote. Many of the songs that Charles wrote were paraphrased from the Church of England’s Prayer Book.
John Wesley was said to have commented about the organ: “I have no objection to the organ in our chapels provided it is neither seen nor heard.”
During the 1860’s Charles Spurgeon refused to place an organ in his 5,000 seat Metropolitan Tabernacle out of fear that people would come to hear the music, and not the message. Over time though the organ and the style of music the organ was suited for became the tradition of the church.
On the other end of the spectrum of the discussion and controversy over church music, worship style and instruments, William Booth (1829-1912), founder of the Salvation Army, used brass bands on the streets, which he was criticized for. His response to the criticism was, “Why should the Devil have all the best music?”
The controversy around music continued! Stay tuned for Part 8.
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