HYMN STUDIES - ANNOTATED METHODIST HYMNAL by Charles S. Nutter

A Bit of Methodist History Concerning Instrumental Music

In a book called: HYMN STUDIES - ANNOTATED METHODIST HYMNAL by Charles S. Nutter, published in 1884, 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!"

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 not seen.'"

Readers of church history are familiar with these "quotes" - but in a Methodist Hymnal??? Hummmmm!!

- by Robert F. Turner