Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources

0363

S. H. Hall vs H. R. Pendleton (Christian church)
November 28 - December 2, 1910
South Pryor Street church - Atlanta, GA
(By Flavil Hall)

H.R. Pendleton affirmed: "The New Testament teaches that the disciples of Christ have a right to use instrumental music in connection with their worship when assembled together for worship." S.H. Hall denied.

Mr. P was careless in defining terms - he said Psalms was a part of the N. T. Bro. Hall quoted a number of passages from Christ that attribute said book to Jewish law. After this Mr. P could not be induced to tell what he meant in the proposition by "the New Testament."

Mr. P took his stand on psalmos and other kindred words in classical Greek and said such words meant to sing with instrumental accompaniment. But bro. Hall read from Thayer and other Greek lexicons that psallo did not carry the idea of a mechanical instruments in the N. T. Bro. Hall urged him to say whether instrumental music was essential to obedience to the command in Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16. Bro. Hall read quotes from A. Campbell, Isaac Everett, Moses E. Lard, Phillip S. Fall, J. W. McGarvey, J. B. Briney and others in support of no instruments in worship. Mr. P said they were not scholars.

Bro. Hall presented from charts some very strong and effective negative arguments on acceptable worship and vain worship, which were noticed by Mr. P in a feeble way.

Pendleton expressed the greatest disgust with his audiences because they did not see the matter as he did, while Bro. Hall treated them with the greatest respect. Mr. P showed bed temper at times and occasionally seemed confused, while Hall was ever calm, kind, bold and fearless.

That great good will grow out of the discussion there can be no doubt. Bro. Hall is one of the greatest preachers, with respect to self-sacrifice, self-denial, earnestness and unselfish devotion to the cause of Christ that I have ever known.

Bro. J. W. Shepherd, Nashville, Tennessee, moderated for S. H. Hall - Mr. Robert Crenshaw moderated for Pendleton.

S. H. Hall's commendation of J. W. Shepherd for his able service as a moderator The value of his service in the recent discussion only eternity can tell. His wisdom could be easily seen in every suggestion he made to me. He has perfect knowledge of the rules of debate and firmly, yet kindly, let my opponent and his moderator know that the rules had to be observed. Having him with me meant much in the great impression for good that the debate made on the minds of the people. J. W. Shepherd is unexcelled in this part of polemics.

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