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The Addition Of The Melodeon At
L.L. Pinkerton Stained
Glass At Midway Christian Church
The Melodeon At Midway One of the most tragic events in the Restoration Movement was when churches began using musical instruments in their worship services. Early in the 1800's instrumental music used in worship assemblies were virtually unknown. Unity in all churches where it was introduced struggled even to the point of division. Churches of the Restoration Movement were no exception. As early as 1851 there were scattered reports of congregations among Restoration churches adding instruments of music to their worship services. Alexander Campbell, in an article in the Millennial Harbinger, October, 1851 said, " . . . I presume, to all spiritually-minded Christians such aids would be as a cow bell in a concert." Benjamin Franklin wrote against it in 1860 by saying that it would be only permissible if a church or preacher had lost the Spirit of Christ and were trying to become a fashionable society rather than the church of the Bible. However, in 1860, Lewis L. Pinkerton of Midway, Kentucky responded that as far as he was aware, the church at Midway where he preached was the only one of his knowledge where the instrument had been successfully introduced. The instrument was added amidst much controversy at Midway. What initially caused the problem was that the singing was deplorable. Pinkerton said that the singing would, "scare even the rats from worship." At first they met in the home of some brethren on Saturday night for practice. To get the right pitch, they used a little melodeon. Before long one of the sisters was accompanying the singing with the playing of the little instrument. The group noted how the accompaniment helped the singing, and so they decided the use of it would greatly enhance their worship services. They asked L.L. Pinkerton, their preacher, what he thought of bringing it into the assembly. His response was that he saw no problem with it. So, the next Sunday, a melodeon was brought in for worship. Thompson Parrish played the instrument at the Sunday services. The entrance of this little instrument did not take place
smoothly, however. The friction
was so stern by some that trouble was a-brew. One who was strongly against the
instrument was Adam Hibler, one of the elders. Late one night he, along with his
slave Reuben, went to the church building. While Hibler held a window open, Reuben
entered the building and passed the small instrument through to Hibler. They
took an axe and chopped the melodeon to pieces there on the front lawn of the
church building. Amidst Editorial Comments: I have been to Midway College on a number of different occasions and seen the little instrument. It is a beautiful women's college campus in north central Kentucky. Many thanks to the college for continuing to display the little melodian, as people do travel from afar to view it. The librarians are always most helpful. As one who's perspective is from a non-instrument fellowship within the Restoration movement, it all saddens my heart every time I see the little melodian. How could one little piano cause so much devastation among brethren? Of course it was not the instrument that brought about digression within the movement. Division came about as a result of unwillingness of brothers and sisters in Christ to stay in the old paths. But then, people have compromised their faith with far less. The incident at Midway, and in numerous other places in this land, are good warnings to all brethren. Paul said, "Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58. Jeremiah said, "Thus says the Lord: Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16
The Grave Of Adam Hibler In May, 2000, I, along with Charles Nash, had the opportunity to visit the grave of Adam S. Hibler, the elder who strongly stood against the bringing-in of the instrument at Midway, Kentucky in 1860. The Hibler farm is near the Cane Ridge Meeting House. From the meetinghouse, heading back toward Paris, just next to a farmhouse on the left hand side is the small Hibler family graveyard. The graveyard is in a pasture with a small stone wall around the graves. There are a few trees growing there as well. Look for an obelisk between the small patch of trees and you've found the grave. Also, there are two horse-barn behind the farm house. Seeing this monument is a must for the grave hunting enthusiast! Don't miss it when you go to Cane Ridge Meetinghouse.
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much anger, a new melodeon was placed in the building, again with stiff
opposition. So, Adam Hibler again, with the aid of Reuben, removed the new
melodeon from the building, this time storing it in his barn. A third was
purchased and placed in the building. To this, the acts of "righteous indignation"
ceased. Around the turn of the 20th century the Midway Church building was
destroyed by fire, a picture of which is at the top of this page. Along with it was the destruction of the third melodeon. Some
years later, Hibler's barn was being cleaned out when the second melodeon was
found. It was taken to the premises of Midway College and has now been placed in the college
library. The college has a new library on campus, and the old melodeon is
still on display. The school proudly displays it because of all the controversy
it brought so many years before. Many people aware of the controversial nature
of it, travel long distances to see the little instrument that split a church. 
