| Midway University was originally called the Kentucky Female Orphan School, and interesting name provided by Dr. Lewis Pinkerton, physician and minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Midway, Kentucky. That alone lends this school a unique history, which can be seen in the accompanying, brief video. But there is more, as the university also houses an interesting historical and religious artifact. | |
I am delivering professional development for Kentucky teachers this year, having visited for the first time, earlier this month and discovering a connection that comes in the form of an old musical instrument - a melodeon that is located in the library. This melodeon was the source of controversy in the church and the Restoration Movement. It is of particular interest to me, since I am also a preacher for the church of Christ.
The church of Christ understands Scripture to describe a single method by which people may worship God musically - through singing. The human voice is never described in the New Testament to be accompanied by any sort of mechanical instrument. We do not assume any liberty in the silence of Scripture on the subject of musical instruments. The command to sing defines God's acceptable method and negates all other musical methods.
 The Melodeon as Seen on the School's Website | By the mid-1800s, some people in this area, including the chief founder of the university, Dr. Pinkerton, believed the silence of Scripture on forms of music outside of vocal singing implied the freedom to choose and add preferred musical accompaniment. Soon, a melodeon was introduced in church worship - the first musical instrument to appear in any service of the Restoration Movement. One of the church elders, along with a servant, removed the instrument under the cover of night, and the melodeon went missing for a while, eventually finding its way to the university where the instrument remains today. It is a small artifact, but also a powerful one that caused some members to split from the church of Christ and form a new sect, the Disciples of Christ (The Christian Church). |
