[PAMPHLETS] No Organs! 1786 "Tractate of Church Music"

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Day 2: Early & Historic Americana

By Fleischer's Auctions

Oct 10, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-10-10 09:00:00 2025-10-10 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Day 2: Early & Historic Americana https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/fleischers-auctions/day-2-early-historic-americana-19250
Day one of Fleischer's 2025 Fall Premier auction includes early American artifacts, documents, signatures, ephemera, and weaponry. Rare material relating to African American history is featured, as well as fine examples of antique photography. Fleischer's Auctions info@fleischersauctions.com

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• Lot Description

  James Peirce. A Tractate on Church Music; Being an Extract from the Reverend and Learned Mr. Peirce's Vindication of the Dissenters. London: N.p., 1786. 8vo, 29 pages. Original wrappers. Disbound. Sabin 59550

   

  A very scarce pamphlet printing of English Congregationalist James Peirce's work on the evils of instruments in divine worship in an "attempt to preserve the simplicity of worship" (p. 29). The tract is aimed directly at Reverends Charles Chauncy (1705-1787) and John Clarke (1755-1798), both pastors at the First Church in Boston, then a Congregationalist church. Peirce intended to dissuade them from their attempts to install organs and thus "pollute" the worship of God. 

   

  The Reverend Chauncy is best remembered for his vehement opposition to the First Great Awakening, frequently speaking out against overly emotional religious enthusiasm. While one could imagine Peirce's puritanical argument being appealing to Chauncy, it is not known whether or not the Boston congregation took Peirce's exhortation seriously. By 1807, however, Lowell Mason (1792-1872) was employed as an organist at the First Church. 

   

  VERY RARE in the trade, with no copies recorded at auction. 

   

  [Pamphlets, Publications, Ephemera, Books, Rare Books, Tracts] [Music History, Music, Organs, Religion, Christianity, Congregationalism, First Great Awakening] 

  Condition

  Request Condition Report

  Chipping to front wrapper. Period correction on page 25.

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