1793 ARP Act declares uninspired hymns a 'corruption of the worship of God'

Context

This passage records a resolution passed at the 1793 Pittsburgh Convention, where representatives from three ARP synods met to discuss potential reunion. The “Act concerning psalmody” was one of several resolutions on distinctive ARP practices that the convention adopted. Lathan notes that after deliberation, “the utmost harmony prevailed from the beginning to the end of the Convention.”

Extract

“An Act concerning psalmody,” passed 1793. It is the will of God, that the sacred songs of Scripture be used in His worship to the end of the world. The substitution of devotional songs, composed by uninspired men, in the place of these sacred songs, is, therefore, a corruption of the worship of God."

The Convention took up and discussed each of these resolutions separately. After mature deliberation they were adopted.

Significance

This extract provides an authoritative denominational statement using the strongest possible language: uninspired hymns constitute a “corruption of the worship of God.” Key observations:

1. Theological grounding: The act roots exclusive psalmody in divine will (“It is the will of God”) rather than mere tradition or preference—making psalmody a matter of obedience, not aesthetics.

2. “Corruption” language: The term “corruption” places hymn-singing in the category of liturgical sin, not adiaphora. This explains why psalmody preferences drove denominational realignment—adherents saw it as a matter of faithful worship versus corruption.

3. Corporate confession: This wasn’t an individual minister’s opinion but a formal act of a multi-synod convention, showing that exclusive psalmody was a corporate identity marker.

4. Complements Rankin’s case: Rankin made the same argument (“corrupt our worship”) that the ARP formally adopted—he found a denominational home precisely because his convictions matched the church’s standards.