Presbyterian Synod.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 81, 27 January 1876, Page 6

Presbyterian Synod.

TUESDAY, 18th J ACTUARY, 1876. (Condensed from the Dunedin papers.) INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. The debate on this question was continued at the evening sederunt from Friday night. The Rev. Mr Bannerman spoke at considerable length against the introduction of instrumental music. The several points which he had raised on Friday night he argued in detail in support of. He argued that it was unscriptural, and in particular combated the argument that the Book of Psalms sanctioned it. He stood to his ordinstton vows ; he stood to the Confession of Faith ; he called upon them not to surrender the citadel of Evangelistic truth, which they would do were they to introduce instrumental music, which would eventually lead up to all the evils of Ritualism. The Rev. Lindsay Mackie had previously supported this matter in order that it might be brought before the Synod and fully discussed. He replied to the arguments of the Rev. Mr Will and Mr Stuart. He had not long given this matter much consideration, but for the past twelve months he had given this matter thought, and had become enlightened. He argued against the organ, and in the course of his speech said : — lt was said that the young people were leaving the Church, and it was pictured how they went with tears in their eyes — not that they did not love the Church, but because they

loved the organ more — that, like the lass in the song, they said " Whistle and I'll come to you, my lad."—(Repeated roars of laughter.) If thevouivg people were leaving the Church ; the legitimate conclusion was riot that they did so because, of the organ. It was that if young people were leaving , the Church, let them (the Synod) confess that their ministry was a failure ; that their system had served its purpose j that its clay had gone, and that they had better make way for others fitted to meet the requirements of the time. But he (Air Mackie) believed there was a better conclusion than that, and urged the ministers te betake themselves to prayer and to the study of the Scriptures with renewed energy, and they would retain the young people in the Church, To pass the proposal now before the Synod was really formulating a new doctrine, and the Church of England, which used instrumental music, had never yet attempted to formulate such a dogma. The Rev. Mr Johnstone thoroughly believed in the Scripturalness of instrumental music, and would, therefore, support . the motion of the Rev. Mr Will, or that of Air W. D. Stewart. The Rev. Dr Copland maintained that the introduction of instrumental music was strictly in accordance with the terms of the Confession of Faith. He thought it should be left to the congregations to decide whether they should exercise the freedom of using instrumental mnsic. The Rev. Dr Stuarfc said he was chosen' for the Church of Otago by gentlemen who knew well he was in ■iivor of the use of instrumental music ', and the First Church congregation was not always so strongly opposed as at present to its use. The Confession of faith neither prohibited nor enjoined the use of instrumental music. The object of some members of the Church here seemed to be to dwarf themselves and isolate themselves from all the other Reformed Churches. He was strongly opposed to such a course. He could not shut his eyes to the fact that many of their well-to-do members were going from amongst them "on account of the prohibition of instrumental music ; and he could not say with some, ' • Let them go." Mr Moore supported the amendment of Mr Ryley, which he thought was the only constitutional mode of dealing with the matter. The majority of the Church to whom the matter had been remitted, decided against the proposal, and therefore they should not proceed any further with it. He strongly opposed the Rev. Mr Will's motion. The Rev. Mr Sutherland asked that they should be allowed to use instrumental music on the same principle as they had been allowed to use hymns. the Rev. W. MC. Smith mentioned that the use of instrumental music was prescribed in the Old Testament, and if the Rev. Mr Bannerman and the Rev. Mr Alackie could show him a passage in the Scriptures forbidding its use, he would vote with, them ; until then he would support the proposal for the introduction of instrumental music. The Rev. Mr Waters strongly opposed the Rev. Mr Will's motion. The Rev. Mr Ross supported the adoption of the overture. The Rev. Mr Clark opposed the motions of the Rev. Mr Will and Mr W. D. Stewart. The Rev, Mr Watt supported the overture, believing ttiat the congregations should have full liberty in deciding in the matter. He would vote for Air Stuart's amendment, believing that they should settle the question at once. the Rev. Mr Christie would vote against the overture, simply because a majority of the sessions had decided against it. The Rev. Air Thomson supported Mr Stuart's amendment, Mr Alackay opposed the overture. He believed the time was coming when instrumental would be adopted, but he hoped it would not be in his days, and he believed it would be followed by other innovations. Mr Reith spoke in favor of the introduction of instrumental music, Mr D. Borrie referred to some portions of the Rev. Air Bannerman's speech, and considered instrumental music not enjoined but permissive. He had given this question a great deal o study, and as far as he could see, the use of instrumental music was perfectly scriptural. — not in the sense that it was enforced, but that it was like many more things, a matter of permission. The Rev. Air M'Naughtoh opposed the introduction of instrumental music. The innovation would lead to discord. They would drive from the Church some of their best members. The Rev. Mr Henry opposed the introduction of instruments. Mr Millar took exception to 7 ministers bringing up this overture without consulting the congregations — to their coming forward and throwing down the apple of discord among congregations. Mr Paterson remarked that it had occurred to him a great deal of irrelevant matter had been introduced. He considered the discussion might be divided into three parts — (1). The Scriptural argument; (2). The Constitutional argument j (3). The argument of expediency. In regard to the first he had been struck with what appeared to him to be the extreme poverty of the argument for the introduction of instrumental music. He. pointed out the returns showed a majority against the

introduction,, and .. he thought, •' if i the Synod, in. the face of. that.decision,came forward- and'insisted upon passing , this overture, that they were acting; riot only inconsistently,. but ultra. vires; ■ The Rev. Mr Blake could not understand the violence with which members had spoken on each side. He supported instrumental music. The Rev. Mr Will replied. He liad no intention to break - his • ordination vOws, and he would be ashamed if he were even impatient under his ordination vows. fn replying' to that charge he quoted from Shakespeare, " he who steals my purse steals trash." He had never pleaded for anything more than that the people should have permission to use instrumental music if they • desired to do so. All that was Scriptural was not enjoined ; the Scriptures fprovided permission and expediency. Could he sit here and be told over and over again that nothing was Scriptural bus what was enjoined and must be done, and the omission of doing which would be sin. Such argument he would resist to the utterVnost, and the other side would find in him a foeman worthy of their, steel. A vote was then taken with the following result : — For Air Stewart's amendment, 33 ; for Mr Bannerman's, 27. Mr Stewart's amendment was then put against the Rev. Mr Ryley's, with the following result: — Stewart, 32; Ryley, 29. The Rev. Air Will's proposal was then put against that of Air D. Stewart, with the result : — Stewart, 29 ; Will, 7. The Rev. Air Will had explained during the evening that he preferred Air Ste\vart's proposition to his own, and had proposed his own in the form in which he did in order to meet half way the other side, but they had not taken advantage of it. The Rev. Mr Will would have withdrawn his proposition in favor of that of Mr Stewart, but this the non-instrumen-talists would not allow. Hardly any of the non-instrumentalists voted on the last division, and those that did voted for the Rev. Mr Will's, as against Mr Stewart's. Mr Downie Stewart's having become the motion, and having been carried. The Rev. Mr Bannerman, in his own name and the name of all adhering, dissented and protested, for the following reasons, and for any others that might be handed in. The protest was to the effect that no Scriptural authority had been pleaded, and that such being the case the use of instrumental music was contrary to the Confession of Faith ; also, that it involved a departure from the purity of worship hitherto practised in the Church, and that in the terms in which it was passed it made a new dogma. ,On tbe motion of Dr Stuart, a Committee consisting of Revs. Will, Todd, Copland, Dr Stewart, and Messrs E. B. Cargill, W. D. Stewart, and D. Borrie were appointed a Committee to answer the reasons of dissent. Mr King gave as a further reason for dissent and protest, that in taking the ordination vow, an obligation came his conscience, and not church upon earth had power to absolve his conscience. Mr Millar quite agreed with Mr King. That, and that alone, was his reason. The Rev. Mr Ryley said that his reasons were that the S} m od, having received returns adverse to the introduction of instrumental music, now, in the face of a large majority of the Church, adopted instrumental music. By doing so, it had destroyed the constitution of the Church, and was drifting into Congregationalism. His objection was not on the ground of what was Scriptural or unscriptural ; but the ground that the rights of the Christian people had been ignored. Mr Stewart's motion was :— -That the overture on the use of instrumental music be adopted, and the congregations be allowed to use such music in serving God, provided that the Presbytery of the bounds shall first be satisfied in each case that the members of the congregation proposing to use such music are substantially unanimous. THE SUSTENATION FUND. The following was laid upon the table : — Your Committee, is submitting the annual report, must first express their gratitude to God for the steady increase which has taken place in this fund from year to year. The dividend for the year just closed (£219 18s 6d) being higher than any time during the past twelve years. The large increase in the contributions of some of our congregations during the past year is especially gratifying ; and were the same rate of increase attained by all, the equal dividend would at once be raised to about £270. . The following congregations show an increase on last year's contributions : — Anderson's Bay, LS 12s ; First Church, .' Ll2l 7s 4d; Knox Church,Lll6 2s id; St. Andrew's, 12s ; North Dunedin, L 5 18s, Green Island, Ll9 2s 6d'; Kaikorai, 14s ; North-east Harbour, L 6 9s; Port Chalmers, L2s\l6s 8d; East Taieri, L 2 Is 9d; Balclutha, L 3 Is 6d ; Lawrence, LlO ; Teviot, L7;10 ; Tokomairiro, Lls 16s 6d; Warapa, 6s ;. Invercargill, L 9 12s IOd; Riverton, L2l 17s; Queenstown, L 8 _ls 6d ; Switzers, L 3; Hampden, Lls 6s lTd;, Alount Ida, L 6 13s; Oarnaru, Is; Otepopo,' L 4 ; WaikoUaitij L3l 3s ; North Taieri and Mosgiel,- for the half year, L4O; Waitahuna, for the half year, L3B. The, return. from .' Ciutha is the same as last year. „*• . The following congregations show

a decrease :— lnch 7 Clutha, lii 7 0s 3d; Tapanui,. LlS 175.; Popotunoa,. Ll 7, lss 6d;.Loug Bush _and Oteramika, L2B" 14s ; Wallactown,L6 Is ; Winton,: L 4 10s od.;. Palmerston, L 22 35.6 d. Your Committee are surprised at the very small amounts contributed by some of the charges in the immediate neighborhood of Dunedin, The congregations of Kaikorai, Anderson's Bay and North-East; Harbour, all, of which are populous, and comparatively wealthy j districts, return sums which the Committee cannot but, regard as ,far. below the amounts which they might return ; and the large amount uf aid. received bythem from the fund, makes a serious inroad on the surplus from other congregations, which is really designed for the support of more necessitous and lesswealthy and populous districts. The same remarks apply in . a modified degree to some of the country charges, which are well able to be- at least selfsupporting, but which appear to look to others for the. support of ordinances in their midst> while themselves quite able to contribute the equal dividend. Your Committee consider that this matter is the special function of the office-bearers of the several congregations, and that if they all exerted themselves as they ought to do in collecting systematically and periodically, there would be no difficulty in raising the dividend to an . adequate sum for the support of the ministry. Each congregation being to a certain extent dependent on all the others, the neglect of this matter by one congregation is an injustice to the whole Church ; and it is very desirable that offic-bearers should realise their responsibilities in this matter. Your Committee - would draw special attention to the necessity of making frequent collections, and looking after sums which, although they appear insignificant in • themselves, make a large difference at the end of the year ; and it is principally on the looking after these frequent collections that the fund must depend for its increase and prosperity. Your Committee desires to draw the. attention of the Synod to the fact that the regulations anerit making a return of the supplement paid to varieus> ministers have not been generally attended to. The following congregations have sent no return of this : — Waihola, First Church, Knox Church, Worth Dunedin, North Taieri, Inch Clutha, Warepa, Cromwell, Invercargill, Mount Ida. In the absence of this return it is impossible for your Committee to * carryout the regulation of Synod, as to pmount payable out of this fund in the event of a larger supplement than L2O being given in any case. Your Committee would recommend the Synod to enjoin all Deacons' Courts and ministers to send in their return punctually, and to authorise the Committee to retain the dividend until such return is furnished in each case where the congregation is not self-supporting. If this is not done the regulations regarding this matter will be inoperative. Two congregations have made, returns under £150 — viz. : Popotunoa and Wallacetown. The Committee trusts that in the current year these congregations will make up for lost ground, and will largely increase their contributions, Your Committee have to report that one of their number, Mr J. P. Miller, has resigned his position as a member of Committee, for reasons which appear on the minutes. Your Committee regret this very much, as Air Millar's services have been very valuable to the Church in connection with this fund. In conclusion your Committee would express hope that, during the current year, all the office-bearers and members of each congregation will so exert themselves, that the dividend will be raised to at least £250 per annum, and that by the blessing of God, this fund, which is really the only means of maintaining Church ■ ordinances in almost every part of the province, may be more and more supported and increased until every minister of the Church is placed above the cares and anxieties which are inseparable from the receipt of an insufficient stipend. Wm. Thomson, Convener. The report was adopted. INTERIM ACT. Various amendments in the Interim Act were agreed to. UNION. The following report of the Union Committee was brought up :— - Your Committee have to state that as the terms of the proposed union were remitted to Presbyteries by last Synod they- did not feel called to take any further action in the matter during the year, beyond transmitting these proposals to the Corresponding. Committee of the Northern Church. From that Committee they learn that the General Assembly of the Northern Church have approved of the proposed terms of union which were submitted to them as approved by their, own Committee, and that the Assembly's deliverance was as follows : — " That the report of Com--mittee on Union be adopted, and that deputies be adopted to the Synod of Otago and Southland, indicted to meet in January next, with power as Commissioners to complete the union negotiations on the terrris already accepted, and to arrange preliminaries for the consummation of the union. : Considerable discussion, ensued. It was finally resolved — " thafc the

Synod generally- apprs've of -the basis: of union' as included iii the Union Committee^' '-Report-of- 1875, and-send it down to Kirk Sessions through Presbyteries. Presbyteries to report at next meeting ot Synod. THURSDAY. The report of the Financial Committee was given in by Mr Gillies and adopted. . Applications, were received for grants', for churches from the following places : Otepopo, Rayensbourne, Balclutha, Palmerston, Greytown and Port Chalmers. On the motion of Mr. A. C. Begg, it was unanimously agreed to grant all the applications subject to slight alterations Air. A. C. Begg moved —That the principles of the Barrier Act be declared the ruling principle of this Synod in all matters to which, according to Presbyterian practice, it is applicable, and for the carrying the same into effect the Synod take the rule of the Free Church, but substituting " Synod" for " General Assembly,." and adding " Kirk Sessions of the Presbyteries." He spoke very strongly on the. subject, and said if things went on as now in another three years time the unity of the Presbyterian Church of Otago would in a great measure be broken up. The Rev. Mr. Will moved as an amendment —That a Committee should be formed to frame the principal of the Barrier Act. Dr. Stuart seconded the motion, and also spoke very strongly on the subject, expressing his regret at the remarks made by Mr. A. C. Begg. It was agreed after discussion to appoint a Committee to prepare a Barriar Act suited for the circumstances of the church. The question of manse grants for repairs, additions, and new erections, occupied some time. A number of applications were received and read by the Rev. Dr Copland. It was resolved to remil; an application from Waitahuna to Clutha Presbytery, for erecting a manse. v Aii- application from Riverton was similarly dealt with, power to sanction £300, if it was shown that such an amount was required ; also one from Wallacetown, that the Presbytery, should certify the amount to be paid in terms of the regulations. The Otepopo grant was remitted to the Presbytery of Lawrence, with power to grant £100; Palmerston, £50, under regulation 8 $ St. Andrews, £-200; Knox Church, £62 9s; North-East Harbour, £50; East Taieri, £60; Clutha, Lso.and Tokomairiro, .£SO: The report on Sunday observance was brought up and adopted, as also was that of the Theological Hall Committee. At the evening Sederunt Mr Bannerman moved, " That the Barrier Act be accepted as an Interim Act, and sent down to Kirk Sessions for approval." Upon his motion the following was submitted : —The Synod, not being fully constituted as a representative Court, after the manner of a representative General Assembly, taking into consideration that it is invested with the power of regulating* the whole action of the Church in. its Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions, is nevertheless not regarded as having any lordly or absolutely binding authority •; that it is expected to act ministerially under Christ and to carry out such rules as appear to harmonise with His own instruction in His Word; that consistently with the Presbyterian Government, all reasonable means ought to, be taken for keeping the action of the Synod in accordance with the general rriind of the. Church, inasmuch as all ministers and ruling elders are entitled and. called upon to judge for themselves as to the mind of the Great Head of the. Church; that as it is held that Christ requires good order to be maintained in his Church, it is needful for the Synod to act legislatively as-well as judicially, in order to prevent any,innovation being hastily introduced by , a single Synod, and to secure due. .deliberation and harmony in the enactment of new laws, and in the alteration of old ones; do therefore appoint, enact, and declare, that before any Synod of this Church shall pass-any acts which are to be" binding rules and constitutions to the Church, the same acts -to be first proposed as overtures to the Synod, and being by it passed as such, be" remitted to the-consideration of the several Pres? byteries and Kirk Sessions of this Church, and their opinions and. consent reported in the form of certified extracts from their minutes to. the next Synod following, who may then pass the same acts, if the majority of Presbyteries and the majority of Kirk Sessions concur in the same opinions and consent.''' Mr W. YD. Stewart moved,-as an amendment, " That, the proposed Act be sent down to the Presbyteries, so that. they, should report thereon at the In'ext extraordinary m,eeting of the KirkSessions." Rev. Mr Will seconded the amendment. ; • After considerable discussion it wasresolved to adopt, the principles of the Act.