DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Evening Star, Issue 3829, 2 June 1875, Page 3

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

. The quarterly meeting of this body was held “ th ® F ‘ r ß fc Church to-day, f] ie Moderator (the Bey R. M Naughton) presiding. The first business was the appointment of a Clerk and the vnterim Clerk (the Rev Mr Watt), in asking to be relieved of the post suggested that his successor should receive ari increase of salary The Rev Mr Will proposed the Rev Mr Johnstone, of Port Chalmersone of the oldest and most experienced memlers—as clerk, and that gentleman was unanimously elected.

The committee appointed to confer with the Government, with a view of obtaining com pensation for injury done to the Kai on.i Church through alterations to the road, stated that after hearing explanations from several of the neighbors, and also from Government, they had to report that as the road was a public me nothing could be done. The committee were discharged. In again bringing under the notice of the Presbytery the question of instrumental music m pi aces of Worship, the Rev. Mr Will said that when he signed the overture he did not consider it of such importance as to warrant him in bringing the matter before the Church, but he now thought it of sufficient importance to bring under the notice of the Presbytery. He maintained that the Scriptures commanded the use of music in church service. The question had an important hearing on the union with the Church of the North Island. Wes it to be said that because the Church in the North sanctioned the use of instrumental music that

they were to wash their hands of and have nothing to do with them ? He moved—“ That this Presbytery having taken into consideration the overture of instrumental music, resolves to approve generally of the overture, and to send it down to Kirk Sessions for their conside ration.”

Mr W. D. Stewart, in second' ng the motion, said that there were two questions involved—whether it was lawful to use instrumental music, and whether it was expedient to do so at present. The first point Mr Will had fully argued, and with regard to the expediency he (Mr Stewart) personally was quite satisfied that it was merely a question of time, and he was satisfied that the day was not tar distant when all Presbyterian churches would be favorable to the use of such music. If persons prejudiced against its use would give it a trial he was sure that it would prove beneficial in the Church service.

Mr Kino, Green Island, regretted that no ministers had come forward to traverse the remarks of Mr Will. He moved, as an amendment, ‘‘That the overture be simply sent to Kirk Sessions to get an opinion.” By the 15Cth Psalm they were oemmanded to praise God in his sanctuary and to praise him with timbrel and dance, and if music were allowed so also might dancing be. (Laughter.) He opposed the use of music in places of worship. The motion was carried by 14 to 2, only Mr King and the seconder, Mr Nicholsen, voting for the amendment.