The Wesleyan Church

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 93, 29 January 1891, Page 2

The Wesleyan Church

[COMMUNICATED.] Perhaps some of your readers will be interested to learn that the innovation made by the Wesleyan Church, and which was noticed in the Star at the tirre is proving an unqualified success, the innovation being the introduction of instrumental music, kindly given by Mr R. F. Haybittle (assisted by his three sous), who rendered similar service in Invercargill previous to his residence in Peilding. The instruments comprise a violincello. two violins and a cornet, which blend most harmoniously with the organ and the singing, without being too prominent, as many feared would be the result previous to the trial being made. If any one is sceptical as to the decorum of this kind of music being used in the churches, I would recommend such an one to hear singing like there was in the church last Sunday morning, in which the congregation joined most heartily. There cannot be any more favorable time for people being susceptible to good influences than after singing of this kind. If the ministers who complain of having to preach to empty pews would encourage the adoption of a similar plan, they would soon have larger congregations, thus increasing their opportunities for useful work. The position ot organist is ably filled by Mr Barrett, a young man who, with his family are new arrivals in Feilding, from Portsmouth, England.