ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN HYMN BOOK.

Southland Times, Issue 1716, 18 March 1873, Page 3

ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN HYMN BOOK.

TO THE EDITOB OF THE TIMES. Sih, — On a late Sunday the Rev. Mr Stobo mad« an intimation from the pulpit to the following effect : — " That at last meeting of Sjnod the I English Presbyterian hymn book wag adopted by the Church for the use of all its congregations ; that it was not intended that it should be tbrutt upon congregations ; that hymns were not intended to supersede the P?alms ; that if in this congregation eren a minority objected to the introduction ol hymns, it would be b«tter to dispense with them in the meantime than by their introduction to produce discord ; and that the leeling of the congiegation wou'd be ascertained in this way — that those who objected to hymns should write the word " object" on a piece of paper, and place the same in the plate at the Church door, on Sundays, the 23rd and 30th inst." If not the exact words, 1 think I have given the gist of the intimation. Now such a way of ascertaining the opinioa of the congre--1 gation is not right, and although not intentionally

bo, is in reality dishonest. In such a matter the Church ought to be guided by the common usages of society, and it certainly is not one of these that at an election the " against" only should be recorded, and the remaining voters on the 'roll regarded as having voted "for." The fact is. such a naoJe of voting is eimplv ridiculous. If it were generally known fbafc tha con gregation as a whole had frequently expressed anxiety to have the hymn book in question introduced, there would perhaps be nt least the shade of reason for a proceeding so peculiar as the abore, but 1 am not aware of any such expression. The congregation is apparently contented with the Pralms and Paraphrases for the • • purposes of. praise. in Worship. • • The following are extracts f rona the .report "(q the Otago Daily Times of 18th January last), of the pAiceedingaNof. tbe. Presbyterian Synod: — A return submitted »howed, in regard to the pro: posal to adopt the English Presbyterian Hymn Book, that there were two Presbyteries in favor of ndopting it, and one against ; ei^'ht ijessioni ia favor, and twelve aguinat." Mr Millar, an e'der! irade the following remarks in proposing an amendment advising delay : — " They should not nattily introduce a hymn book to which many sessions and congregations were opposed. As far as he was aware, no movement had been made by any congregation of the Church, nor was he aware that there kad been a single petition or memorial sent to the Synod on behalf of a hymn book, much less on beVialf of the English Presbyterian Hymn Book. He did not think they could afford to divide their congregations, and therefore they should endeavor to avoid throwing the apple of discord amongst them. Some of them were held by a slight tenure, and many would seek shelter elsewhere if such a book as this were introduced." Ihus it would appear that the lay element in the Church as a whole is rather against than for file hyi n book in question, and that congregations have displayed anything but a lively interest in it. — Yours, &c, A PBESBTTiEIAW. 17th March, 1873.