THE ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN HYMN BOOK.

Southland Times, Issue 1719, 25 March 1873, Page 2

THE ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN HYMN BOOK.

(to the bditob ov the times). Sib, — Tour issue of the 21st contained a letter from the Rev. Mr Stobo in answer to mine of the previous issue. If Mr Stobo's letter was limited to the discussion of the two points raised by me, viz., the mode of ascertaining the views of the congregation resorted to by tbe Session, and the apparent indifference to the subject of hymns exhibited by congregations generally, I probably would not have continued the correspondence ; but he clearly challenged controversy by the publication of his " copy letter," which was uncalled for as an answer to mine. Notwithstanding Mr Stobo's explanation, I maintain that a vote of the congregation i* being taken with reference to the adoption of the English Presbyterian hymn book, and am certainly astonishel to find Mr Stobo deliberately approving of the method of voting proposed. As hymns are an innovation in the Scottish Presbyterian Church, and as at any rate a large minority expressly objectel to their use in that Church and our own here, it might even be held I as the mere reasonable proposition in deriding our hymn book question that the " ayes" only should be ask-?d for. Either plan however would only indicate the business incapacity of the proposer. Mr Stobo himself says that the Sessions are not the people ; why then does he not endeavor to obtain a regular vote of the people in the usual way — a very simple one — i viz. : that the ayes and noes should be deposited in the plate, the majority to " have it ?'" Mr Stobo evidently thinks that a class exists which ia opposed to hymns in the abstract, and that I belong to it, hence his publication of a copy of his views on the subject originally conveyed in private to another member (for I also am one) of his congregation. No such elas9 exists however. A conscientious objection to the systematic use of hymns in public worship does not necessarily include the conviction that to sing a hymn in any circumstances would be wrong, nor would the objector necessarily be morally incapable of joining in praise with Christian brethren who approved of and used hymns. Mr Stobo might therefore have advantageously dispensed with the face'ious observation — that "if tbe conscience of anyone won't let him sing one of its sacred songs, why, he may just be silent for that time, and console himself with the reflection that whilst keeping a good conscience he ie denying himself a Httle for the sake of a whole congregation." If this was not written " in fun," the reader must infer that my reverend friend believes that a man who voles in a minority may never conscientiously join in proceedings established by the majority. Ido not suppose Mr Stobo meant to convey such an idea ; it is to be regretted however that he does believe in obtaining a majority by a means altogether at variance with the usages of respectable society. I do not know that I am conscientiously opposed to the use of hymns, but if my individual taste were to guide me in the matter, I would oppose their introduction into our public worship. lam not, however, without a perception of the reasons of those who do conscientiously object to their use, and these reasons are not " frivolous." The Free Church of Scotland is regarded by Mr Stobo as of so much importance as a representative of Scottish Presbyterianism that her adoption of a hymn book is accepted by hint as conclusive proof that our present collection of paraphrases and hymns is " notoriously inadequate," and yet the Synod of which he is a member, and mostly if not altogether composed of Scottish Presbjteriaus, rejected the very reasonable proposal to delay the adoption of a hymn book until the one selected by the Free Church could be compared with the Engush Presbyterian one. In doing so, the Synod displayed indecent haste. I for one am of opinion that if the paraphrases got a little weeding, our present collection of ps alms and

*****■—^ ' : paraphrases is adequate. To speak of "our present collection of hymns" is out of the question. It iB there certainly, but virtually it does not exist. I wish Mr Stobo would point out the " Evangelical Churches" which have for " more than a generation used hymns in subordination to the Psalms of David" (italics mine). Some people jump to tbe erroneous conclusion that when members of a church exchange opinions in newspaper columns they are at daggers' drawn. For the edification of sucb allow me to state that I regard Mr Stobo as a most valuable friend, and have said nothin? in these letters that I could not freely speak to him, and that with impunity to our friendship— at least I think so.— l am, Ac, A Pbesbytebian. Invercargill, 22nd March, 1873.