GORE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 9, Issue 664, 29 April 1887, Page 6

GORE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING. On Wednesday evening last, the congregation, of the Gore Presbyterian Church met for tho purpose of discussing the propriety or otherwise of introducing instrumental music . into the Church worship, of substituting the new book of Church Praise for that now in use, and any other butiness which might arise. The pastor of the congregation, RevA- Mackay, presided, and after peaise and ..prayer, requested the . Olerk, of Session, Mr ft. Gardner, to read the minutes of last congregational meeting on February 2nd. This Mr Gardner did, and also the minute of Kirk Session, April 10th, authorising the present meeting. The Moderator, after stating the object of the meeting, explained that the last congregational meeting had deferred consideration of the subject of instrumental music unbil the beginning of May. The present was the nearest suitable time, because the evangelistic services about to commence would otherwise cause the matter to be postponed till well on in May. Mr Kilburn asked whether voting by proxy would be allowed, The Moderator replied in the negative. The object was to obtain an expression of opinion from 'the meeting. If the meeting expressed a desire for the introduction of an organ, : the, Kirk -Session .would ...doubt letfs specify.* date when the written votes of the congregation, would be taken at the church! door. The decision on the matter iof Church Praise, however, wouldk Ibe final. After some discussion it was decided by vote to consider the question of CHURCH PRAISE first, the Chairman explaining that he was entirely in the hands of the meeting, and that no cut-and-dry arrangement had been made. ; : Mr Calder moved that the ' Church Praise ' be adopted- — Mr Dunwoodie seconded. Mr Dunlop presumed the motion would be put to the vote whether an amendment was made or not. — The Moderator said that would of course be done. Mr Beattie asked for information as to what recommendations the new book had over that now in use. He had never seen: it. Mr Kilburn said it appeared that there was no definite information as to the nature of the book. He would ask whether there were any special or general objections to the old book. The Moderator, speaking merely for himself, said one thing was that the old book was difficult to procure. Others might be suggested by the meeting. Mr Dunlop moved that consideration of the matter be deferred till the next annual meeting of the congregation This, he said, would probably take 1 place about the beginning of November" this year, and the congregation would thus have time to consider the matter ■■ and compare the books.— The Moder' ator said the fixing of the annual meeting lay entirely with the Kirk Session. Mr F McKay seconded the amendment, Mr Flowers had seen the bdok. The psalms were the same in it and the hymns were slightly altered; He, how ever, had not made a minute comparison of the two, Mr Gardner said he had a copy, of the new book and had gone through it carefully. It .contained nearly all the paalms and hymns at present in use, and between 300 and 400 additional hymns. The music in it was more appropriate,, and in his estimation it was a much better book. The harmony was better and simpler, and :be sure if those present had an opportunity of hearing the music they would declare in its favor. He wad .also informed that the present book now out of print, so that its use wouid be compulsory shortly. It was, the only other book of praise sanctioned by the Synod, and they ?rould all have to use it by and bye when the present supply ol the old books ran out— -^ (Applause). Mr Smaill pointed, out that the Psalms were not quite the some : there were some left out and others were curtailed. That was the only objection. In other respects the new book was better.— Mr Gardner explained that the new book was published in two different forms, and probably he was thinking of one bcok and Mr Smaill of another. Mr Andrew Brown, who was familiar with the new book, it being in use in Invercargill, said it contained greater variety of music and words. Mr Dunwoodie and Mr J N" Scott also advocated the introduction of the new book, as did Mr Smith. Mr Kilburn (who had now obtained a copy of the work under discussion) pronounced it incomparably better than the one in use. Certainly it contained some heretical matter, but he was not so sorry for that as glad there was no more. (Laughter). The Moderator said that was a serious charge against the Synod of sanctioning heretical matter—(laughter)—but he (Mr Mackay) would not fail to point out any heresy when they came to it. (Laughter). Mr A. M'Kinnon al&o supported the introduction of the new book.

After ,the Moderator . had again^ez plained th»t' the~i&ecFsi6;n riofa to .b'e^arrivedwas at final, the ' vbfc was taken % I show of hands, Mesbrs Bannerman and McKinnbn actinias scrii tinkers, ! ! Tnefle voted for ; the mbibiSn 3|' :mVmbjeri f a;fi& nine 1 adherents, and' 'M the a'tiiendiiMt five members and two ad^erfenfe?' Tse motion 'was therefore declared csjjfietl amid applause. ! : : -: • .^o;'^ Mr Beattie then moved that the, iie% book be adopted on the first Sabb^tlffn June. —Mr Calder seconded. ',— The motion was carried unanimously 1 ' s'*5 '* :Sl INSTRUMENTAL 'Mtfsig^'.." . Jf Mr J N s Scott. . moved ,that , instru'. mental, music : .bs, introduced,: to ,. t^e worship— Mr Gilder. seconded, "..t'lV MrTurnbajl asked what instrument Mr Scott referred to ?— Mr Scott: Tne organ (Laughter) ' A ' ' Jri " Mr Kilburn asked whether an organ tras available. Oonld they put itifn offhand? ' >'■ . r : -.*.* I-.* The Moderator said they could; not do that in any case. If the meeting affirmed the desirableness of having an organ, the Kirk Session would issiieatt edicb calling for a vote of the congregation. The result of tbafc would go to the Presbytery, and from that to the Synod- There was no organ available he had already- said, nothing was cut and dried^and i£ it was decided to have one it would have to be purchased, unless 1 of course, some^o'ne-prd-sented one to the church ;?..:*<-/ Mr Beattie said the matter had be*n so cf ten before the congregatio|pr tbab all were ready to say yes oi-nvto the proposal- He was sure the Musical part of the congregation gf eatly desiMd instrumental music, and he cotieidered it would greatly improve the- Bfnging. He jthoughtr-all --the -young people, and nearly all.the old were in, favoft o£ it (Applause) : :. I^JUv The vote was . then tak«n by each member of the congregation .wf itiifg ' for * or ' against -on a slip of pa^?* 1 , and on the votes! being collected it was found that there voted ':^- < J '■]_;, ;t Tjj* . Members- Adherents, For ... .-.i ;.. 88 '•■■' 'U f 'Ks Against ... ... ..". 4' '' ' . ■"■'f* ll ' i - 'Mr Macafa -as^d^wninrwoiSra^De the resultof Cher ■meeting'-ifs^the next vote was unfavorable;? "■■ v ; : \^r^jT* 9 The Moderator said that of course no result would ensue. ' It ah:b^* be borne in mind that out of the congre* gat ion of considerably over 100' btSfclßS had voted. But there -was new a definite proposal' for the Kirk Sessi|n. to deal with. •...,. ■' r^WF OTHBR MA.TTEBS " •:■:=• W The Moderator having irivltefd - sts^ gestionß from the meeting, Mr l)anfep called attention to the fact ..that j^e financial year would, henceforth,* pao* bably, close at the end of September, and it was therefore desirable thit'if^Se •vho contributed fo the Sust^ntatma Fund half yearly should pay quarterly for that term afc all* events so:*|?to obviate confusion in the finances.— 2/pke M oderator said the suggestibiiiWa^'i&x excellent one. The Moderator also made several s^timations. In order not to intelffro with the Evangelistic services ,cpmmencing on Saturday there wouJfct beno service at Croydon oh Sunday £%& and none at Mr Banner man's on May 3rd. ■'■ ' -'•■ ■■' ..:- --> -.'i^i THE SA.BBATH SCHpOL Mr Grardher said lie 4 ha?d to mate a claim on behalf, of the^ library, of^fthe Sabbath School. No addltionshad wgn made to it for two years/ and it would make them isorry to, e^^jfch? -ciiildren Sunday after Sunday unable to find a book they had not , previously read. They all knew the benefit of placing suitable books in the hands of the young, and he would -be gtad o! ! sspe suggestion.' lf he could 'olUjrS&iae £W, he might get it subsidise^,' kndstliat again by the Bible an& Tract Society, and could procure 200 or 300 volumes, and thus supply t^a .branch schools also. . . . ' ". The Moderator referred to the sag* gestion made pre viousljr ' lihat "anyoM having books which* ~tnej^ ntff'wft shouß present then! to the school. Only one. member had responded — heiiHte not at liberty to mention the name s^and even that had greatly cheereM^i (the speftker). - Neither *hS<i anyone yet responded to the invitatibH^to subscribe- money. . He trusted ionic suggestion wpuld be. made andainvited Mr Beattie moved that< a^pec^c^l* lection be made, next Sabbath forenoon as the congregation was 1 ' leaving 'tne churcbi-Mr Caider secondeif. aom Mr Smaill mbved that J '!hß^ad !i sM. ling subscription lists 1 br ] «aWeli^ftiW by the children. _He would also sug« gest that the bachelors ofthe congr«?ga« ,tion bo; each civen «ner^aj%a«tf hteri^Mr. : Turnh^i^^i|':^^^ ...Wf,. -E^-S, .McGCIi i .BUDpQ ? ste^ ,|he amendment, thereby eliciting a humor* ous remark from Mr Macara that he was h glad to see a ; bachelor' in' 'such a position. The amendment was carried,! ffcd after singing Psalm 133, and the S&ediction by the pastor of the oen^regation> the meetirig.adjoumed.: JT