BRASS BAND IN CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19072, 17 July 1925, Page 10

BRASS BAND IN CHURCH.

SUBSTITUTE FOR AN ORGAN

[from our own correspondent. ] SYDNEY. July 9,

To elevate the soul, to inculcate tho divine virtues, to bring man into communion with the spiritual, with the aid of a brass band in church, seems a little out of place, but by an accidental circumstance it is being attempted by at least one church in New South Wales, and not without some success, judging from the large congregation. Tho band wap imported into the service, not as a novelty, but as a necessity, and tho congregation, accepting tho position in that spirit, have not wandered from tho old faith, but havo stuck to tho church and their clergyman.

St. John's Church at Young, a prosperous country town, is without its organ, which is being repaired. A band has come to tho rescue, and is accompanying all the hymns. What is more, it is filling tho breach so successfully that tho old notes of tho organ aro not greatly missed. But, even more interesting, is the personnel of tho band. Two of tho players are of tho Church of England, ono is a Roman Catholic, and another it Methodist. Thus are the broadly-tolerant folk of Young seoking tho kingdom of henvon until the organ again takes its allotted place in their worship.