PRESBYTERY OF DUNEDIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1240, 4 September 1875, Page 10

PRESBYTERY OF DUNEDIN.

The quarterly meeting of the Presbytery of Dunedin was held in the First Church on WeJnesday. ' ANDERSON'B BAY RETURN. The Presbytery resolved not to receive, that ~\ part of a, return from the Anderson's Bay-Kirk-session anent instrumental music which said that those persons who had " ventured to cast the apple of discord (instrumental music) into our midst have much to answer for.',' The Rev. Mr M'Nauohtok gave notice of appeal to the Synod on the matter of the refusal to receive. INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. Returns from Kirk-sessions to the overture of the Presbytery re instrumental music were made as follows : — ' • First Church. — " It was resolved that, whereas no desire has been expressed on the part of the members and adherents of the Presbyterian Church of Otago for the introduction of instrumental music into the service of the Church, this session, without taking into consideration' the principle of the matter, 1 does not deem it judicious to introduce the question, as it would tend to disunion where at present harmony prevails." North Dunedin. — " The session agreed to approve of the overture sent down by the Presbytery anent instrumental music." Port Chalmers. — " The overture on instrumental music ' sent down by the Presbytery, having been taken into consideration, it was resolved that whereas the introduction of instrumental music into the public worship of God is dangerous to the peace and purity of the Church, this session do not approve of the overture." East Taieri.— "The session having taken into consideration the reference . of Presbytery, anent ' instrumental music,' agreed by a majority to approve of the same." , < North Taieri. — "The overture anent instrumental music came up for consideration, when, the session declared unanimously in favour thereof." Portobello. — "The overture anent instrumental music sent down by the Synod for the consideration of Presbyteries and sessions, was discussed, and it was- resolved to approve generally of the same." Knox Church. — "The" session having con- ; sidered the remit from the Presbytery of Dunedin anent the overture on instrumental music, , resolved that in the opinion of this session, it is desirable that the liberty to use the aid of instrumental music be granted to such congregations as may be substantially united in their desire for its introduction, Mr John Grant dissenting." . Green Island.— "The Moderator laid before the session an overture from Synod anent instru-.i mental music. After due consideration it was carried, by three to two, not to 'sanction tne introduction of the same."

St Andrews.— "Resolved to oppose the use of instrumental music in the Presbyterian Church as an innovation neither sanctioned by her standards, nor enjoined in the New Testament, and fitted to creato divisions in Church Courts and congregations." West Taieri— •• That the overture from Synod anent the use of instrumental music in church be agreed to. " Anderson's Bay. — " The overture from the Presbytery on instrumental music in the public worship of God, having bcen_ taken up, the session are unanimously of opinion that the use of such is both inexpedient and undc-riptural, ami they beg at the same time to state that, in their opinion, those who have ventured to cast tho apple of discord into our raid-st have much to answer for." There being *?x for, and five against, The Rev. Mr Will moved— "The Presb}--tery having resumed consideration of the overture on instrumental music, and having heard and considered the returns from Kirk Sessions on the subject, resolved to approve of the overture." He would not occupy them long at the present time, as the matter would be fought strongly in the Synod. He would, however, «ay that he took a stand on Scriptural ground. The Old Testament had clearly sanctioned the use of instrumental music in the worship of (><kl. He maintained strongly that the use of instrumental music was Scriptural ; that there was nothing in the New Tes*ament setting aside the sanction given to instrumental music in the Old, and that there was nothing in the Standardswhicb forbade the use of instrumental music as an aid in service.

The Rev. Mr M'Xal'ghtox moved as an amendment -" That the overture be not approved." _He spoke against the use of an instrument in service, and said that the overture was too general in its terms. Besides an organ, they might have a piano, a harmonium, a hurdygurdy, a bagpipe, or a fiddle. Mr James ICixc (Anderson's Bay) said it was his opinion that ministers of the Pr&jbyterian Church had taken a very wrong ste]> in wanting to introduce instrumental music into the^ Churches. There were as zealous men in their forefathers' time, and yet they never did so. What better instrument coidu they have than the voice for praising God? To praise God with a dumb idol, an instrument, a machine ! For his part he could not do so. It was not consistent with any Christian principle to do so. It was surprising of men who professed religion to bring forward anything of the kind.

Mr King (Green Island) : To acquiesce in thia overture would be to break a most solemn promise. Had they not nil |iromisetl to conform to the worship of the Church as established, to do nothing subversive of the same? and had not the brethren in the ministry promised to defend it ? He contended that there wa? no Scriptural authority for instrumental music in Christian worship ; that, under the Jewish ayatem, instrumental music had been associated with sacrifice, and the abolished Lovitical economy, and that the Standards forbade the introduction of instrumental music into Churches. Examining into antiquity, he found that it was not till Christianity became corrupt that instrumental music was introduced, and that the deeper and darker the corruption prew the more splendid was the music He regretted the question, as it would lead to heart-bnrnings. The Revs. Dr. Sto.vrt and Coplakd denied that to advocate the introduction of instrumental music would be subversive of the Church, or contrary to ordination vow. The latter pointed out it would not be an innovation, being used in nearly all Presbyterian churches. , After further discussion, The Rev. Mr Will replied, there was nothing in the ordination vows which prevented • minister from urging consideration of the subject, and that an important feature of the motion was that it vindicated the liberty of the Christian ]>eople, a liberty God had given to ♦hem and which man had no right to take from them. The overture was carried by 9 to 5. WEST f AIEHIi

It was resolved to moderate in a call to the Rer. Mr Kirkland at West Taieri, that day fortnight being fixed.