THE HYMN QCSSTION.

Southland Times, Issue 1720, 28 March 1873, Page 3

THE HYMN QCSSTION.

(to tbte editoe of the times). Ptr — As Mr Stobo hna published in your columns a reply to a letter of mine on the above subject, you would obligo me liy inserting the subjoined answer to Mr Stobo' i« letter, as well as the original communication. — Yours &c, A Mkmbeb of the Congregation. The "Rev. A. F. Stobo. My Deak Sib, — 1 duly receiver! your letter of the 20th, purporting to be a " sufficient reply" to my note and to that of another correspondent ; on the same subject. It is because I think your letter is scarcely a reply to my own that I consider it necessary to send my original note to the Times, which I would not otherwise have done. 1 In yours to the Editor you say you " have no doubt that there are many members of our church who would not record their votes one way or another, simply because they wish to leave the whole matter in the hands of the seeaiou." In the preceding 'sentence you state that they, the session, " simply wish to ascertain what amount of concurrence they may count upon in the event of introducing the book, and clearly all parties who will not take the trouble to say that they object, ought to ba held as concurring." I beg to refer to the subjoined for my reasons of dissent from this truly original mode of ascertaining the mind of any public body upon any subject supposed to involve a difference of opinion. In your reply you say, " But the session are not the people." Certainly not ; hence the reason why the whole membership of the Presbyterian Church should have been polled upon a question ef eo much importance In your seventhly, you state. " It has been pleaded that the majority, however great, ought to defer to the minority, however small, inasmuch as the latter plead conscience." lam not aware of having urged this plea, but if I did, I have yet to letrn that to do eo would be " frivolous," although it might not be considered sufficient to stay the action of a large majority of a congregation. You say in the present case what show of reason can there be for speaking of coneoience or principle being touched, when the objectors belong to a church that already uses hymns ? We have already five." It is just because I always looked upon the five as five too many, and some of the paraphrases as highly objectionable, that I could cot see my way to an addition Although a member need not join in one of the English Presbyterian hymn book's " Sacred Songs," I suppose there could be no objection to his singing oue of Zion'a Sacred Songs if he preferred it. This I think would be preferable to silence. In conclusion, I beg to add that I think this is an unfortunate time to propose the introduction of aay question that might lead to controversy, and therefore I am done with it at present, whatever I may think of doing at some future time, D.V. " Let every man be fully persuaded in his owl mind." And with my very best wishes, I am, my dear Sir, &c,

The following is the original communication : — The Her. A. H. Stobo. MyDeabSie, — It is with very great reluctance I write on the introduction of hymns question, and beg you to believe that it is in anything but a captious spirit I make the following hurried remarks. I never can forget Dr Welsh's noble appeal on the day of the Disruption to tho*e to whom it was not a matter of conscience whether the Queen was head of the Church or not. It appears to me that the present question can plead the same consideration. Does anyone advocate the introduction of hymns as a matter of conscience ? I know not a few who oppose them on that ground. The manner also of ascertaining the mind of the members reminded me of the position assumed by the Established Church on the occasion of th» first census after the Disruption, viz., adding the adherents of the rarious denominations together, deducting them from the population of Scotland, and claiming the balance as the adherents of the Established Church. In the present casa, those who vote against the introduction of hymns are to be deducted from the membership of the church, and the balance, whatever number may be absent, is to be held as concurring ! ! ! If those desirous for the change had been requested to vote, it would have been more in accordance with the rules which guide society in all matters where a difference of opinion exists. It would however ptrhaps be safer to adhere to tbe ordinary practice by both tendering their votes. It is not because I think the hymns are objectionable in themselves, for I believe they are anything but that, but because I believe the Songs of Zion are dictated by the Spirit of Inspiration, and therefore safer guides. . . I am, &c.