A DISAGREEMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20667, 4 March 1937, Page 6

A DISAGREEMENT

CORRECT DESIGN FOR CHURCHES PRESBYTERY DISCUSSES QUESTION By Telegraph—Press Association DUNEDIN. March 3. Disagreement as to the correct design for Presbyterian Churches was evident at the Presbytery yesterday, when plans for a new church at Opoho were, being considered. A proposal that the pulpit should be placed in the centre of the church was lost, whik another point debatfed was whether rests should be provided for kneeling. The Rev. R. G. McDowall said he considered that Presbyterian churches were largely like halls, the first thing seen on entry being the organ and pipes. Another reform, long overdue, was the provision of kneeling stools. It was disheartening for a min ster to see the congregation lounging during prayer.

The Rev. V. J. Ryburn, in support, stated that prominent things in the Anglican church were the altar and cross, but in the Presbyterian church gilded organ pipes and sometimes choir girls’ hats. To this the Rev. T. Miller replied: "There is a movement in the Presbyterian Church to follow the Anglican, and it is not a movement upwards. We find that Where there is most of the visible Cross there is least of th: invisible Cross.” He moved a recommendation that the pulpit should be in the middle of the church, whereupon the Rev. J. D. Smith said Mr Miller’s previous arguments reacted against himself. He had argued that the giving of prominence to the cross was exaltation of the material, but it was the same thing if the pulpit was given prominence, this exalting the preacher at the expense of Christ. The recommendation was lost, together with one for the provision of kneeling rests.