CHURCH PSALMODY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 79, 14 August 1869, Page 3

CHURCH PSALMODY.

(To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times.)

Sjk, — In your last issue I obaoi-ve ths Prasbyfcevian Church Conimifck-o are advovtising for a precentor, at. £20 a-year. When I read, it my first impulse was to apply for tlie jo\ as it would have b&en an accessory to my present limited income, but op. becoming acquainted with several facts I am induced to hold back. 1 havo heard on good authority tiiat the Kirk Session have lately been making it very uncomfortable for I>!r3. Brunton, from a reason which I believe no other members of the congregation than tho Session will endorse. It is this : that Mrs. Brunton sings tunes not sufficiently familiar to the congregation. The only objection I ever had to that lady 'a tunes waa that they were too familiar, too common — tho same thing nearly every Siufday ; and during my regular attendance for the last six months I can say, without fear of contradiction, that she lias not sung one tune that is not familiar to the great majority of Scotch or Irish Presbyterians. lam not very well acquainted with church management, but it seems a monstrous tiling that a precentor should he under tlie surveillance of some halfdozen men called a Kirk Sessiou, of whom I know for a fact, in the present case, not two out of the six could distinguish botween the Auld Hundred and Auld Lang Syne ! I would therefore humbly suggest to the Kirk Session, or the Committee, or whoever has the mismanagement of the matter, the advisability of enumerating in the advertisement $he tune 3 the caniiidate fur the office of master or mistress of tho aoiig must sing before they can bo eligible for the duties. It is a recognised fact in every church which exists in a civilised country that the loader of the music should endeavour to raise the musical t.iate of the congregation as much as possible. This, Mrs, Brunton has bjea doing her utmost to accomplish, by mooting every Saturday evoning with a few lovers of sacred song, and practising what she considered suitable music for the service of the sanctuary ; and for all this she gets more kicks than halfpence, for the Committee or Kirk Session accept her resignation, and offer £5 more salary in all likelihood to get a less competent leader. I sincerely hope that not a singlo candidate will apply; certainly no one wili come forward who knows the treatment Sirs. Brunton has received from the Kirk Session. — I am, &c,

Texob.