The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-03-09
The Hymn Question in the Established
Church Of Scotland.


of God? And is it lawful to employ the
organ or other musical instruments in the
sanctuary to aid in the service of soug?-
These questions are agitating the Presby-
terrain Churches in England and Scotland,
And they are by no means without interest
to US; inasmuch as difference of opinion In
the first is almost the only barrier in the
way of organic union with our respected
brethren of the Associate Reformed Church;
and there is great diversity of views respect
ing the answer that should be given to the
second within our own Church.
The following report of speeches made by
Drs. Craik and Macleod in the influential
Presbytery of Glasgow, will show the drift
of opinion in one part of the Established
Church of Scotland:
At the ordinary meeting of the Glasgow
Established Presbytery, on the 9th ult., the
Rev. Dr. Craik moved the appointment of a
small committee to examine the book Of
hymns called "The Scottish Hymnal-
Hymns for Public Worship, selected by
Committee of the General Assembly" The
subject was, he said, an interesting and i'm
portant one. The mode of conducting the
worship of God was not certainly matter OF
such vital moment as the maintenance of
that worship, but, nevertheless, it had claims
on our earnest attention. There could be
no difference of opinion as to the obligation
to observe such worship in every Christian
Church, but persons equally devout and en-
lightened might differ as to the manner in
which it ought to be conducted. II was not
wise, therefore, to adopt and defend extreme
views as to that. Those who preferred vocal
music in the praise OF God, might be ami
mated by a jealous desire to give to public
worship that which seemed to them highly
devotional character; but the advocates of
instrumental music were equally Jealous in
endeavoring to promote the same object when
they adopted the method which best COM
mended itself to them. The speaker then
went on to say that the introduction of
hymns in the public worship of our congre-
cations could not in the present day be called
an innovation, and proceeded to give histor-
ical extracts, which showed that so far back
as the year 1747 the Church of Scotland
had taken steps to have the PSalmody en-
larged, by joining with the Psalms of David
other Scripture songs out of the New Tesla
ment as well as the Old. After directing
the attention of the Presbytery to the deliv-
erance on the report of last year, he con-
cluded by saying that it was not necessary
to bring forward any arguments in favor OF
the use of hymns. The Church had already
recognized the advantage and profit of in
Producing them. Immeasurably valuable as
were the Psalms of David, and admirably in
many respects as was our metrical version,
laboring under some great defects, these sa-
cred songs were not perhaps in themselves
sufficient. There were sentiments which it
was desirable Christian congregations should
express in their songs of worship that were
not to be found in these magnificent compo-
sitions. Such, however, was their infinite
variety, and the manifOldness of their posi-
bic, nay, frequently, of their most appro-
pirate application, that they must always
occupy the principal place in that part of
our public worship in which sacred music
was introduced. He concluded by moving
that small committee be appointed by
whom the collection might be examined, and
who might give in a report to the next meet
ing of Presbytery.
DIR. Norman Macleod seconded the mo-
ton, and, in doing so, said he would yield
to no one in admiration of the Psalms, many
of which were greatly superior to any hymns
in existence. At the same time, others were
not suitable to modern times, and, indeed,
had never been sung in churches. At one
time committee appointed by the General
Assembly had consulted with Professor Will
son, Sir Walter Scott, and other literary
men of that day as to the prOpriety of get,
ting an improved metrical version of the
Psalms. But these literary men had OBJ
jected to such course, on the ground that
much might be lost and nothing gained in
the attempt at Improvement. He never
could comprehend the abstract objection to
hymns, nor how any minister could object
to his congregation joining in praise to God
with beautiful human composition, while,
at the same time, he made no objection to
their joining in prayer to God with what
might be very bad composition of his own
He cordially agreed with the suggestions
made by DIR. Craik, and thought that in the
book of hymns, the Psalms and paraphrases
generally sung in congregations should be
joined, so that one book instead of two or
three should alone be necessary in the SER
vice of song. The motion was carried unan-
imously, and committee appointed.
CHRISTIANITY AND OPIUM-Bishop Kings
| Low in one of his letters from China refers