Psalm 150 says.
Praise God in the sanctuary...
with sounding of the trumpet...
with harp with tambourine and dancing...
the strings and the flute...
clash of cymbals...resounding cymbals...praise the lord
The Free Church of Scotland is know for its Psalm only singing, in Scottish churches.
John Macdonald ( The Apostle of the North) 1779-1849 Ferrintosh, was a Gaelic spiritual verse writer and Free Church minister. Interesting to have an hymn writer in a Psalm singing denomination.
Opposition to Hymns and instruments is not restricted to this arm of the Presbyterian Church. But James Begg was a promoter of the use of Psalms and no instruments.
In 1866 the Free Church voted 3 to 2 for the use of hymns. In 1869 Begg was unsuccessful in Curtailing hymns. In 1872 the Church accepted the New Hymn book 213 votes to 61. In 1877 Prof Bruce wished to have their Own Free Hymn Book with Begg supporting a defence of no change in the position.
Then in 1892 the assembly withdrew permission to use instruments for worship and uninspired Hymns in public worship- the current position- as far as I know!
Here are some dates of interest.
There are 350 currently used Hymnals in the UK
Moravian Hymns (8) 1501
Hymns and Spiritual Songs Sinclair- Caithness 1750
Glassite collection of songs 1749
Scotch Baptist Psalms and Spiritual Songs 1786
Psalms and Hymns 1866
Baptist Hymnal 1900
Scottish Psalter 1923
Methodist Hymnal 1933
Youth Praise 1966
Sing to God (S.U.) 1971
Mission Praise 1 1981
Songs of Fellowship 1991
Source 1 1999
Church of Scotland CH4 2005
There is a long heritage of Hymns and spiritual songs in Scotland. Unfortunately some denominations have put their heads and legal books in the sand. Scripture shows us and instructs us to sing Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs and to use various instruments.
Make a joyful noise!
Many years ago their was a compliant in a church about new types of instruments being used in worship. It was not felt right and proper to use instruments that synthesised the sound of proper musical Instraments. When was this 1980? 1990? 1966? No the 12 Century when the pipe organ was introduced!
2 comments:
1892 ? That's interesting/surprising because it was not till 1900 that the present Free Church took up a separate position from most of the people who would have been advocating hymns and organs. In that year the large majority of the Free Church (including almost all the southerners) joined with the United Presbyterian Church to form the United Free Church.
In fact I had read (possibly in one of Norman Maclean's books) that one reason so few of the southern city folk identified themselves with the continuing Free Church as opposed to the UF in 1900 was that if they had done so they would have had to give up their organs.
Other relevant dates are:
* 1893, when the Free Presbyterians seceded (like the 1900 Free Church people, these were opposed to theological declension in the Free Church, only they were slightly stricter than the 1900 people so never managed to reunite after 1900).
* 1929, when most of the United Free church joined with the Church of Scotland. The Revised edition of the Church Hymnary and the Scottish Psalter (1929 music edition) were produced around this time, presumably in connection with the Church Union movement. Methodist Union in England was being implemented at much the same time.
Peter
Many thanks.
Could there have been a for and against between 1892 and 1900. It does seem there was a bit of yes no, yes, etc at that time and maybe the 1900 was the final dare i say "nail on the coffin" ha ha.
Good to have your input.
HP
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