CASE OF REV. C. CONNOR.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 222, 11 October 1878, Page 6

CASE OF REV. C. CONNOR.

' ; TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — .The Clutha Presbytery evidently when they gave their decision in the above case forgot the following text : " Do unto others as you would they should do unto you." A great -many people in this district think, as I do, that Mr Connor has been very hardly dealt with by the Presbytery. Every one knows that the evidence given at the meeting (which was a packed one) held at Clinton was trumped up, and a great many barefaced untruths told. The schoolroom has been for every Sunday for months past nearly filled by an appreciative and attentive congregation; and as regards hard work, for years past Mr Connor has had his fair share, and lias always done it cheerfully. Formerly this district was a very large one, and the roads were dreadful, so he must have' had very hard lines. Now, as things are improving, the district increasing in population, communication with neighbouring settlements made easy — in fact/ the labour getting less (the. minister older, as it should be) — he is quietly told to break up his home, take up his bed, and march. As a gentleman and a Christian,' he is appreciated by many. It is utterly impossible to please all, especially in a community like ours. There is a hornet's nest in part of the district (not 50 miles from Wairuna), who have been persecuting and doing everything to annoy — of course in the most Christian, loving, and charitable manner — our worthy minister, whose only fault is over-zealousness in the cause of the church to which he belongs. I hope Mr Connor will not take the advice of his brethren at Clutha, but will if necessary take his case to a higher tribunal, fight his battle manfully, and not resign as if he had committed some grave error, and he will be more thought of even by his calumniators, who I hope by that means would be put to shame and confusion. The truth is, Mr Editor, that if Saint Paul was preaching in this district he would not satisfy all of us : there are some of us always tirwirring. As long as a minister does his duty to the best of his ability as a Christian and a conscientious man, what more, I say, can he do or what more ought we to expect. In conclusion, I think it most cowardly to attack a minister, as his cloth prevents him from defending himself, and giving some of them what they richly deserve : a sarkfu' o 1 sair banes. — lam, &c, Anti- Oppression". Clinton, Oct. 2, 1878. [Note. — Although we have given a place to the above letter, we really think it would be much better to leave the matter alone till the whole facts are before the public. The case is at present sub jndice, and therefore comment is irregular.—Ed. C.L.]