WITHDRAWAL FROM THE CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 921, 14 September 1910, Page 4

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE CHURCH.

... . V . . • MINISTER AND PRESBYTERY. 1 (By Telegraph — Press Association.) '.' ' < • Tlmaru,-September 18, 'rAt'.'a'- spwial'smeeting iofi. the Timaro .. ' Presbytery, to-day the Rev. J. :H. G. .. Chappie, • minister of St. Andrew's .'. dis-: vv:- ' ; 1 . trict, was. called lipon.for an explanation ' of. ;his.;'conduct : -in repealing, • somewhat scornfully, a requisition of the. Presby- ' tery for a private conference concerning —(1) ; his presiding, at a'lecture by Mr.: : Joseph . M'Cabe, stating that he did bo as a protest against the absurdities ■; of . . orthodox teachings; (2)-his name appear- . - ing.as a'i subscribing tacmber of the ; Lon- •.- don. Rationalist;' Association', whoso pub-, lications he publicly, recommended; -.(3)' •- preaching.;",in.' the Unitarian Church, ' ; v -'■'' ■ > Auckland, which is • about to become vacant; (4)- the inconsistency of- ; such - ' ■ .conduct : and^--.utterances' - with Uhe solemn vows made on his admission .'to ■ ' ths V; Church. Mr. Chappie read a long reply, • con- ■ l trasting^ ; moaern , scienco 'with.-,theological T dogma;'tolthe'disadvantage, of the latter. ! ' 1 : The. Presbytery considered the state. ' yM ment in private,, and .on ..resuming - ; . adopted a finding condemning such con- s duct statements, .and.'also yarious. ; -"vi letters written by Mr. Chappie to news- ' ' papers, in; some of. which ne used con- ' temptuous • espressions . regarding -, tho'.'. ' Presbytery, acq, •as he expressed-no ro- " ' • .gret,,'ibut • adhered to.,the : position he had, ifv-i : taken lip," the ?resbytery. advised him.to.';.' • withdraw, peacefully, from the. charge 'of : St. Andrew's -and: the.'■{ Presbyterian Chiirch, .and gave him . a fortnignt . in'-vVj-./V;-''' which.to reply.- sbl'-..' //-y Mr. Chappie immediitely handedin"his ■" > ■ 'i: - resignation of the charge and withdrawal 1 from the Church., . . The resignation.was accepted,;and 'Mr.' : V :', Chappie was declared to be ,no. longer : a minister of tho 'Presbyterian . Church of . New Zealand. i;;; ; It-was,decided that: the congregation-: . should continue to. payj the stipend for s. three, months to come. ... .