"WHY I RESIGNED"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2708, 1 March 1916, Page 2

"WHY I RESIGNED"

; . CONGREGATIONALIST MINISTER'S DEFENCE AN ONEHUNGA SENSATION ■ By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, February 29. "Why I Resigned," was the subject of an address at tho Coroila.tion Hall, Onehunga;', on Sunday evening by the Her.' S. J. Campbell, late Congregational minister. Tile hall was packed to the door. Mr. Campbell commenced by saying he found himself ill an exceedingly painful position. Slander and wicked gossip had been at work, and he found that his honour was at stake. He read a copy of his resignation: "Owing to the unfortunate circumstances which have arisen between myself and a member of your church I feel compelled to resign my position as minister of the Coiigregational Church, Onehungn. I ask no pity. I have acted unwisely and must put up with the consequences of my foolish act." 'Jlie speaker first reforred to the fact he had for iiftpen years been a minister of the church. During the whole of that period until now there had. never, been a word said against hiin. He had come to Onehunga twelve months ago to find tho condition of affairs ill the 'fchurch exceedingly unsatisfactory. All the churcli organisations were now flourishing. He had resigned on a matter of principle. The deacons had thought fit to pry into his private affairs without making any special charge against him. There was absolutely no charge made by either church or deacons. He was loth to_go into details, but wicked tongues of gossipers miide it imperative that he should publicly state the whole story. Bcduccd to a nutshell, it meant that the present painful position, iii" which lie now found himself was because of bis refusal to marry anyone save tho lady of his choice. He had been on friendly' termp with a member of tho congregation, but their intercourse had never got as far as an engagement, for ho realised that marriage between them would bq unsuitable, although he had always had the. greatest respect for the lad.v and her family. The next development was the - holding of a meeting of the dea- N cons on a recent Saturday evening. Although tho minister should, by right of liis (losition, be chairman of all such meetings, he had not been asked to attend. Tho object of meeting was to discuss a letter relative to the matter of which he liad 'been speaking. ' For that' reason he should have been given « chance of attending. He had never police been aslcod by tho deacons whether lie was in any way culpable, and they had not acted in accordance with tlie laws of the church. Following on that meeting lie had sent in his resignation. It llad since'been declared that his uso of the expression, "I have acted foolishly," was an acknowledgment of guilt. It was nothing of the kind. He meant that he had been foolish in allowing his acquaintance with the .young lady to proceed so far. Ho had written certain letters. These the young lady's family had made public, and it was obvious.that ho had acted foolishly in writing at all, everi though jtliere was nothing wrong with tho letters. The lady herself made no charge against his moral character; no man or woman living could do that; but the ly-ing-tongue of the scandal-monger had set stories in circulation until lie was compelled to como forward and make this public explanation. Recently . a married woman from a country parish in which he had been a minister came to town, and invited him to dinner at tho lloyal Hotel. Because be accepted the invitation, most exaggerated stories had been set in circulation, and the woman most cruelly slandered. The lack of Christian feeling find Christian charity was one cf the most tragic things that had oome' within his experience, but in his case he declined to be driven from the place. Ho intended to remain in Onehunga and fight those lies, and re-establish himself in tho eyes of all. "I am called by God to preach in this town," ! lie declared. "I am not going to be driven' way from my life's -work. I shall continue to preach as a tmssioner liqre each Sunday, and shall, if- need be, work as a tradesman to support myself." A dramatic touch to. the proceedings was lent by the avowal of a young lady present, who stood up to disclaim the statements of t-raducers who had coupled her name, as a member of the Congregational Churcli with that of the minister, and had associated her in gossip which had led to the present cOn- - tretemps. - Tho minister was loudly applauded on the conclusion of his address> Ho suggested that a collection be taken up to pay tlie cost of hire of the hall. The response was found in a collection of £5 7b. 6d.