THE DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2346, 8 October 1870, Page 2

THE DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sir, —Permit mo, through your columns, to correct an error into which your correspondent XX lias fallen in bis animadversions on the actions of the Presbytery in regard to the call to Mr Scrimgco'.ir, and which, as casting sinister reflections on that body, demand a reply. The Presbytery have not absolutely refused the call to Mr 8 c rim go our. They have, finding there is matter for investigation, merely postponed the consideration of the case until the accusations brought against Mr Scrimgeour have been disposed of; and I must ask wherein the “ injustice and cruelty” lies, complained of by XX, in thus giving Mr Scrimgcour an opportunity of clearing bis character ? This is all that is wished for by those who dissent from his call. I am, &c., Fur Play. Dunedin, October 7. To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sir, —There are some things that happen in the ordinary business of life, which wc feel utterly at a loss to account for, whilst there arc others which neither deserve nor excite any particular attention. Some men also arc permitted, without question, to do things, which, if done by some others, would call forth a general, if not universal, storm of abuse and condemnation. 1 think, Sir, wc have an example of cadi of these cases in the proceed ngs of Hie Presbytery of Dunedin yesterday. They not only did an action in itself altogether unaccountable, but it was an action which no other men but they who did it would have venture 1 to do in a free country. I have no wish., whatever, to bring discredit on the character of our ministers—very sorry 1 am to say they do that sufficiently for themselves ; but, sir, is an intelligent community to sit quietly by, and see such outrageous things done in the name of religion and morality, and raise no voice of remonstrance either against the deeds themselves, or the parties who are guilty of them ? For myself, 1 have no stomach for Midi fastidious complacency. I like to call tilings by their proper names, and when a thing is wrong, to say so without any hesitat on. On these grounds, therefore, I denounce as an outrage not only on religion, but on common decency, the decision of the Presbytery of Dunedin yesterday in the case of the Rev. Mr Scrimgcour. That gentleman, by his own confession, has been guilty of some misconduct which 1 have no wish either to justify or to palliate, I think that any offence is always of double-dye when committed by a clergyman. But, Sir, that fault has been judged by the Pr ebytery and punished, and the delinquent was subsequently restored from his temporary disgrace, and had received again the right hand of fellowship. Nay, more, lie was declared eligible to be minister of anv congregation within Hie bounds of the Church. But he: e comes the mystery. It seems there was in Hie minds of certain of Hie reverend brethren a reservation In regard to one particular congregation, of which they had determined he should never be minister. That foregone conclusion they seem x-csolved at any cost fully' and resolutely to carry out. In furtherance of their objects, they have already done, at various times, what has most signally degraded the character of our Church "Courts in the eyes of the gneral community. They have, however, made it quiie apparent that their objects and motives in the whole matter is a m re personal affair, and if they can only pet rid of one so immeasurably superior to themselves, they care not a single straw what devastation or havoc may be the result. Thu merciless persecution of their unhappy victim that has characterised all their proceedings in the case, makes it abundantly evident that bis total axid absolute ruin is the object at which they aim ; aqd if they can only accomplish that they care for nothing else. It seems a very strange thing, Sir, that the membership of (he Church should quietly submit to such a state of things, and that they don’t rise as one man and tell those intolerant persecutors, in language not to be misunderstood, that such doings cannot bo permitted to go on. I really trust that some steps may be taken to put a stop to those proceedings ; for they are a foul disgrace not only to the persons who are. immediately guilty of them, but also to the Church in whose name they are committed, and to Hie whole community in whose eyes they arc enacted. Yours, &0., Ci vis. Dunedin, October G.