The Evening Star MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1870.
Public duty compels us to draw atten turn to a subject that we would very gladly avoid. It is seldom the Press is called upon to express an opinion on matters connected with religious teaching. So far as abstract doctrines are concerned, it has no right to interfere, excepting to insist upon the freest exercise of religious liberty. It is only when social or moral principle is involved, or when anything occurs which outrages propriety, that, as the means of expressing public opinion, the Press is called upon to speak. Unfortunately, not only at Home, but lately in various Colonies, circumstances have occurred that render comment upon the conduct of ministers necessary ; and at length Dunedin is added to the number. We are not easily induced to believe in stories damaging to the reputation and influence of ministers of the Gospel. They are men, with men’s passions and weaknesses ; and perhaps are subjected to more severe temptations than those who lead more active lives, and who are more thoroughly absorbed in the business of the world. But, on the other hand, their professional studies lead to more complete knowledge of the means of overcoming and avoiding temptation, and of the degradation of mind and position which must result from yielding to it. Moreover, society has a right to expect from them, as teachers of moral truth, tftat at least they should shew their belief in it by their daily walk and practice. The people must indeed be infatuated who think it possible that a clergyman can create a pure and high tone of morals in a church, who is not himself of spotless reputation. We are inclined to think that this, the end and purpose of ministerial teaching, is not, as a rule, sufficiently kept in mind by them ; and that there is too much abstract doctrine insisted upon, to the partial neglect of the great truth that the object of religious teaching, so far as society is concerned, is the training up pure, upright, kind-hearted, moral men and women. With the special doctrines as to a future state we do not meddle—that is no part of our province. What we feel it our duty to insist upon is, that no man ought to be tolerated by society as a teacher of religion who has laid himself open to the imputation of conduct that the common consent of the community condemns. We care not whether the charge is true or false ; so long as it attaches to the man, society is bound to have the matter cleared up satisfactorily, before they accept him as a minister. Now it has become notorious, through common report, and through proceedings instituted in two courts of justice, that the Rev. David Johnstone has had a charge laid against him that renders it absolutely necessary to clear himself of, _ if he hopes to be serviceable as a minister of the Gospel in Dunedin. It is with great unwillingness that we are driven to this public notice of the matter, j We have avoided mention of it hitherto ; and had he not by his public preaching defied public opinion, wc should not have allowed any word to have appeared in the Evening Star tending to add pain to that which he must have suffered. Had he adopted any less conspicuous course of life, he might have pursued his future career with credit to himself and without scandal to the community. But if he persist in inviting a congregation to hear him, society ought to insist upon a complete refutation of that charge against him which has led to severing his connection with the Congregational Church at Moiay Place. No one would he better pleased than ourselves could that scandal lie removed —none would rejoice more than we should could it be shewn that although he had been nimble to convince those worthy men who took such pains to investigate the matter, he was still stainless in conduct. For ourselves
we express no opinion. We believe that they themselves would be glad to find they had erral in judgment, and would gladly reinstate him if that error could be shewn. But they have arrived at a different conclusion. The case never came before a jury of the Hupreine Court, and we are not justified in commenting upon it. We arc tree to acknowledge that these circumstances are only corroborative evidence, and that it is just possible an over-sen-sitiveness may have led to his shrinking from the merciless- siftings of a court of law or justice, But how stands the matter now 'I Though declining to prosecute or to resist in open Court, ho places himself before the public as a wronged man ; for wo can conceive no other view of the case can justify his continuing to officiate as a minister of the Gospel, The matter is now public through his own act: either the church in Moray place has wronged the Rev. D. Johnstone, or he has outraged the sense of propriety of the people ot Dunedin by his public preaching. We do not know why he should expect that indulgence from the public that has been denied him by the church. If he was not thought worthy to preach to them, why should he imagine that he is justified in preaching to others 1 The mere fact of their being banded together on account of holding peculiar opinions, does not give that church the right to expect teachers of purer lives than will satisfy other men. And it is on this ground alone that we feel justified in dealing with this painful subject. Society cannot afford to pass the matter over. Instead of retrograding, we need to advance in morality ; and when anyone stands forward as a teacher who is charged with having fallen, the status of the clergy is lowered, and men shew that they are satisfied with less than ought to be required if they fail to protest against it. On behalf of the ministers of religion, on behalf of society, on behalf of our common Christianity, and especially that it may not be said that such a circumstance occurred in Dunedin and that ■ no voice was raised against it, we record this protest against the Rev. gentleman’s preaching without first clearing up the charge against him.
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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2377, 14 November 1870, Page 2
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1,061The Evening Star MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1870. Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2377, 14 November 1870, Page 2
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