PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2783, 18 January 1872, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Yesterday. Mr Sutherland made the following alteration in the introduction to his reasons—“Mr Sutherland regrets that he cannot comply with this finding of the Synod, for the following reasons.” It was resolved not to receive the reasons, nor enter them on the records. The following was the minute made “Mr Sutherland intimated his regret at not being able to comply with the recommendation of the Synod to resign his charge, for reasons stated to the Synod.”

A long discussion took place, and after several motions and amendments had been proposed, it was finally resolved, “ That the Synod, having already declared Mr Sutherland to be mainly to blame for the present state of matters existing in the First ('hurch, and having recommended Mr Sutherland to resign in order to effect a settlement of the difficulties, and Mr Sutherland having refused to comply with the recommendation, the Synod instruct the Presbytery of Dunedin to enjoin Mr Sutherland to act in a more befitting and constitutional manner towards the Session and Deacons’ Court. In the event of further difficulties arising requiring the intervention of the 'yuod, authorising the Moderator of Synod, on the request of the Presbytery, to call a pro re nata meeting of Synod to dispose thereof.” This Day. The following dissent from the resolution of Synod in First Church case, signed by the Pevs. llyley, Connor, Greig, Smith, Alves, Christie, and Waters; Messrs Clark and Sinclair, elders, was received : 1. Because while it was generally admitted that the office-bearers were to a certain extent to blame, there is nothing in the finding of the Synod to show this ; but Mr Sutherland seems condemned as the sole cause of the troubles in the First Church, and his ministerial character and usefulness are likely to be greatly injured. 2. Because the resolution come to is likely only to widen the breach already made, and to exasperate the majority of the congregation, who are warm supporters of Mr Sutherland, and whose feelings and interests the Synod appears to have ignored, 3. Because while the minister has been recommended to resign, the present officebearers, who are implicated in the disturbances which have taken place, are allowed to remain in office, and are thus thrust upon the majority of the members and adherents of the congregation, with whom, after what has occurred, there cannot be cordial cooperation.

The following reply was tabled in answer to the above dissent

Ist. There was nothing in the papers and other evidence brought before the Synod relative to this case to shew that the officebearers had been guilty of anything worse than an error of judgment, holding a meeting of Deacon’s Court without the consent of the pastor, whilst it was shewn that they humbly and at once bowed to the decision of the Presbytery. The deliverance of the Synod does not by any means necessarily imply that Mr Sutherland was the sole cause of the troubles in the First Church, but only that he was the main cause ; and this finding the evidence brought before the Court abundantly warranted.

2nd, No parties are at liberty to judge so hardly of the majority of the members of the First Church as to presume that they will support their Minister if he persistently adhere to a course which has been all but unanimously condemned by the Synod. 3rd. There is nothing to warrant the inference that the office-bearers are thrust upon the majority of the members and adherents of the congregation; and the forgoing reasons sufficiently manifest that there is no room for the assertion that there cannot bo cordial co-operation between them.