Trouble in the Kirk at Auckland.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 281, 3 June 1896, Page 2

Trouble in the Kirk at Auckland.

(Per Press Association. 1 ) Auckland, Jane 1; Trouble at present reigns in St An* drews's Church, Alten road. The Bey. James Milne, M.A., who is moderator of the Presbytery of Sydney, was 'lately elected to the pastorate ot the church by a show of hands of the . congregation, .but tha call which requires a three*fifths ma* ... iority of the cominunioants, has not yet been made effective. In the meantime Mr Gh Mueller, one of the minority, who has doctrinal objections to the election of Mr Milne, petitioned the Presbytery ' against the election. Trouble arose over certain questions as to Mr Milne's general orthodoxy, which the reverend gentleman answered at a Christian fellowship meet* ing in November last, when he was in Auckland for a fortnight in view of be-' coming a candidate for the ministry of the church. Mr Milne arrived in Auck- ; land from Oamaru, where he had been assisting in consequence, of there being a vacancy in that district. He preached at St. Andrew's yesterday, both in the fore* noon and evening, and dealt seriatim with the objections in Mr Mueller's protest* The church was crowded on each occasion Thia morning at 11 o'clock a meeting of St Andrew's congregation was held, the Bey. B. Somerville presiding. There was a large attendance of both male and female members ef the Congregation. After some excited discussion the statement was withdrawn. A meeting of the Presbytery will be held to-morrow night in connection with the matter.