ST. ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2701, 4 December 1882, Page 3

ST. ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The proceedings in connection with this church, which have been before the public for some time past, yesterday assumed a phase, which fortunately is rarely witnessed in ecclesiastical matters in this city. It is well-known that the Presbytery having considered certain charges brought against the Rev. C. Fraser, the minister of the church, decided to suspend him from his position, and appointed the Rev. Mr Blake, Moderator of the Presbytery, to occupy his pulpit. In consequence of this proceeding the rev. gentleman, who denied the authority of the Presbytery, published in the newspapers a notice of his intention to conduct the services at St. Andrew’s as usual, and from this announcment the public were led to expect that a collision would take place in the church between the opposing parties, and that the result would be highly gratifying to the lovers of the sensational. Accordingly, long before the usual hour for the commencement of Divine service the corner of Antigua street and Oxford terrace was the scene of unwonted animation, and by eleven o’clock about 300 or 400 people, most of whom were evidently attracted by motives of curiosity only, had assembled outside the church. Only the friends and supporters of the rev. gentleman in possession, who mustered about fifty, were allowed to enter the church before eleven o’clock, being admitted by the side door. At about a quarter before that hour the Rev. Mr Blake, accompanied by Mr Paxton and Mr Smart, members of the church, arrived and knocked at the door for admission, but their demand met with no response, and they remained standing outside until eleven o’clock struck. The main door was then opened, and a rush for admission took place, such as is only seen at the door of a pit of a theatre on a popular night. The reverend gentleman walked up the aisle of the church, and, the pulpit being occupied by the Rev. Mr Fraser, he produced a paper from which he read a formal protest, as near as possible in the following words : —“ By the authority of the Presbytery and the wish of the trustees I am here to-day to occupy the pulpit, and I have to protest against anyone occupying it other than those duly appointed,” He then retired from the church, and, stationing himself at the porch, repeated the protest ho had made inside, and read out the resolution of the Presbytery passed at its meeting on the 28th November. The first resolution contained the suspension of the Rev. C. Fraser and the appointment of the Rev. Mr Blake to preach in his place, and then declared the intention of the Presbytery to proceed by libel. The next resolution expressed disapprobation of the conduct of Mr Fraser in excluding the Presbytery from the church on the occasion of its meeting on the 2Sth. The Moderator then read the following authority : —“ We, the undersigned trustees of St. Andrew’s Church property, in terms of the deed of trust, and in support of the recent action of the Presbytery of Christchurch, do hereby authorise and instruct that the pulpit be occupied by those only who have the sanction of the Presbytery.—(Signed) Jxo. Anderson, W. Wilson.” The rev. gentleman concluded his protest in these -words—Being here by the appointment of the Presbytery to carry out their resolution, I protest against any one else occupying the pulpit than those appointed to do so,” and then loft the church. In the meantime the service inside was being conducted in the usual manner. The opening hymn was sung under the disadvantage of the unseemly rush for admission which took place, but the crowd soon obtained scats, and with the exception of a disturbance caused by the breaking down of one of the pews, during whicli there were cries of “ Put him out,” and the minister called upon the police—who, however, did not appear to be present—the service proceeded with decorum. Mr Fraser informed the congregation that neither the lessons, the prayers, nor the sermon had been selected with any special reference to the pending dispute. The sermon was from the Cth chapter of Isaiah, a;id was both on able and interesting discourse. Service was conducted in the evening to a tolerably large congregation. The Rev. Mr Blake made no further attempt during thecourseof daytheto assert his claim to the pulpit. A meeting of the Kirk Session, called hy the Rev. Mr Fraser for the purpose of electing additional trustees, will take place in the church on Friday evening next, when it is expected that the proceedings will he of a rather animated character. Only members and adherents of the Church will be ;;d mitted, but a proposal will be made to throw the proceedings open to the Press.