REV. ROBERISON ORR

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1923, Page 4

REV. ROBERISON ORR

.\ I’LBLIC STATEMENT. NY ELLINGTON. February 12Thcre was an attendance ol over 200 at St. Andrew's Hall. Wellington, tonight. when a lengthy statement was given by the Dev. Robertson Orr in reference to recent allegations brought against him.

I ! Living expressed his willingness to ! ;;nswer any questions in private he enu- | t iin'ed : ‘'Al y In si words to you are an j , xjircssion ~'f deep regiet Hud any ac- | tion of mine, however innocent and unintentional, has tamed so much diffilI cully and anxiety to my congregation, j ‘Everyone knows that those who lot ed 1!!,. most hnv ■ snff'erod most., ltor lnve I 1 language to express the thankfulness I I'eol that after evil has done iis worst i,iv friends in the congregation have , diiod around me so splendidly and expressed in itnmistakal.de language their loving weh-ome and confidence. Having road the findings of the IVesliytery Mr Orr proceeded to review the matter at some length, adding: “1 nv illiuglv the newspapers published many false I damaging statements j agaiml my eharaeti r. t have no redress, as the solicitor who made them i privileged 'a ‘ ni't and Hie nape ■.'hieh piihii h"il thorn are equally priv - loged. 1 can only tr"'t that some of (hose siat 'mouls will he coivccted. Ihe charge of attempting to default as a judgment debtor is absurdly ridiculous. a n I .''oo'iod von that it was] impossible under the eircnmstam i s and v.lioth cam "essary. Ii was unnecessary be, a.'ise St. Andrew's Chiir.di Boar ! '■'a - moral!", perhaps h'gelii i d''. 1 • to" il". d. images and costs and t'lree day alter judgment had ee,i- i'lerod th-ir res; oii-ihility. Thcv a . arranging to recoup me for the financial cost (' -ts in sorrow, pain, calumny and h "Hh ’"'h he our part. I’ri'sbvte "v ha - now chared me from moral (-lame. ... 1 intend t 1 exc-ei-' my .Mini dry as t'.stud in SI. Aminevs, bein'.- assured not only j by In:'."' "oiig: ega t am lasi light, hut hofor" that. my ministry has not I reached end o> ;is usefulness bet .j •I continue hoi ■ u, answer to man T j feetiumiie requ ts and test inion’ w o,'| I, - (jv. am-'iig which f hold none in j Ii i i-eg".',' ' : lian one from Hie -m e - | visor of 01 ■ v*a"g n o;.("’; work. One paragraph in the letter said : ‘One • point of which you will h” 'particularly proud is the fact that all the young people are so whole-heartedly looking forward to your rot urn to active work ammigst them.' " Air Orr eoatineed: ‘•The ['iitli T have chosen is not. the primrose path. Far easier would it have been to have laid down the bur-i den for someone else to take up, and to seize the opportunity afforded me of j going quietly away cm six months’ sal- I ary. That, however, would have been [ to lose an opportunity to change di : - j aster into victory for Christ. Tt is!

expected of Christian men that they be game: that they fight with scabbard though the sword be gone and endeavour by all means to exalt the Name and Power of Jesus. This I will humbly try to do. I have no ill-will toward any. I just ask to be left alone, to close ibis chapter for ever, and in peace and harmony to glorify Clod and I offei' myself to you in His most holy

Tn conclusion Mr Orr offered bis thanks to bis solicitor, Mr Mazengarb whose fee would hardly cover office expenses to the office-bearers and others who had borne this trouble so bravely, and to bis wife, who bad borne more than a woman's share throughout a heavy trial. On the proposition of the Rev. R. Wood seconded by Mr A. J. M’Kay, the following motion was carried with only about fifteen or twenty dissentients: “This meeting declares its satisfaction with the finding of the Wellington Presbytery, expresses general approval of the report of the officebearers. and it heartily joins with them in expressing confidence in Mr Orr and sympathy with him in painful and trying circumstances. This meeting further declares its conviction of the need of a revival of spiritual religion and pledges itself by prayer and service to further such revival, and thus to make Rt. Andrew's Church a glory to Christ and a power for greater good in the community.”