THE CONGREGATIONAL MEETING.

Kumara Times, Issue 2655, 11 March 1885, Page 2

THE CONGREGATIONAL MEETING.

[to the editor.] Sir—Your contributor “ Presbyterian ” starts his letter fairly well, and, so far as he represents the grievance laid before the Presbytery on December 17th last by certain members of the church, nothing can be found fault with; but so soon as he leaves the beaten track, errors and misrepresentations creep in. Allowing that Mr Hay agreed to resign his charge, and that within three months, then why in the name of justice did not “Presbyterian” and bis supporters wait till the three months had run ? Why did they desert the church; why did they withdraw their support; Why ? Because they had decided to starve him out 1 I have yet to learn that the way to shew sympathy with a man’s family is to starve him out, and so act towards him as to make it almost impossible for him to get another charge. “Presbyterian” finds fault with the financial results as shewn by the balance-sheet, and endeavours to make it appear that the church is deeper in debt by £3O than it was six months previously. Of this I can only say I doubt it; but he carefully holds back the fact that beyond the ordinary expenses of the church some £BO has been paid in roofing the church, and repairing the manse, &c., (fee. Then as to the alleged illegality of holding the congregational meeting. “Presbyterian” knows well that there is no illegality; that it has been called in this way (by the Finance Board) since the church was first opened ; and why it should be irregular now, after the lapse of some six or seven years, it will puzzle the Presbytery to find out. The fact is, Mr Editor, “ Presbyterian ” and his party are disappointed at the proven financial success of the past year, and are only raising captious opposition, as the amounts subscribed prove that there must be a large population supporting the church ; it seems “ Presbyterian ” and bis party would sacrifice church and every principle to gratify their hatred to Mr Hay, Again, “Presbyterian” misrepresents by stating that all the members of the church save one signed the petition to the Presbytery. That is not true; there were twenty members in Kumara, thirteen only of whom he alleges signed. But, after all, are the members the true supporters of the church? I think not; and if it was left for them alone to do so, I am afraid the church would soon be closed. As for the session clerk, the less said about him the better; a man who would incite boys to interrupt a minister in church should have very little consideration shown him, and his party ought, injustice to themselves, not to tolerate him. It is with sorrow that I see this intolerant spirit arising among a people I respect, and I would advise them to

try and settle their differences amicably without rushing and exposing their sores before the public, who, from all I hear from all denominations andcrceils, are pained to see a Christian people behaving so unchristian-like. It reminds one of the harsh treatment of the Irish landlords to their tenants, the manner of their acting towards their pastor : and when Mr Hay leaves, as no Irish need apply, from where is the next parson to come, since neither Irish nor Scotch can satisfy ? “ Oh! for the rarity of Christian charity.” A Far-Downer. March 10, 1885. [to the editor.] Sir —lt is with feelings of sorrow I find it necessary to say a few words in reply to the Rev. Geo. Hay's effusion of Monday night—sorrow, that a respectable man and one so long and well known in this district should be so pointedly referred to and foully slandered; and sorrow, to think that the man Geo. Hay, author of Monday night’s letter, is a minister of the Presbyterian Chnrch of Scotland, or, as he puts it himself, “one of the cloth.” He says that he was resolved to “ make it hot ” for the treasurer of the church when he found that he (the treasurer) had compounded with his creditors for something under 10s. What a beautiful Christian sentiment! How Christlike the language! “Ry this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”—John, 13c., 35v,; also, “ This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”—John, 15c., 12v. Sir, Mr Hay’s statement is as cowardly as it is unchristian-like. Many men, and some of them the very best, have to compound with their creditors, and if the Rev. Mr Hay should ever find himself in that position, I hope, for the sake of his creditors, that he will be able to show as clean a sheet as the gentleman he referred to did. Whv we have hardly had time to wink twice since he was praising an individual ap to the stars who had paid nothing like 10s in the pound. The next beautiful thought we come to is that certain individuals, “ under the rule of the cloth ” had “to eat humble pie, and take a back seat.” Why, sir, he boasts as though humility were a degradation. Were not Christ’s whole teachings and life emblems of humility] And here the man who stands before us as the disciple of Christ—the man who has to teach the true meanings to the words contained in the Bible boasts of “ making it hot ” for some, and that he has compelled others “to eat humble pie and take a back seat.” Verily, verily, Ihe seed has fallen in barren grounds! A True Believer. March 10, 1885.