PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH—RULES OF PROCEDURE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2686, 1 May 1885, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH—RULES OF PROCEDURE.

[to the editor,]

Sir—The Rev. W. Douglas asks me to point out the law referred to and made so much of by me. I am very much surprised at this, seeing that at the last meeting of the Presbytery, when presenting a petition signed by over fifty members and adherents of the congregation asking to be heard in the matter, I read the rule in question from “ Rules and Forms of Procedure.” I then handed the book to the Moderator of Presbytery, the Rev. W. Douglas, and he then read the same to the members of the Presbytery; it is as follows:—Rule 14, page 24 : “ After being inducted, a minister can resign his charge only to the Presbytery. When a resignation is tendered, the Presbytery inquire into the circumstances which have led to it, and give the congregation an opportunity of being heard before the case is decided.”

Sir, this rule has been disregarded, the rights and interests of the congregation ignored by the Presbytery, and the people compelled to appeal to the General Assembly of the Church for redress of a great grievance ; and the blame rests on the Moderator, the Rev. W. Douglas, and the Presbytery of Westland.

A. O. Campbell.

Kumara, May 1, 1885. [We cannot see that any good will accrue from the further discussion in these columns of this question ; and, as much as we and our general readers are concerned, enough has been written on the subject already. We therefore decline to insert any more communications on the subject, which can only foment the strife and discord already existing.— Ed. K. T.]