HERESY HUNTING.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 31 August 1916, Page 2

HERESY HUNTING.

REV. J. A. LAMOND BEFORE THE

EXECUTIVE.

An official meeting of the Methodist Church was held at Helensville on Saturday last, to hear charges against Rev. J. A. Lamond, Methodist Home Missionery, of Kaukapakapa. The Chairman of the Auckland District, Mr C. H. Garland, presided. The charges of heresy were submitted in writing, and were dealt with accordingly. These charges were as follows:— 1. Every soldier on the battlefield, who is killed in action, will fall into the mercy of God, and God will be his eternal refuge. This belief being based on the Scripture : " Greater love hath no man than that a man lay down his life for his friends." ,

2. Sympathy expressed for Judas, who betrayed Christ, and a belief that Jobus will grant Judas a place in heaven. 3. Sympathy expressed for the nine lepers, commonly believed to be1 ungrateful men ; and a belief that those men were not men of ingratitude, but men of abiding thankfulness for Christ's healing. mercy.

4. Belief that a "Mother" who has sacrificed her life for her children—rearing them honourably before God, and for the world—has done the will of God ; and Heaven will be her future rest. 5. Belief that God's- judgments on men's sins are more temporal than eternal. Don't live in drea.d of an eternal judgment, but try to avoid the judgments of God that come upon men now, for wrong doing.

6. Belief that man's " new " birth or "second" birth, commonly known as regeneration, does not take place in this life ; but it will take place in the Resurrectien, when all men will become angels of God in Heaven.

7. Belief in One Holy Catholic Church for all mankind. And every man with all his faults is worthy to be in this one universal Church. The cross of Christ is universal, and covers a sinning world. Christ's cross is sufficient for all; and one universal 'Jhurch should be sufficient for all. ■•••■■,

This complaint was based on a printed sermon which appeared in two issues of the Echo.

The Chairman gave most attention to charge vi. This belief affected Mr Lamond's position as a preacher of the Methodist Church, and as Chairman he would have to report the meeting's conclusion to the Church Executive in Auckland.

In replying, Mr Lamond said that his preaching was not influenced in any way by his reading of other men's views It was the result of his own personal searching to know the spirit' of the Scripture. He attacked no other man'sbelief, and cared little for creed Every thing that helps people to live a good life is praiseworthy, and all are welcome to hold any belief which will help them to attain a good and kind life here Mr Lamond gave his own interpretation of Jesus' words to Nicodemus "Yemust be born again in order to see the Kingdom of Heaven," John 3. He believes that it will take pl ace in the resurrection. Matthew 22, 29, 30 beara out this belief. "Ye do err, not blowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. for in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but } are as the angels of God in Heaven," 1 Cor., 15, 44. In death the body is sown a natural body, but raised again a spiritual body. Colossians 1,18, Jesus was the firstborn from the dead Mr Lamond promised the meeting that he would not intentionally attack any doctrines of the Church, but he mZ always humbly and earnestly deW

Mr Lamond has now served the Cfcurch for 17 years without a break amS