FAIR PLAY'S A JEWEL.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 9 November 1916, Page 3

FAIR PLAY'S A JEWEL.

TO THE EDITOR

Sir, —Would you please permit me space to yentilate a very great wrong which has been done to the Rev. J. A. Lamond, and to express a few views thereon ? As you and the public know of the charges of heresy against him, you will also know of the verdict of the Church Court, published in the account of the Quarterly Meeting. Sir, I think it is only fair to Mr Lamdnd that the other side of the story should be told, so that the public may be able to judge fairly, and not have the idea that the Church judgment is infallable. With all due respect to Mr Garland, I venture to say that there appears little justice in arrainging a man before a court composed mainly of those submitting the charges, and who were prejudiced against him ;to be questioned and cross-questioned under such circumetances is bad enough for one quick of wit, but as we all know, Mr Lamond is of a slower and more studious turn of mind, and is deliberate in words, so under such circumstances it is not always possible to j make one's meaning clear. Instead of I making these ridiculous charges, would not it be more just for some of the prominent ministers from town to have come without Mr Lamond's knowledge, and to have listened to his sermons, and then in a conversational way got to learn thoroughly the man's views, and then to have pointed out any points of difference between his and the Methodist doctrine ? If then it was proven that he held views and preached them in direct contravention to the Methodists, and would continue to do so, then he could only expect one course to be taken by the Methodists. But, is the Methodist or any other doctrine so completely thought out that it cannot be enlarged upon ? Is not there the possibility of views, founded years ago, being changed by being subjected to the light of advancing years and increased knowledge 1 Is the Bible worth the paper it is written on if it cannot stand the criticism of men? Are any human interpretations of that Bible named under diffe rent doctrines, worth belief in, if they cannot stand up against criticism ? A does not appeal to one as being of much worth, which. finds it necessary to dispense with the services of one of its teachers who differs—if at all—only to a wider view of their teaching, and yet holds dear to his heart, and is part with his life, the veneration of the Scriptures, and is imbued with the same spirit which was evident in the life of its founder. If a sect only wants its own doctrine to be preached, it should print books of sermons, and make its teachers read them out, but if it wishes to give full scope to the Spirit of God, which it claims to be imbued with, then it must put no other restriction on its teachers except the one of adherence to the Scriptures. While holding the opinion that Church quarrels are better kept within Church bounds, there are times when this can be waived. If a ballot were taken, which should have been done, of the Church members, as to whether Mr Lamond should be dismissed or not, and it was the unanimous vote that he should go, then the above principle would hold, but in view of the fact that his dismissal has been the outcome of just a few members' opposition, then the other members should know and protest. If a vote were taken of the outside public, "Mr Lamond would remain for a very long time, lam sure. Perhaps it is not known to all how this sorry business started. Some time ago Mr Lamond received a letter from headquarters containing the information that a request had been made for his removal, as he was not popular, The Kaukapakapa people were indignant aver the thing, as they had made no such request, but it transpired that Mr Leach—former Home Missionery—not being satisfied himself with Mr Lamond, evidently thought everyone else was not, and had made the request. After this a campaign of pin-pricking started, which tended to make his ministry unbearable, and which culminated in the oharges of heresy and his coming dismissal. There has been in evidence a good deal of feeling against Mr Lamond by one or two members, and at the racent quarterly meeting it was quite eyident that Mr Pengelly had very little respect for Mr Lamond. It was only by the tactful handling of the meeting by the Rev. Laws that'peace was kept.- ]Y{r Ee.ng.elly' seeded' very annqyed about the publication of the article " Heresy Hunting" (evidently liking darkness better than light), and wished it to be brought up for discussion. Then he proposed that a certain amount owing on parsqnage furniture be paid off. Mr Laws objected, and did nqt see why the Minister's stipend should suffer. Mr Pengelly, as cirouit steward, knevr there wer not funds in hand, and to pay the amount off Mr Lamond would have to go short. He seemed to relish reading out the finding of the Church Court, the i victory of a " fighting man "—which he j claims he is—and after the meeting he went out of his way to insult Mr Lamond. In considering the tvjholo ; affair, it seems hard to understand what i \v.ero'' |he ' motives that impelled these members to. work for Mr Lamond's removal. If ho really did hold views and preach them, contrary to tb.e teaching of than I cquld under- | eland, and would consider him unworthy to preach from, a Qiiristian pulpit, but it anyone cared to take the trouble to converse with him and exchange views, all doubts as to what he believes would very soon disappear; and they would understand him as be is, a humble and earnest worker for the furtherance of the " Kingdom of Righteousness," but now he is shown up as a hereuu vvhiie

all the time he is only a very mucl misunderstood, misjudged, and ' wrongec minister. The very things said to hiir prove the above. He is told to join th< Uniterians; that he is preaching rubbish while another is actually very sorry to see that the " devil has got hold of him.' These again prove how utterly astray are his opponents ; how by either narrow-mindedness or bigotry they have failed to understand- his teaching. Ir the course of a sermon at Pitt Stree C hurch, the Rev. Laws mentioned that i friend of his had a visit from his dead father, and had conversed with him, anc the Rev. Laws failed to see why he should not believe the incident to be a fact. Had Mr Lamond made the same statement he would have been -consigned to the Spiritualists. Sir, I think I have said quite enongh to give Mr Lamond "a sporting- chance, and while it seems quite certain that he will/have to look for another occupation in life, it would be apropos if the members of the Methodist Church were to express their decided opinion at the next quarterly meeting, as to whether a f«w of their office-bearers are to have the complete .and lordly ruling in Church affairs.—l am, etc., J. Leslie Carter. Silverdale, 30-10-16.