THE SOULLESS SOULE.

NZ Truth, Issue 141, 29 February 1908, Page 4

THE SOULLESS SOULE.

A PRESBYTERIAN PARSON'S PECCADILLOES. The Kirk Kicks Up at Hikurangi. How Did He Dedge a Criminal Prosecution ? Hikurangi, somewhere near \Vhangarei, has recently had a painful experience of a soul-salving Presbyterian bible-thumper, very appropriately, named Soule, who claims to be a parson, but is rejected by the pimis push as a person who has never been ordained. At any rate, he has been guilty of something so nearly akin to robbery that it is only saved from being called theft by the civil instead of the criminal proceedings instituted against him. Skiting Soule was sent to Hikurangi as a lay, preacher to organise an army of worshippers of the Loard and incidentally to furnish indispensable thrumraers for Soule. Thai blastiferous individual immediately rah up a kirk costing £200 or £300 ■m excess of the sum authorised by his holy bosses, and there svas* the devil to pay. . Soule was under a ' Moderator person named Robertson, who resided at Wbangarci, but Soule ran his own biz. m pursuit of the nimble tUnunmer, and Robertson found himself disapproving of Soule's method of securing 3d from casual dupes. In fact Soule's style of obtaining the thrippenny piece was howlingly unchristian for a mere semi-parson, and bearing m mind that only fully-fledged ana duly ordained sin-shifters are permitted to grasp the small coin with ahythiag like repulsive, eagerness, the Rev. Robertson resigned m annoyance. The Irrev. Perry followed m theModeratorship, but SOULE IGNORED HIS EXISTENCE, and handled the ohurch property as if it were his own ; whereat • Perry also resigned. Soule bought an organ on credit on behalf of the church and various small sums were, paid towards its liquidation, when he was sued for the balance, and bad judgment given against him. An alarmed, congregation thereupon got up the same old subscription and paid for the music. Shortly afterwards Soule was sacked for some beastly irregularity, and collared the hymn books and the organ, which he alleged 4«,s paid for out of his own pocket. Also he locked up th« church and disappeared with the keys, and the authorities had to borrow skeleton keys from the nearest burglar to get into the sanctified edifice, which was used* by .the volunteers to drill m. Soule left the organ with a person named Teesdale, who was to mind it for him, and be then departed, for Australia, where he secured a eonsuogation of thrum-contributors on the representation that he was a full-blown parson. Not only was the organ paid for by public subscription, but it w&s insured m the name of the church trustees, and the i exact reason why immortal Soule wasn't lagged foe theft has neve? been satisfactorily explained. The Trustees sued Teesdale and Soule to recover the orfeafl.l.A&u' another action is pending against Soule for the value of a horse, Kiddle and bridle, which he sold on the representation that thoy were hie own instead of somebody else's. How Soule manages to keen out of gaol on this account also, x 'Truth" wouU like to know, with the object of giving the tip to other criminal* who don't deserve incarceration so ¥adly as the soul-less psalm-singer- Af«i* leyan named Mis Girven collected £l 13s 6d for the organ before she found out that its cost- had already been over-subscribed. ' Thereupon she added a footnote' to the subscriptien list, which read : "I certify that I collected this money for Mr Soule, to spend m any way Mr Soule may desire or x need." Soule came over from the. Commonwealth m great indignation at beisg sued for Jus own organ, H« Bftid he had been engaged .at a screw of £150 per annum, whereat the Scotchbyterian trustees alleged that th« reward of a mere lay preacher was £25 a 'year only. Soule saM hte screw was. £100 m arrears, awl the sum • subscribed by the congregation went towards the p?yment of hte munificent salary. -The instrument oi torture was paid for out «f hte own hard-won cash. Mr Killen : Dq you still say that you are a Presbyterian mini*t*v «! the Ohurch of New Zealand ? What qollege did you study m ? Mr Soule : No cQltega a?t &U.< fha,B& God I Mr Dyev, S.-M. ; 1 ■ to *«* w**t God's name to be lightly %wi ifi Cour-t. Mr Killen : Wliat prouebytwy w«r« ygu Ordained by ? : , Mr Soule v I was authorised by the Presbytery, m Auckland to adnvtnJs* tqr the sacraments •of marriaf« v and i baptism, by virtue of mv ordination. Your, pious pilferer can't fifivp a straight answer, but twists »b* writhe? like Pimp North did whoa he read the S.M.s decision m the prurient prosecution ease. Soule acknowledged being ■ | A THAVBLLEin FOR A BUTTER FIRM m Australia at oue time, and bis greasy smile is traceable, to ,'this I source. 1 Magistrate Dyer held that tl« organ was purchased for the . churok, remarking that it was the? most deplorable case he had heard since n« had been on the Bench. Judemwvb was given for plaintiffs for the return of the organ or its value (£25), with costs £11 19s Cd, and £1 Is for loss of the use pf -|?bo bcllowiog instrument.