MR WORTHINGTON AGAIN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2574, 28 October 1893, Page 4

MR WORTHINGTON AGAIN.

Mr Worthington is in trouble again. According to the Christchurch papers a meeting of the students was held last Monday, when a report of the trustees was read. The report completely exonerated Mr Worthington from certain scandalous charges made against him. Many at the meeting were dissatisfied, aud tried to elect a chairman, but Mr Worthington insisted on taking the chair and would not leave it. One gentleman said that last Tuesday night Mr Worthington had been seen by two of their moat respected fellow students to go to the house of a certain lady at about half-past ten. These gentlemen determined to wait aud see how long he remained there, and they waited till 2 a.m. In the meantime they were joined by another member, and it seems that they took their boots off and climbed into the balcony. [ Here, as the chairman was continually interrupting the speaker, and telling him to keep to the question—- “■ 1 hat Mr Worthington be asked to resign ” —before the meeting, the original motion was withdrawn on the understucidmg that it would be put to the meeting later iu the evening]. The speaker then went ou to detail what it was stated the three gentlemen saw. Mr Duggan said that whatever they saw they ought to have kept it to themselves. Mr Worthington \ bad. visited a literary lady, and with horary people night was the same as day A '■osoliiiion was proposed with the view of inves*' i<?atifl S matter, but Mr Worthington again *0»o, imd said that they must make no was going to investigate him, five minutes. The buildings were all lil his name, and he was going to stick to his position, despite any action they might take. He was very sorry to say that he had injured the character of the lady he had visited. He knew he was a marked man, aud it was only jealousy for their honor that had kept him in the house so long. He had been practically imprisoned there by spies and “ despicable curs,” who had waited until he was forced to come out aud face them. As to the statements made they were a parcel of lies. Then, with tears in his eyes, he went on to say in a broken voice, that they talked of having stood by him and backed him up during the last few years. Why, he had been wading

waist deep in the carnage of war, and they had only stood by him to serve their own selfish ends ! Now, when it suited their convenience, they were going to throw him over. (Heavy sobs from some of the women). He had been thinking of imprisoning himself in his own house and never leaving it or visiting anyone again except with a guard. He reminded them that if he were to leave here, he could easily make his way in another country. However, the Temple and buildings were all in his name and belonged to him, and he intended to continue in his present position. Those who believed in him would remain ; those who did not could go somewhere else. He then asked those who believed his statement to go on one side and those who did not to the other. About threequarters expressed their belief, the remainder, some fifty or sixty, mostly men, tried to get a hearing, but Mr Worthington, pointing to those on his left hand, said, “ These are the Students of Truth, You, gentlemen,fiad better go somewhere else.” As they still persisted in their efforts to speak, he declared the meeting closed and left the hall. Immediately there arose a slight uproar, and some of the women began abusing each other. However, three of them went into hysterics and were carried out. The meeting then dispersed.—At a meeting on the following night, it was resolved to hold a general meeting in order that the whole facts of the case might be fully fought out. It was also resolved that a resolution, recording the protest of the Students against the continuance of matters as at present in the Temple, but expressing their loyalty to the teaching, should be moved. There are now, it is stated, about 150 Students determined to sift the matter to the utmost and to take steps, to put tnings in connection with the Temple on a sounder footing.