A CLERICAL SCANDAL.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 403, 14 November 1868, Page 2

A CLERICAL SCANDAL.

About a month since, certain rumours unfavourable to the moral character of the liev. James Taylor, pastor of the Baptist Church in Collins street, Melbourne, reached the ears of some of his Hock. Two of the deacons waited upon the minister, for the purpose of hearing from his own lips either a contradieton or a confirmation of the reports. The deacons refused to state the nature of the crime to which Mr Taylor confessed ; and steadfastly adhered to secrecy upon the subject until Monday, a fortnight ago. On the evening of that day a " church meeting " was held, at which nearly 300 members were present ; and it was resolved at once to despatch a deputation to Mr Taylor, requesting him to release the deacons from their engagement to secrecy ; but to this request Mr Taylor absolutely refused to accede. On the return of the deputation, a great deal of indignation was expressed, and it was resolved that the deacons be imperatively called upon to disclose all they knew. Yielding to the pressure thus brought to bear upon them, the deacons revealed to the assemblage the astounding fact that their late pastor had admitted that, for the past six years, he had been carrying on au adulterous intercourse with a married lady, a member of his congregation. The name of the lady was given by the delinquent, and it seems also furnished to the meeting ; but hitherto the public journals have refrained from publishing it. It was then resolved that Mr Taylor, who had universally been looked up to as the very model of a Christian minister, should not be allowed to resign, but should be formally expelled from the church.