A MINISTER CENSURED.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 114, 13 May 1908, Page 7

A MINISTER CENSURED.

CLERICS AT VARIANCE. At last night's meeting of the Auckland Presbytery, the Rev. J. L. Pattullo was called upon to explain his letter, published in the "Outlook," reflecting on the work of the Rev. Mr. Perry, itinerating minister. In this letter itr. Pattullo had stated that Mr. Perry "seems to have his time iully occupied in visiting plaoes alongside the railway lines or coath TOutes in the Waikato, or elsewhere; in short, he seems to be acting more as a sort of assistant to some of the ministers and members oi the Auckland Presbytery than as an evangelist to the neglected districts of the north. For i this work," the -writer added, "it was I necessary to have men oi grit, with the ability to stick to the saddle for ten or twelve hows at a stretch; the geniality to take a certain amount oi chaff, and scorn, and still persevere.' . The Rev. Mr. Miller said lie thought Sir. Pattullo should bs called upon to explain why he mshed into print, rather than come before the Presbytery and lay his charges before its members. The Rev. Mr. Pattullo, in reply, said this matter had not been done hurriedly. He had based his charges on substantial evidence, arid members of the church and Presbytery had urged him to take the action he did. Evidently many .people did not understand what the back blocks •meant. He did not consider that the back blocks proper could be reached by roads. ffe took it that Mr. Perry's work ■was to penetrate tnoee districts only to be reached by mountainons tracks, where there were families ■which bud never heard the name of God, and knew nothing of the gospel. Perhaps he had misunderstood the nature of Perry's mission, but he believed that his appointment was to preach the gospel "where it had never been heard before. Mr. Pattullo then proceeded to refer to the controversy arising out of nis letter, but was ruled out of order. The Rev. Mr. Miller then moved: "That, in the judgment of this Presbytery, Mr. Pattullo took a wrong course in writing to the 'Outlook.'" ißev. Mr. R. L.. Walker seconded the motion. He said that he did not think the act was carried out in a truly Christian spirit. He was very sorry that according to Mr. Pattullo there were members of the Presbytery with so little courage as to ask Mr. Pattullo to do work which 'they had "not the oourage to do themselves. From the wording of the letter it was possible some people •would go so far as to say that the writer was displaying a. certain amount of bias. Mr. A. J. Entrican, in speaking- to the I motion, said that be considered Mr. x'attullo had been guilty of a. very grave error of judgment. Mr. G. J. Garland said there was a lack of the true Christian spirit and charity in-Mr. -Pattullo's letter. The motion was then put. and carried unanimously. Considerable discussion followed, alia Mr. Perry's services were generally eulogised, but, on the motion of Mr. A. J. Entrican, it was decided to refer the question of Mr. Perry's itinerating work in the North to the Home Missionary Society.. t