THE PRESBYTERY AND MR TODD.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2490, 24 April 1871, Page 2

THE PRESBYTERY AND MR TODD.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —A friend of mi no has called my attention to «i report of the proceedings of the Canterbury Presbytery, of 13th instant, in which the following paragraphs occur;— " During the discussion, allusion was mci* dentally m.xde to the fact that the llcv. Mr Todd, of Oamaru, had, while on ft private visit to the Peninsula, dispensed the sacrament of baptism to certain parties resident there. The Moderator left the chair, and moved the following resolution: —A statement having been made by Messrs McGowan and Douglass that the Rev. Mr Todd, of Oamaru, had on the Peninsula dispensed the sacrament of baptism, without any communication, with, or authority from, any member of the Presbytery, the Presbytery Clerk bo instructed to communicate with the Presbytery of Dunedin, of which it appears that Mr Todd is a member, drawing attention to this violation of the ordinary manner of intercourse between ministers of different Presbyterian Churches." In reference to this resolution of the Canterbury Presbytery, I shall be prepared to vindicate my conduct before the Presbytery of Dunedin, when the matter comes before it. Meanwhile, as this is a matter which concerns the Christian people of four Church as well as Presbyteries, I embrace the opportunity of laying beforo them the following facts:— In December, last year, when on a visit to a friend in Pigeon Bay, at the special r«quest of the people, I conducted religious services, both in the schoolroom and else* where, which the people seemed to appreciate as they had not seen a minister for soma considerable time. Being requested to bap« tise one or two children, I at first declined alleging as a reason that it belonged to the minister of their session, whoever he was, to discharge that duty. The ten persons who first applied for baptism were the two elders of the congregation, one of whom applied on his own behalf, the other for another person, They were the first to move in the matter. With reluctance I agreed to their request, deeming I was acting according to Presbyterian rule in responding to the wishes of the intelligent Christians, men who were also the only office-bearers the people had among them. Other persons also made application, and when I recommended them to wait till one of the ministers of their own Presbytery visited them, one remarked, " here we are, now about eighteen months without seeing a minister, and with very little prospect of seeing one soon." Indeed, as the people seemed to be like sheep without a shepherd, I took pity upon them, gave them the besfc counsel I could, and baptised a few children. In doing so, I believed I was carrying out the spirit of mj Master's commission ; cer; tainly I never intended any discourtesy to the members of the Canterbury Presbytery far less any violation of the laws of the Church. I considered I was cvoa doing the brethren in Canterbury a service, knowing how difficult it is for colonial ministers to attend to the spiritual wants of our scattered population in such outlying districts. It was in the most fxieridly spirit 1 acted in this matter. I consulted the elders, and acted upon their authority. On leaving Pigeon Bay after a week's visit, I left with one of the elders a list of the names of the children baptized and other details to bo inserted in their baptismal register. Had the Moderator of Presbytery, instead of proposing such a resolution on an incidental allusion of others, proposed to write to mc to ask an explanation, it would have been more in accordance with the spirit of our Master, whom we both profess to love and serve. And, after learning the facts of the case, had he sent mc a letter thanking mc for supplying the people with ordinances, even for a week, as they had been so long destitute of the stated means of grace, it would have appeared a more Christian course than that ! pursued. To mc, the resolution of the Presbytery appears to he a piece of ecclesiastical red-tapeism not at all fitted to promote the cause of Presbyterianism in your midst, or to commend the gospel of Christ. Allow mc, in conclusion, publicly to thank Mr Macpherson, with whom I am personally unacquainted, for not recording his vote in favor of such a resolution, and for taking a common-sense and charitable view of my conduct, in stating that he did not believe I intended any violation of the laws of the church. I am, yours, &c, Alexakdeb B. Todd. Manse, Oamaru, Otago, April 18, 1871.