CHURCH TROUBLES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4935, 9 June 1887, Page 3

CHURCH TROUBLES.

A MINISTER and the PRESBYTERY.

LIVELY MEETING.

[SPECIAL TO DAILY TELEGRAPH. J

[own correspondent— by teleoprah.]

Auckland. Tuesday. Tho protracted squabble which has been .out on between the Avondale» Presby?Sb and their minister, .and latterly between t& minister and the Presbytery, ot the v this momin-, the Moderator asked the Rev. A. Senile if he was now prepared to give KSn in reference to the wish that he McKonzie questioned the authority of the Presbytery to mako such a -autuoiuy j commissioners who demand of him tl [ o p resDyt erv at its last SSSSSS no°credentfals;with them G. Monro rose to a point of order The decision of the Presbytery was •i ~(- «.t its last meeting. Mr Mcliie on that occasion and entered no Objection to th. method lm Tho Roy Mr McKenzic stigmatised' the wtole proe'edure of the Presbytery as U--rSSar* The trouble had been fomented of a few persons. Two members of the con-retration had stirred up the strife. Mr Morrison (a gentleman from.Avondale) : It is a falsehood. Tho Rev. Mr Runciman called for the withdrawal of that'expression, and pliance with the Moderator's demand, Mr Morrison withdrew the remark. ' The Rev. Mr McKenzio proceeded to say ho went to Avondale to find the charge a: wreck, and he placed it in a proper _ state. Tho manse was" a wreck, and he repaired it. The treasury was empty, and he filled it. Tho flock was dispersed, and ho gathered it to"ctheri The charge had been successful until the Presbytery interfered and if that interference were withdrawn the church 'would go on progressing by leaps and bounds If the malcontents had approached him as a minister should be approached .he would most likely have listened to thorn. After some conversation the Rev. Mr TVIVKWe asked how tho loss entailed upon him By resigning the Avondalo. chargo would it be made good.to him? The Roy. Runciman replied that thoy had not yet advanced to such a stage as would enable them to answer, this question No, the "arrears of his stipend would have tobe S they could not take the i Lnf i "Hielandman," and it would Sut a considerable amount of force and «kTw demand the money from the people Kwndale for the purposes mentioned. 'After some further remarks the Rev. Mr WelcSsaid that if Lis claim were susSffS was prepared -fc,iaeo views

' "s"uggestea~th7e appointment of a* committeo to investigate tho books of the Avondale church, to see whether the law of the church, that tho minister's salary should bo tho first charge, had been adhered to.

The Moderator asked if the Rev. Mr MoKenzie would now resign. The Rev. Mr MoKenzie wished to know if all his claims would be met, and if he would be granted a certificate. The Roy. Mr Ruuoiman did not know that tho Presbytery could do any more. Scotchmen had a reputation of being keen for the siller, but there should be some limits to this.

The Rev. Mr MeKenzio wished to stipulate for assurance that his arrears of stipend would be paid, that he would be granted a certificate, that the church extension committee should recommend him for further employment. The Roy Mr Ruuciman moved, " That Mr McKenzie's resignation of tho Avondale charge should be accepted," aud thoproposition was at onco seconded mid carried.