DR. HODGE REPLIES

Evening Star, Issue 25173, 12 May 1944, Page 2

DR. HODGE REPLIES

VIOLATION OF INDEPENDENCE (P.A.) AUCKLAND. May Vi. Replying to the Baptist Union's statement, Dr Hodge this morning declared that it was misleading in several important respects. The commission referred to was arbitrarily sent to Auckland, he said, in 'defiance of resolutions of " officers and 1 members, and accordingly no friend of his appeared before it. The witnesses who appeared were promised the closest secrecy. In attempting to force a commission ,on a church which repudiated it, in circularising the membership and in calling meetings of members, the Baptist Union had acted improperly, and had violated the historic independence and autocracy of a Baptist church. His counsel had protested strongly to the executive against the references made by them to a tribute he was alleged to have paid to the justice of the proceedings. The contrary was the truth. His counsel was deeply impressed with the injustice of the procedure, and said so. Further, the statement that he (Dr Hodge) had attempted to withdraw the church from the union rather than appeal to the annual •Assembly in October was absolutely untrue. He had no responsibility for the church's spontaneous and solemn secession in protest against his suspension. It also appeared that the executive's statement should have made it clear that the so-called charges against him involved matters mainly of administration, and that there were no allegation against either his morals or his doctrine. (Further statements appear on page 6.)