CHARGE OF HERESY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10214, 7 December 1893, Page 5

CHARGE OF HERESY.

AN AUCKLAND CASE. [Pee Press Association.] AOCKLAND, Dec. 6. Tho report of the Commission on the heresy charges against the Eev S. J. Neill, of Thames, submitted to the Auckland Presbytery, is lengthy. It first alludes to the state of Mr Neill’s congregation, as follows■ Average attendance at the iSaboath services for past years, as ascertained from one of Mr Neill's friends, who says he cannot state, he can only guess. A fate average was sixty to ninety in the morning and twice that number in the evening. As ascertained trom several gentlemen who were in a position to arrive at a correct estimate, the average morning attendance for tie past, year was about forty in the morning and sixty to seventy in the evening, or one hundred and ten for the day. It will thus be seen that the Presbyterians of the Thames do not show a practical appreciation of tho ordinances of their church, and the Commission endeavoured to ascertain the reason why. Prom the evidence of the petitioners it was apparent that their lack of interest in the church is due in a large measure to the fact stated in Clausa 6 of their petition, “because of their want of confidence iu him as a faith* ml expounder of the truths of Christianity, and because of their inability to derive any benefit from his ministry. The Commission notices four phases of erroneous teaching brought on in evidence. These concern (1) the personality of God, (2) the divinity of Christ, (3) the atonement of Christ, and (4) regeneration. After reviewing the evidence, the report states “ The evidence given by Mr Neill's supporters showed that he enjoys their confidence and esteem. Several of them spoke of tho good they had derived from hia ministry, and they are hearty and unanimous in testifying to the fact that they had no fault to find with his teaching, that he preached the Gospel, and that he held form Christ as the great example they were to imitate." As to Mr Neill’s connection with the Theosophical Society, the report says ;—“ Mr Neill admitted to the Commission that be was Corresponding Secretary of the Society, but be refused to state if he had been the means of bringing Mrs Oakley to Auckland, or if he was a member of the ‘ Inner Circle ’ Theosopbical Society. The Commission felt that :f Mr Neill had been free from blame in tho matter he had no occasion to refuse to exonerate himself, but his admission of being an office-bearer in that Society, and hia refusal to state if fche / appearance of Mra Oakley in Auckland was the result of hie discharge of the duties of that office, earned the Commission serious *■ apprehension. The consequences of such action on the part of a minister of the Church will bo apparent if we look at those facts i —(1) The lady'referred to was advertised in the Auckland papers as coming from the headquarters of the Theosophical Society. (2) Her lectures were atheistical; she openly denied the being of a personal God, (3) The Society in Auckland is a branch of the Society of which that lady is a member. (4) The lecturers on theosophy in Auckland ate members of the Tfaooeophical Society. (5) Their lectures are all anti-Christian. (6) The members of the Society of which Mr Neill is a member only appear. before the public as exponents and propagators of theosophy. (7) Mr Neill is consequently an active member of a Society whose leading members in Auckland are busily engaged in anti-Christian teaching and in circulating anti-Christian literature. Your Coramiesion foels that this is a very serious position for Mr Neill to bo placed in, and it has learned nothing from him that would tend to free him from a large share of responsibility for recant theosophical teaching in Auckland. Your Commission recommends that the case be referred to the General Assembly for the following reasons(a) There is a serious division iu the Thames congregation that has for its expressed cause want of confidence in tho teaching of the minister on the part of an important section whoso spiritual necessities the church is bound to provide for; ( b ) that the division will net bo treated until confidence has been restored in the orthodoxy of the minister; (c) aa important points of doctrine are concerned, the highest Court of the Church ia best fitted to deal with these, and its decision is more likely to give satisfaction to all parties; (d) Mr Neiil has intimated his desire that the ease, should go to the General Aeeembiy, and has stated that he will appeal from any decision the Presbytery may come to." The recommenoationa were adopted.