‘Asked To Divert Church Offerings’

Northern Advocate, 12 October 1949, Page 2

‘Asked To Divert Church Offerings’

AUCKLAND, Wed. (P.A.)—Members of an Auckland church were stated yesterday to have received anonymous letters directing them to divert their church offerings from the ystial channels. This statement was made by Ernest Arthur Eady, secretary of the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, in evidence before Mr Justice Finlay in an action begun in the Supreme Court yesterday.

The witness, Eady, was giving evidence for the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle and three ollice bearers against Alexander James Hodge and four others.

The plaintiffs ask in a statement that account be taken of the financial transactions of the Tabernacle Evangelisation Society, for repayment by defendants of cheques totalling £977, for £SOO as officers of the TES and for a declaration from them that they have ceased to be members of this society. “IN TERRIBLE STATE” Witness said he was then concerned about the appearance of anonymous letters directing members to place only token offerings in the plate and give their offerings to certain people named in the letters. He thought the society’s fund; should be locked up until the churct was stabilised as it was “in a terrible state at that time.” Later he approached the bank and asked that a stop be placed on the account. Giving evidence of donations made by Dr Hodge, witness said that at one meeting of the council of the society Dr Hodge paid a sum of £Bl/4/- into the society’s fund to pay the boat fare of his daughter Miss Mabel Hodge who was going to England to attend a college. The society then paid out tlv fare. EXAMINATION OF BOOKS. "I was interested to find out how much Dr Hodge was giving to the society as he was the founder and so many peopie were being asked to give,” said witness. j “From an examination of the books 11 saw that Dr Hodge paid a sum of £62 in but this was paid out also as a personal gift to this daughter. There were also amounts of £lO and £ls from him.” j His Honor: It looks as if everything was put through the society to make it . appear they had a lot of money. I Witness produced three cheques paid | out by the society in March which he said were not authorised by the council One for £l7B was made out to the J Russian Missionary Society, one for £3OO made out to the Slavic Missionary : Society, and one for £499/5/- made out to A. J Hodge SIGNATURES. All the cheques were signed by H. L. Tavlor and J R Freeman and all were endorsed by A J Hodge. Witness also nroduced bank books of the society showing withdrawals totalling £2350 which it was alleged were | paid into the Bank of New Zealand to | provide funds for the cheques to be j drawn on. After cross-examining vffness. Mr I Leary for the defendants, told the 1 Court that the monev from the three : cheques had been paid out to recognised missionary societies in England and the ’-eceipts would be produced. Dr Hodee had also made a cash donation of £IOO on a thanksgiving Sunday When a witne s"’ 5 "’ was called to give evidence about an examination of the books of the society His Honor suggested that there seamed to be a very limited number of beneficiaries in the society’s books and if the disputed money was returned to the Tabernacle it would probably be given in much the same way as the defendants had done.

“It is very much like running in a vicious circle with little reality behind it” he added.

Mr Connell said the society wanted to deal with its money in its own way. “The range of bodies to be benefited from the funds is very small.” continued His Honor

‘I feel that as a church is involved there should be some conciliatory spirit here Thev were all working for one good cause but suddenly they had a disagreement and the issue seems to be all a pure technicality."

After counsel intimated they would like to discuss the matter the Court adiourned until todnv. EARLIER ACTION.

Earlier. Mr Justice Finlay non-suit-ed the Tabernacle against the Tabernacle Youth Camp, Incorporated, and 18 of its members, in an action begun yesterday to determine the beneficial owner of the Mountain Home and nine acres of land in the Waitakere Ranges The iudge refused a request bv counsel for defendant societv for nom inal damages on the interim iniunc tion granted to the church restraining defendants from using the property. His Honor said there was confusion on both sides between the ethical and legal.

There was no doubt that in the initial stages the property was acquired for general church purposes. He thought there was never any trust since the youth organisation was created.