THE LATE TABERNACLE LITERARY SOCIETY AND THE PASTOR AND OFFICERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9040, 19 November 1892, Page 6

THE LATE TABERNACLE LITERARY SOCIETY AND THE PASTOR AND OFFICERS.

The following statement in reference to the above subject has been sent to us:—

As so many statements, in many respects inaccurate, have appeared in the press from time to time on the above subject, we think it well, to furnish the public, through the columns of your widely-circulated journal, with the true facts of the case. We do so reluctantly, because the great majority of our active members are Baptists, and are therefore very loth to place the conduct of tho church officers and pastor before the public. In fact, had it not been for the very extraordinary letter written by Mr. Blaikie and published in your issue of loth inst., we should not have done so. In this connection, please allow us to explain that the rupture i* with the church officers and pastor. Their action has not been endorsed by the church. The first intimation that we received of the displeasure of the officers and pastor was the following letter, which came without the slightest warning, either written or verbal.

"Auckland Tabernacle, September 14,1892. Dear Sir,At a special meeting of the officers and pastor of this Church, the various societies in connection with it were brought under consideration. With reference to the Society known as the Tabernacle Literary Society, it was resolved as follows :—lt is expedient that the Society known as the Auckland Tabernacle Literary Society should at the end of its present session be dissolved or cease to bear such title, and ,that a class for Bible study be formed, believing such a class to be more in accordance with the objects and operations of the church.—l am, etc., Seeking H. Matthews, Church Secretary."

It will be seen that the alternative " or cease to bear such title" amounts to nothing, while the reference to the proposed Bibleclass is a mere excuse. A Bible-class has existed contemporaneously with the Literarj Society, and there is no reason why it should not do so again. It is needless to say thai this letter caused universal astonishment; and a meeting of the Society was at once summoned at the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms. A section of the Society was in favour of taking the officers and pastor at their word, and quietly leaving the Tabernacle, but a large majority, influenced by unofficial statements that the officers and pastor regretted their hasty step, were in favour of conciliation. It was therefore resolved that a letter be sent to the officers and pastor inviting them to a conference, and the society there and then appointed its delegates to meet the delegates from the officers and pastor. This proposal was not received in the spirit in which it was sent. (It is only fair to state, however, that the resolution was rather hurriedly composed and did not convey the exact meaning of the Society.) The officers and pastor declined a conference, but said they were willing to receive a deputation from us. To this course there was strong opposition in the Society, but it was finally resolved to accept the offer made by the officers and pastor, and Monday evening, at 6.30, was appointed by them for the reception of our deputation. Though the hour was a very inconvenient one, our deputation presented itself at the appointed time, but, after waiting over half-an-hour, could not discover any officers or pastor about the building. The church secretary afterwards explained that he had sent a message to our secretary's house on Sunday, and a note to his place of business on Monday. The former did not reach him at all; and the latter —a pencil memo. —not till after 5 p.m. However, the delegates were determined to leave no stone unturned, and consequently attended at the Tabernacle again on Tuesday at the same hour. They were then greeted by a very full meeting of the officers and pastor. Our spokesman very respectfully requested the officers and pastor to state their reasons for turning us out, in order that the same might be met and, if possible, refuted. The pastor replied, "I suppose the officers have acted within their powers. If the young men want to remain here, it is for them to state their reasons why they should be allowed to do so." However, our deputies declined to discuss the matter on that basis, and the reasons of our dismissal were then stated. The chief of them was our now famous decision on the question of theatregoing. There were other minor causes of dissatisfaction with us, some, based entirely on hearsay, being disproved, and others admitted. In one important particular—the deletion from our constitution of a rule making a belief in the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures a necessary qualification of membership — our deputies readily and candidly admitted that the Society had acted injudiciously, and promised that the rule should be reinstated. The end of the whole business was that, at the earnest request of our deputation, the officers and pastor agreed to reconsider their decision, and to draw up a basis on which they would allow the Society to continue its connection with the church. In due course we received this basis, which was as follows : —l. That the name of the Society be as set forth in the rules of 18S9, viz.. The Tabernacle Mutual Improvement Society. 2. That the object of the Society be fully adhered to, religious subjects having their due place on the programme as set forth in rule 2. 3. That the clause making the belief in the inspiration of the Bible as a condition of membership be reinstated, and that the following addition be made " and the belief in the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ." 4. That the programme of each session be submitted to the pastor and officers for their approval. 5. That to rule No. 10 (providing for alterations in the rules) the following clause be added: "Such alterations to be submitted to the pastor and officers for their acceptance." 0. That only members of a Baptist Chureh and adherents thereof shall be eligible as officers 'and members of committee. This basis we felt to be unnecessarily harsh. Why should we be called upon to change our name from " Literary" to '* Mutual Improvement Society ?" Moreover we could not see our way to place ourselves absolutely under the thumb of the officers and pastor by submittiugour programme to them, especially as they hau openly stated their intention of disallowing any discussion on political subjects. We may say that the pastor of the Tabernacle has always been ex officio president of the Society, and he ami the officers might have largely influenced the programme had they taken any interest in us. This remark does not, however, apply to Mr. Blaikie, who was hot in Auckland at the time when our last programme was drawn up. We therefore declined the " basis," and are now an independent society. As a matter of fact, in submitting the " basis" the officers and pastor offered to grant our deputation another reception, but, from the total absence of a conciliatory spirit in the bearing of the officers and pastor at the previous reception, we felt that a second meeting would be worse than useless. In conclusion, we have to say that—as you so well point out — have never pretended to come to any decision " in the name of the church." The discussion on the theatre-going question was very full and of such a tone as would have pleased the moat particular. Plays and operas of the highest class only were approved. But, sir, the question arises: Admitting for the sake of argument that the Society did wrong, have the pastor and officers gone about the business of putting it right in a proper and Christian manner? We think not. Had the officers and pastor shown the very slightest spirit of conciliation the matter would have been amicably settled long ago. Thanking you for your very kind and generous support in this matter, —We are, &c, the Committee of the late Tabernacle Literary Society, Per J. T. Bosworth, Hon. Secretary. Auckland, 17th November, 1892. P.S.— The announcement that our Society is in future to be called the "Alpha" is somewhat premature. The committee have decided to recommend that name, but it has not been finally adopted by the Society.