MINISTER DEPOSED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16373, 30 October 1916, Page 4

MINISTER DEPOSED.

FALSE PRETENCES CHARGE, i NEW YORK INCIDENT. A. and X.Z. Cable. NEW YORK, Oct. 07. A. Presbyterian Church tribunal at Poughkeepsie, New York, after an investigation into charges of false pretences, deposed a minister who it is alleged is identical with Arthur Worthington, who organised a religious sect in New Zealand some years' ago. The Worthington referred to in the cablegram founded a sort of sect in Christchurch more than 20 years ago, and induced his supporters to build what was then known as 'the ''Temple of Truth," now the Choral Hall. Worthington, who arrived in Christehurch in 1890, met, with a largo amount of support from a number of peoplo of all denominations, including somo hard-headed business men. His teachings were of an indeterminate meta-' physical brand which it was quite impossible to understand, lie had great success in getting money from people, someof whom were not at all the type which it might, be supposed would readily part with their cash. Worthington conducted services in the "Temple of Truth'' for some time with great success, and (hen rumours about his former career in America began to getabout. It was stated that he had been married several times. Then financial difficulties beset him and he gradually drifted into a lower and lower state. The act that ended his career in Christ-church was his marriage with a young girl, and the subsequent suicide of' the lady who had come from America with him. Worthin;jton left the. city for soma time, but returned and held a meeting, at the conclusion of which the crowd in the street was so hostile that two magistrates had to read the Riot- Act. Worthington then went to Australia, where he was sentenced to several years' imprisonment with hard labour for obtaining money under false, presences. His career since then is obscure. He was undoubtedly a man of considerable personality, and a fluent speaker.