CASE OF REV. H. HAYES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22332, 1 February 1936, Page 13

CASE OF REV. H. HAYES

NEW TRIAL REFUSED PETITION TO THE KING MELBOURNE. Jan. 31 Archbishop Head has refused to grant the Rev. H. E. E. Hayes, who was found guilty in December by an Ecclesiastical Court of charges of false doctrine and of "conduct disgraceful to a clergyman and productive of scandal and evil report," a new trial. Mr. Hayes has now instructed his solicitor to petition the King to "redress the wrongs done him." The court called Mr. Hayes to resign before January 20, otherwise he would be removed from his parish. The court's finding was delivered to. Archbishop Head, who might exercise his prerogative of mercy by reducing nhe penalty. The case, which was adjourned on June 26 last for six months, had occupied the ecclesiastical authorities in Victoria since the previous February. Public attention was first directed to it when Mr. Hayes himself revealed that in an interview with Archbishop Head he had been asked to repudiate an article written by him in the Christmas number of the Labour Call, and to resign his living on the ground of heresy. Mr. Hayes refused io do either. On June 4 he appeared before an Ecclesiastical Court of the Diocese of Melbourne on two charges, that he had promulgated false doctrine and that he had been guilty of "conduct disgraceful to a clergyman and product,ive of scandal and evil report." After fairly lengthy proceedings 'the adjournment was granted, largely on medical representations that Mr. Hayes was not in a fit state of health to bear the pressing of the charges to a conclusion.