WHICH CHURCH?

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10563, 14 April 1920, Page 5

WHICH CHURCH?

TROUBLE AT PRESBYTERY ST. ANDREWS PARISH WITHDRAWS FROM THE DISTRICT. What is known as the St. Margaret’s College matter was before tho Wellington Presbytery again last evening. This is a case in which protest jiao boon made against the girls of St. Margaret’s being taken to worship at St. .John's Church instead oi to St. Andrew’s, which is in then own parish. The subject has been discussed at previous meetings an the presence of the Press, but last evening a resolution was carried to hold tho discussion privately. Two dissented from the motion. Rev. B. Hutson (Brooklyn) loft the meeting, and informed tho reporters that he had told tho Presbytery they bad tried to muzzle tho Press, and ho would go out with the St. Andrew’s people. INTERESTING LETTERS. Rev. S. Robertson Orr informed the Press that ho had sent the following letter to the clerk of the Presbytery: ~-“A * communication unanimously agreed upon by our session will reach you to-night. Ju accordance therewith 1 will not take any place in tho Presbytery. It is quite ' evident that a certain section of the Presbytery is determined to countenance a Want ot charity and fair play.” The’ following, as a c^p y of a letter from iho kirk session of St. Andrew’s, was also handed over:-—“la view of the inactivity of the Presbytery’s committee and the consequent undue delay in giving advice as asked for. the kirk session of St. Andrews Church feel that the only dignified course is to retire from' tho Presbytery.” 'This,” said Mr Orr, “means cutting off all connection with the district and lotting them take the next stop.” STATEMENT BY REV. S. ROBERTSON ORR. Mr Orr also made the following statement;--“What’ we aro trying to do is break, down an attempt on tho part of one congregation to exercise an illegal domination over other congregations. -It is recognised throughout our denomination that all members have an equal standing and all congregations have equal rights. Episcopacy is a recognised method of one minister being superior ana directing others, but Presbyterianism stands for the equality of the ministry. There is a general dissatisfaction with the existing state of, affairs and the present trouble is only an expression ol that feeding,” LATE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL’S VERSION. The following is a copy of a letter which has been received from Miss Nancy Jobson, late principal of Queen Margaret College, who is now in Toowoomba, Queensland; —I note with groat interest that great emphasis is laid by certain speakers upon tho freedom of choice possessed by the principal of tho college during 1019. When, shortly after my appointment, I came to Wellington in November, 1918, to meet tho College Board, the chairman, the Rev. Dr Gibb, impressed upon me tho importance of the decision that rested with tup regarding the church attendance of Q-M.C. boarders. “Speaking strictly impartially,’’ he said, ‘T think it will be wisest for you to attend St. John’s.” I came'to no final decision at that time, but later, after deep consideration of the question in its various aspects, I wrote to Dr Gibb lacheating the probability of my deciding in favour of St. Andrew’s for reasons which T still consider sufficiently co. gem. Dr Gibb’s reply speaks for -itself ;

“Of course I should like the girls to attend St- John’s, but I should very readily suppress the desire if I could persuade myself that ifc would be a good thing for the girls, and a' soureo of strength generally, to form a connection with St. Andrew’s. But my well-considered conviction is that tho beat interests of Queen Margaret’s will be conserved by the girls attending St.' John’s. Practically it is St. John’s men who are doing all the work connected with the now institution, as it was with tho first; and if tho girls can, without inconvenience, attend the church whose folks take an interest! in them, they ought to do so. I do not care to press the fact that it will he to the advantage of the school that the girls should attend the service of a large congregation rather than a small, hut there is no doubt that tho presence in St. John's of tho hoys Sunday after Sunday, meant a good deni to Scots College. Doubtless it will he tho same with Queen Margaret's.”

“SUCH TREATMENT AT THE HANDS OF THE CHAIRMAN.”

In answer, I stated that I should not, in any case, force any child to sever her connection with St. John’s, and agreed to consult.tho Hon. J. G. W. Aitkcn on my arrival in Wellington. Tills 1 did; Mr Aitkcn expressed disappointment at my decision, but accepted it in tho liberal spirit of a Christian gentleman. 1. may say that f ■ mot the Rev. S, Robertson Orr for the first time when I reached Wellington, and ho had no influence whatever upon my decision. The chairman, on his return from Queenstown, came to the school to see me, and used every possible argument to make mo allei my decision. Finally, he eaid: “There is another reason why you .should not take tho girls to St. Andrew’s. I dared not trust it to pen or paper.”

Then followed an attack upon Mr Orr,—such an attack as would have strengthened niy decision even had any previouß argument caused it to waver. As a result of exercising ray so-called “freedom of choice,” I experienced euch treatment at the hands of Dr Gibb aa bo affected my health that another year’s work under similar conditions wan impossible. Though I had many regrets at severing niy connection with a school the success of which;, I think I may say. was in a great men. Eure due to my efforts, and at leaving pupils with whom ex’ntecl a strong bond of sympathy and co-operative spirit, I deem myself fortunate to have changed an atmosphere of antagonism and intrigue for one in which I shall enjoy ampler scope for tho realisation of the Ideals I cherish for tho true educational welfare of girls.