"HE SHAMED ME"

NZ Truth, Issue 1203, 20 December 1928, Page 10

"HE SHAMED ME"

Married Woman From New Zealand Makes Serious Charge Against A Sydney Minister CHURCH COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY (From "N.Z. Truth's" Sydney Representative). After a preliminary investigation lasting five hours the Special Presbytery Committee of Sydney committed Rev. Hay Holden, of the Palmer Street Presbyterian Church, to appear before the Full Church Committee of 100 members on charges levelled against him by Mrs. Honoria Mary Davidson. Mrs. Davidson alleged that the parson made her break her vows of fidelity to her husband.

PENDING the decision of the Full Church Committee, tho Rev. Hay Holden has been suspended from office. Mrs. Davidson, her husband, who is treasurer to tho church, and the Roy. Hay Holden were present. Mrs. Davidson alleged that the Rev. Hay Holder*.' had betrayed her over a period of months. , The Rev. Hay Holden for his part denied each and every charge absolutely and m a single sentence. The committee nnmnrlsAfl TJovb Edwards, chairman, Gran t, McAlpine, McMillicen. Pr of e-s so r Mclntyre, and Dr. Burgess, with four elders — Messrs. Urquhart, Mclnnes, Deaus and Wright. Mrs. Davidson, thin, drawn- featured and tragic, a woman m her early thirties, sat beside her husband.' The Rev. Holden's expression said that a gigantic conspiracy against the fair name of his family and his kirk had been set afoot. The reverend gentlemen and elders with heavy countenances sat together m a group, the' chairman m front. Thus v/as Mrs. Davidson called upon to state her charges. She related that she had met the Rev. Hay Holden shortly after her arrival from New Zealand last February and declared that m March last he asked her to join the choir. After that she said she received telegrams from the parson asking her to call. She did so and finally familiarity occurred between them.

Mrs. Davidson alleged that she had committed misconduct with the Rev. Hay Holden on many occasions at the Manse, and at Strathflelcl, Maroubra, and Dowllng- Street. "I 1 thought he loved me," she declared. "He said he did and then he shamed mo." After she had related her story with a wealth of detail, Mrs. Ditvidson was asked a number of questions, and then her husband was called upon to come forward. . . wo wnn nnnhifi to add materially to his wife's story, for he said that all he knew about the liev. Hay Holden's alleged re 1 a tions with his wife was what she had told him. Various documents were produced by Mrs.- Davidson with a view to supporting her case and substantiating the charges she had brought. After the committee's report was made the parson was committed to appear before the Full Church Committee. The committee explained to the Presbytery that the accusations made and the information given were of too serious a nature to be dismissed by them.. That is why the investigation of the charges has been left to the higher Church Court: It is understood that the full church committee will .meet at an early date with a view to finally disposing of the whole matter.

Very Serious Charges