MR WILL AND THE CHURCH TRUSTEES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 270, 31 October 1862, Page 5

MR WILL AND THE CHURCH TRUSTEES

{To the Editor of the Daily Tislbs.) ! Sir,—Allow me through your columns to lay before the public a brief statement of facts, iv reference to the above subject. At a meeting of the Presbytery of Otago, which is the Supreme Court of the Presbyterian Church in this Province, it was resolved that Mr Will should proceed to Great Britain, for the purpose of obtaining an additional supply of suitable ministers for the colony; and also for the purpose of obtaining a minister qualified to give instruction in natural science and theology, who»<? special duty it would be to devote a portion of every year to a course of instruction in some branch of natural science, for the good of the public generally. The best mode of imparting such instruction would, of course, be regulated by circum stances. At the same time.this professor would be required to give such tutorial instruction to any youn<> men who might wHi to devo<e themselves to the ministry, as might be found necessary. In the course of a few years, the co'lege funds will admit of a second professor, and thus the foundation of a theological institute would be laid lor the training of a native ministry, not for Otago only, but for the'presbytenan Church of New Zealand. Such was the decision of the church, in her, Supreme Court, after consulting with as many of her friends as could b* assembled for that purpose. The conference was unanimous, and the Presbytery wjis unanimous It was tt.ought that such a plan would be productive of much good to the church, and to the youn°- men of Dunedin and other parts of the Province, who mi«hl wish to prosecute their researches in the ditferent departments of natural science.

«-mi church trustees were instructed so supply Mr \\ ill with funds for the mission assigned him by the Preshyterian Church, £200 to defray the oxoeuses of the Professor, and £400 to meet his own personal expenses'while doing the work of the church. Thtactor was waited on, and Minified that the necessary arrau^em nts could be maile, provided tiie trustees should give him authority for so acting. A deputation from the Presbytery waited on Mr Will's congregation at Green Island and East Taieri informed them of what the Church had done and pressed on them to c nuur in the decision of the church, winch, so far as concerned Mr Will's appointment, was to some extent dependent on their approval. The cordial concurrence of both con'ieiratious was expressed in the most liberal, cordiar and honorable manner. '

About three weeks after the meeting of Presbytery after the completion of congregational arrant nieute' the factor ot the trustees intimated to Mr Will that the trustees were itfraid it was not legal to take part of the church funds for such a purpose. Previous to this the Presbytery had always directed the trustee* in the disbursement of these funds, and the sumo course had been followed on this occasion as in all former times since the formation of a Presbytery Of course this annoyed and perplexed Mr Will a goo i deal. He felt however that the objection was groundless, and, after waiting for a ftw days till legal advice miprlit be obtained, he wrote the trustees un?iu" fo- a final and immediate decisiou, and oftering'to Insure the trustees against loss should their proceedings be censured or they called to account. Of course" this objection could only apply to Mr Will's peisonal expenses, and not to the £200 for the expense* of the Professor, as the legality of that could scarcely be questioned by the most scrupulous. After five weeks' deliberation the trustees came to the resolution that " they have no funds at present available for the purpose, and they do not feel justified iv iucurrin" any liability beyond the present heavy amount with which the Trust is burdened." The' Factor of the Trust had previously assured Mr Will that arrangements could be made if the trustees should give their sanction. All that was necessary was to issue letters of credit, which might not be used for six months to come.

This was regarded as putting a decided negative upon the action of the church. It brings the trustees and the Presbytery into direct collision. It arrogates to the trustees the right to icontrol the church's action, and overrule aud even set a«ide her decisions. On the trustees be the blame. Alons with the final decision of the trustees, there came from the senior trustee expressions of sympathy, and an assurance | that the leading members of the church in Dunedin were quite opposed to the course which the church had deliberately adopted. Mr Will felt that he had gone too far to bow to the authority of the church trustees —that his own honour and integrity, and those of his congregation and of the whole church, were involved—that this was an act of oppression that might make a wise man mad; and so, after consulting with as many of the leading men of the church as he could, and finding their feelings to be very different from the views of the trustees, he j resolved to obey tlic church and not the trustees, and to proceed to fulfil the work assigned him, notwithstanding this extinguisher or the trustees. To Mm the honor and consistency and liberly of the church appeared more valuable than her money; and having cone so f:v% he will now proceed in obedience to the churc!) and in opposition to the church trustees ; and if he-should be able to do nothing else, he will at least show that, as far as he is concerned, the decision of the Supreme Court of the church will not be reversed or set aside by any trustees in Otago; nor yet Iby any individual authority, however high j nor yet by a whole host of individual objectors when once the church has finally decided. Mr Will has, therefore, resolved to proceed on the mission assigned to him, just as if the opposition of the trustees had never been expressed ; and he knows that many of the leading men in the church are on his side, and indignant at the assumption of power on the part of the trustees. Had he only a very little more time he could evoke a spirit that has been aroused by the action of the trustees that would show them on what side are the sympathies of the church. He cannot now go back, and therefore he wi'J proceed till recalled by the3upreme Court of the church. Then he "'ill of course enjoy the ordinary privileges of a culprit—a free passage. Mr Will has been compelled to this course because there is now no time to consult the church. Funds will be provided for his expense?. " If we shall stand still In fear, our motion will be mocked or carped at. j We should take root here where we sb or sit State statues only." Wji. Will.