A QUESTION OF GAOL CHAPLAINS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2430, 10 October 1900, Page 30

A QUESTION OF GAOL CHA P LAINS.

AUCKLAND, October 3,

At a meeting of the Auckland Presbj-tery, Mr Duncan M'Pher&on, city missionary, attended, and complained that since Mr Severn, the new governor' of the Auckland Gaol, had taken office he had been denied his rights and privileges as a Presbyterian chaplain at the gaol. He recently wished to see a prisonei belonging to the church, whose term of imprisonment was about to expire, in order that he might confer and arrange with him in regard to lfis future, and generally endeavour to help him on the right path. He was denied the privilege oi' seeing the prisoner, and -when he atked 'the gaoler why it was so, he replied that he did not knoAV any chaplain 'but one, and that was the chaplain ap.pointed by the Church of England. Mr M'Pherson then produced to the gaoler his credentials from the clerk of the presbytery, showing that he hod been duly appointed to that position, and that he had occupied it without let or hindrance for a period of about 15 years. The gaoler read the credentials, and stated that he could not recognise him. Mr M'Pher&on said he had also been curtailed in the -number of services he had been in the habit of conducting on Sundays. He felt that he had been unfairly tieaksd, and that in his person the church had nob been permitted to

occupy that position Avhich it had a right lo occupy in a country in which there is no State church. He asked for directions on the matter from the presbytery because he felt that fcis usefulness had been seriously impaired on account of ths treatment he had received and been subjected to. A discussion followed, during Avhich each speaker expressed astonishment and indignation at T\hai had taken place. It Avas unanimously resolved that a letter be sent to the Inspector of Prisons, through the Governor of Mount Eden Gaol, setting forth the' treatment extended to Mr M'Pherson, and asking that he be recognised as a duly appointed chaplain of the Presbyterian Church at the gaol as heretofoie.