DUNEDIN EVANGELISTIC MISSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 5

DUNEDIN EVANGELISTIC MISSION.

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PREACHER. MOTION OF CONFIDENCE CARRIED. As serious allegations had been made concerning the character of Mr A. A. Lind, who has conducted the Dunedin Evangelistic Mission for the past six years, a general meeting of members was held in the Zealandia Chambers, Dowling street, on Tuesday evening, and was largely attended. In a few opening remarks Mr Lind said that it had been decided by the members of the mission to hold the meeting for the purpose of allowing any person who wished to do so to make charges against him and to substantiate such charges. He was not going to listen to hearsay, but if anyone wanted to charge him with any offence he should do so in the proper way. A legal friend had drawn up rules under which the matter would be considered. Mr A. B. Pairman was voted to the chair. The Chairman said that it was quite right that only definite charges should be considered. No notice should, be taken of hearsay. There had been a great many whisperings and certain things had been said by irresponsible persons, who had no first-hand information, and who repeated statements without any attempt to ascertain if there was any truth in them. Personally, he would have preferred a conference of representative churchmen who would not be influenced by persons outside the church to decide the case. —(‘‘Hear, hear.”) Mr Pairman then asked those who had any charges to make to bring them forward. Several speakers, who would not make definite charges, said they had heard certain things, but they were not there to make any accusations against Mr Lind. On the Chairman asking for definite charges, these speakers and other persons concerned, left the meeting. Mr Lind said that considering the gravity of the charges made against him, but which had not been substantiated, he would like the chairman to ask for someone to move a vote of entire Confidence in him, or otherwise. He would be ruled by the decision of the mission members. He then left the room. On the motion of entire confidence in Mr Lind being put, it was carried unanimously. The following representative members of the mission appended their signatures to the motion:—R. M'Lean, R. Chase, L. Buchanan, E. Tebbett, W. B. Arlidge, M. Granger, O. Young, J. M‘Lean, William Gear, M. Holt, M. Falconer, and J, E. M‘Millan. The Chairman expressed his gratitude that the mission members had passed a unanimous resolution of confidence in Mr Lind, which was what he expected would oocur. The enemy could be very brave behind the scenes, but was rfot so in the open. Mr Lind said that he could not adequately convey his thankfulness to the mission members. To a man who preached the Word of God, his character was his most priceless possession. If that were sullied he could no longer teach the Gospel.