A Clerical Dispute in Ponsonby Auckland.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 667, 3 April 1879, Page 2

A Clerical Dispute in Ponsonby Auckland.

— v «»■ .. '■:. . ; . ■ REFUSAL OF A CLERGYMAN TO ATTEND A DYING WOMAN. The rupture which occurred about six weeks ago between the Rev. E. N. Bree, incumbent of All Saints'- Church, Ponsonby, and his vestry and parishioners, has been brought to somethinglike a settlement. \ The circumstances connected with the case are these ; On the 14th of February last, a young lady who had been a member of the church, who had assisted in the choir, and taken an active interest in the affairs of the parish, returned from a visit to Waikato in a dying condition. On the 15 th, at three o'clock, the young lady's sister called and asked the Minister to go down with her. He had been suffering from a cold and sore throat for two days, and declined to go, alleging that exposure to the air "would unfit him for the performance of his duties in the Church next day. At four o'clock a messenger was sent, but he again refused. The request was repeated at five o'clock by two lady parishioners, one of. whom offered to send a cab ; and again at six o'clock, the last time a horse being brought to the door to convey him. The distance was not more than eleven minutes quick ride. He said then that if a cab came for him he might go. However he did not, and the young lady having been attended in her last moments by the Rev. Mr. Runciman. Presbyterian cleryman, died at half -past seven. That evening the pastor of All Saints spent in playing chess with— — , a parishioner, and in the course of the game observed that if a cab came for him to go to attend Miss- — '■ he would not be away more than half-an-hour. The same evening one of the parishioners went and remonstrated with him very strongly for his action. On the followiug day Mr. Bree conducted the service in All Saints. The funeral took place on Monday. The Rev. Mr. Bree said he would meet it on the way. However, some of those concerned. took him down to the house, when a polite intimation was sent out informing him that his presence inside was not desired. He read the service at the grave, going there and returning alone. Subsequently a few of the parishioners met together in Mr. Devore's house, and resolved to submit the matter to the Bishop. A letter detailing the circumstances was forwarded to his lordship, who replied, expressing sympathy for Mr. Bree in his misfortune, but stating that he could not take any action. If, however the parishioners desired to proceed further a certain course . of procedure was open to them under the Diocesan rules. Acting upon this, a majority of the vestry proceeded to file a charge against Mr. Bree in the Church Courts. The charge was — First, for refusing without sufficient cause to attend the young lady and administer the sacrament, as she was entitled to demand by right as a parishioner ; and second, for not attending to instruct. Mr. Bree had admitted being sent for, but denied that he had been told that the givl was dying by any but the last messenger. He also gave the authority of , Dr. Bayntum, his medical adviser, that he was not in a fit condition to go. ' i; l '.'.'' . When it was seen that the parishioners were 'resolute, overtures Were made : privately to secure an abandonment of ttie proceedings. The vestry^ however, intimated that nothing but a letter from the Bishop, .withdrawing what they deemed to be misplaced expressions of sympathy for Mr. Bree, ; together' with one from the incumbent, acknowledging his fault, would be accepted. On Saturday a letter, was received from the Bishop, covering one from Mr. Bree, in which the latter admitted the charge, confessed that he had committed :an error of judgment, and apologised for it. The letter from the Bishop stated that, as Mr. Bree had adtnitted his error, he hoped the vestry would would accept the expression of regret. A meeting of the vestry wa3 held list night, when it was stated that by pressing the case in the Church Courts, nothing more could be done than to prove the charges of breach of discipline, . and they were already admitted. A resoluwas therefore adopted' to the effect that the apology, of, Mr. Bree be accepted, and the charge be not further pressed in the Church Courts. Another resolution was carried asking the Bishop to declare whether the district, having been recently . formed into a parish, was vacant, and to request that a time be fixed for the nomination of a minister. ■■■■•-. ■ • '•