BAPTISM BY IMMERSION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1735, 5 September 1919, Page 10

BAPTISM BY IMMERSION.

PRESBYTERIAN DOCTRINE.

ALLEGED BREACH BY MINISTER.

CALLED UPON TO RESIGN.

Pre** Association. AUCKLAND, September 4. A considerable stir has been caused |n Presbyterian circles in Auckland on Account of an effort which has been inade to induce the Rev. A. A. Murray, *)f St. Andrew's Church, to resign, be- -' cause of proceedings alleged to be contrary to the doctrine of the Church. It appears that some months ago Mr Hurray was baptised at the Gospel Hall, Parnell, by the Rev. W. L. Salter, a Baptist minister. A recital of the facts was obtained from Mr Muray. He Stated that three members of the Presbytery, the Rev. J. W. Shaw, of Mount • JEden,' the Rev. G. Budd, of Devonport, and the Rev. G. B. Inglis, of Mount Albert, waited on him last Tuesday, and he had been baptised by immersion. Mr Murray acknowledged that **ihis was so. The deputation then endeavoured to show that such action was not a proper one .according to the doctrines of the Church, and they seated that Presbyterianism stood" for infant baptism. Mr Murray replied that the Church gave its ministers some latitude in the matter. The deputation then stated that the only honourable course for Mr Murray to pursue was to tender his resignation as a Presbyterian minister. k Mr 'Murray replied that he had no intention of doing so. He asked.what was the real object of the deputation's . Visit, and the reply was that it was to fcsk him to resign his connection with -the Presbyterian Church. The ministers Added that the case would be brought * before the next meeting of the Presbytery. Mr Murray assured the deputation that he, would refuse to resign.. The matter was brought before the last meeting pf the St. Andrew's Kirk Session, and it is stated that all the members expressed astonishment at What was considered an unwarrantable Action on the part of three members of the Presbytery. No resolution was passed by the session. | Commenting on the matter, Mr Murray said that, in the circumstances, the proposal made to him by the depuSition was simply outrageous. The octrine of the Presbyterian Church provided for several forms of baptism, including immersion, but expressed preference for sprinkling. He was, therefore, quite within his rights, and had Violated no doctrine of the Church, nor j bad he acted dishonourably. It seemed to him that an attempt was being made io put him out of the Presbyterian Church on account of his having commenced services on Sunday evenings in the Tivoli Theatre. Efforts were apparently being made to make his ministry In Auckland intolerable. The Presbytery had- passed a resolution condemning, his action in regard tq the Tivoli 'Theatre services, but the theatre was In the St. Andrew's parish, and the St. Andrew's Kirk Session had asked him to hold services there, and had always upheld his action. | When the matter was referred to Mr Bhaw, he stated that Messrs Inglis, Budd, and he, himself, had simply ;. formed a friendly- deputation, without any authority whatever, with the object cif trying to get Mr Murray to see their Viewpoint. They had considered certain eirctnmtaneea »f Mr Murray's action from the Presbyterian standpoint. Beyond this Mr Shaw declined 1 to make any statement, on the ground that nothing formal had been done, nor would .be, until the matter had been brought before the Presbytery.