REV. MR. BREACH AND HIS CONGREGATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 4066, 13 June 1882, Page 2

REV. MR. BREACH AND HIS CONGREGATION.

We take the following report from tho Auckland papers : — At the Auckland Presbytery on Wednesday, June 7th, the Clerk read a copy of the letter forwarded from the Presbytery to the Rev. S. Breach, of New Plymouth, containing resolutions,. &c, in regard to a certain letter not being nnswered, and the questions in lieu of a Presbyterial visitation not being answered, calling on the minister and congregation to show cause why the connection between the minister and congregation should not be terminated. The Rev. Mr. Breach .and Mr. .Tamos McLauchlan were present from New Plymonth. A letter was forwarded by the officials of the church, stating that the reasons assigned were so frivolous that the threat was harah and tyrannical — merely because he had not answered a letter which had been delayed, and that he had not answered a formidable lot of questions forwarded to him for the first time in ten years. They asked the , Presbytery to refrain from pursuing this harsh treatment without consulting those interested. The correspondence being 1 read, the Rev. Mr. Breach and Mr. McLauchlan were asked to proceed to show cause. Mr. McLauohlan said before they proceeded to show cause, he asked what they wera to reply to — what law had they broken — and for what reason it was sought to dissolve the pastoral tie? The Clerk said that when a minister's usefulness ceased, the Presbytery, in the interest of the church, had the power to step in and dissolve the tie. They had abundant evidence to prove that the usefulness of Mr. Breach at New Plymouth was not what it ought to be. Mr. McLauchlan said they should have some evidence of that. He had been attending Mr. Breach's church for five years, and there was no falling off. A copy of the complaints which they had to answer should be furnished to them. It appeared to him the only charge was that a cortain letter, which was so vague that they did not understand it, had not been answered. Ho also pointed out that by the rules it was the Assembly only that had tho power to sever the tie between minister and congregation. The Clerk read a petition from twenty members of the church at New Plmouth, praying that the pastoral tie binding them to Rev. S. Breach be dissolved, which was laid before the Presbytery. They said that a want of cordiulity existed between the congregation and the minister, and that the latter had adopted a defiant attitude, and had refused to give up the deeds of the church property until certain arrears of salary, which he claimed — but the liability for which they denied-— were paid. They asked thdt a new minister be appointed. Mr. McLauchlan stigmatized the allegations of the petioncrs ns malicious and vindictive falsehoods, and said there was a false statement about Mr. Broach having embezzled £60, which they expected to hear in the petition. It had been secretly prepared at New Plymouth, and they were not allowed to see it. It appeared to him that they had been brought all the way from New Plymouth to answer no more serious charge than that Mr Breach had failed to reply to a letter from the Presbytery. Besides, the petition should have come to the Presbytery through the session or Board of Management, but they had never seen it. They heard of its existence, and tried to soe it, but it was kept away from them. It arose from a vindictive and malicious feeling towards Mr. Breach, and no member of his church was allowed to see it. They were of opinion that there was a wire pulling between some malcontonts in New Plymouth and Home members of the Presbytery, and that was unfair. The Clerk explained that tho matter camo before the Assembly on petition from Now Plymouth, and as it then appeared tho congregation was falling off, they took this step in the interests of the church, and empowered the Presbytery to deal with it.

Mr; McLaucblan said the congregation was satisfied with Mr. Breach, and he was satisfied wiih them. He could testify that Mr. Breach had done his duty fairly and conscientiously. The Rev. Mr. Breach then addressed the Presbytery. He gove a history of the church in New Plymouth since 1865, when the Rev Mr. McNicol had the charge. At that time the congregation was unusually large, owing to the fact that in consequence of the war the country settlers were driven into the town, and of course the Presbyterians joined Mr. McNicoPs churoh, and the Presbyterian soldiers also attended, but at the end of the war the settlers went away, and so did the soldiers, and there was of course a great falling off iv the congregation. He then proceeded to deal with the period prior to and subsequent to his own call, referring to petty disagreements which led some to leave the church. In one instance it was because the harmonium was remo7ed from one end of the church to the other, a matter with which he had nothing whatever to do. The introduction of the new hymn-book gave offence to others, causing six comm inic iits to leave. He had now none of the communicants which were on Mr. McNicol's book, but he had 20 communi cants, and there was peace in the congregation ; but the so-called trustees and others, who never attended the church at all, tried to crerle mischief. The church was not, as stated, falling off, but the contrary, and last Sunday he preached to a congregation of 79. As to the question of the deeds being in his possession, such vas not the case, but some time ago the officers became uneasy, and obtained them from the lawyer, who had since committed suicide, and they now had them. Fe asked that a commission of the Presbytery should be appointed, and they could take up the whole matter. Ho asked no favour, but simply to place the matter fairly and fully before the Presbytery. He then explained his action regarding the letter v/hich had not been answered, and his reasons for not replying to the questions before the time for doing so had elapsed. The Moderator denied that there was any wire pulling between himself and New Plymouth, and so far as he was concerned, he had no hand in bringing about this inquiry, and Mr. Carrick said he never had had any correspondence with New Plyrao«th. Mr. Runciman asked M*. Breach if he was now prepared to answer the questions? Mr. Breach replied that he could not answer them deSnitely, as he had not the books, but he would answer them approximately. As already stated, he had twenty communicants, his congregation last Sunday was seventy-nine, and he was in receipt of £50 a-year. Mr. Breach asked to be allowed to loo'; at the petition, and of ier some discussion the permission was granted, Messrs. Runciman and Fraser formally protesting. He pointed out that the deleted portion contained a grave charge of misappropriating church funds against him, and isked to be furnished with a copy of it with the deleted part filled in, for it had been signed before that portion was erased. The Clerk said that could not be granted, for the Presbytery knew nothing of its existence. After reading the petition, Mr. Breach pointed out that only three of the persons signing it were Presbyterians. It had been filled up m the holes and corners of New Plymouth, and none of his congregation had been allowed to see it. Mr. Runciman told Mr. Breach that the state of the petition told in his favour, instead of against him, coming as it did in that way. Mr. Breach and Mr. McLauchlan then retired from the Court, and the Presbytery proceeded to consider their decision. After an expression of opinion, M_. Macky moved as follows : " It having been shown that the general prosperity of the church at New Plymouth was not such as to warrant the Presbytery in retaining the services of the Rev. Mr. Breach there as minister, and out of consideration for Mr. Breach and the congregation, he be now loosed from the charge, and recommended to the Church Extension Committee for further employment." Mr. Runciman moved »n amendment, that as Mr. Breach had appeared before the Court, the Presbytery delay the further consideration of the case for four months, and on the suggestion of Mr. Monro, he added that commissioners be appointed and sent to New Plymouth to investigate the state of the church there. Finally, however, this amendment was withdrawn, and Mr. Macky's motion was adopted, conditionally on Mr. Breach being afforded an opportunity to resign. Mr. Breach and Mr. McLauchlan were then recalled, and Mr. Breach was recommended to resign, but he said that required time for consideration. All his property was in New Plymouth, and he would have to sell out at a sacrifice. He asked to be furnished with the call which he received, as there were statements abroad that he had not received a call. Mr. McKinney moved that the call be restored to Mr. Breach, and Mr. Carrick seconded the motion, but the Clerk objected, an the call was in the form of a petition to tho Presbytery. Mr. Breach was then asked what time he would require, and said six months would not be too much time to consider whether he should resign. The alternative resolution paised was then read to him, and it was suggested that three or four months would be sufficient. Mr. McLauchlan said the congregation had agreed before they came up to double Mr. Breach's salary, and make it £100, and if at the end of four months a further improvement in the state of the church was shown, there would bo no need for Mr. Breach to resign at all. They ww© very unwilling to lose Mr. Breach. Mr. Monro moved, " That the finding of the Presbytery be rescinded, and that commissioners be appointed to visit New Plymouth and report to next meeting of the Presbytery." Mr. McKinney seconded the motion, but a question arose as to the power or prudence of rescindinga resolution just passed, and Mr. Munro altered his resolution to the following effect. "That in view of the ad- ( ditional information given by Mr. Breach, the resolution be not carried into effect until such time as a commission visit New Plymouth and report to the Presbytery." This was seconded by Mr. McKinney and adopted, and Messrs. Fraser and Bruce were appointed commissioners. Captain Edwin telegraphed at 11.31 today — " Bad weather probably between S.E. and E, and N. Glass f.illing soon and sea heavy, and much rain within 12 hours." The s.n. Hawea crossed Manukau Bar at 10 a.m. to-day, is due ia the roadstead early to-morrow, and leaves for South during tho forenoon.