THE PRESBYTERIAN SCANDAL AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 98, 29 July 1882, Page 307

THE PRESBYTERIAN SCANDAL AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

Presbyterian Church- affairs at New Plymouth hare been attracting some attention of late, and our correspondent has taken the trouble to post himself up in the various phases of the case. MiBreach has given a course of lectures since he returned from Auckland, the titles of which were, " The Lady Bird Inherited and Peeked Upon," " The Wild Bird's Nest of Addled Eggs Lesson," ■" Satan's Religious Son Described - and" Challenged," titles sufficiently quaint and original, to say the least of them. They consisted largely of accusations against the persons who had signed the petition praying that the clergyman should be removed. He charged one of them with cheating the public with light weights, and others he handled very severly, saying they should be hooted out of New Plymouth. The climax of his virtuous indignation was reached on a recent Sunday evening in a lecture which was advertised . under the title of " Lionish Churchism Jehovah Abhors." The whole lecture was pointed at the petitioners. He said there were persons iin New Plymouth who could be guilty of murder, for they would take the bread out of a man's imouth and reduce him to starvation, and that was murder. He also spoke of slimy snakes crawling •on the ground, wretches who persecuted others and were opposed to, God's church, yet calling 'themselves tbe church. " Follow these persons," said he, "into the houses of ill-fame and the .gambling table and see what kind of characters they are." Suddenly he stopped in his discourse -and pointed to a gentleman in the audience (one •of the petitioners) and said " Look at that man ! Last week I heard that a person in New Plymouth had set a price on my head of £10. He said he would sell' me for £10 and get rid of me. Look at that individual there sitting by the curtain ! (pointing with his finger). He knows all about it. He can tell you who said ifc."

This created quite a sensation among the audience, who, one and all, turned round to see the person who. had been pointed at with the finger of scorn. The person addressed in such uncomplimentary terms appeared as if he were going to stand up and reply to the charge, but he quickly ■changed his demeanour by an effort, and remained in his seat, to all appearances quite composed. The rev. gentleman thought he luid •scored a victory, and proceeded to sum up in these words, " Yefc, God be praised, there is infinite mercy, and even such an individual as that •can be saved." This was too much for some of the audience, who began to show signs of uneasiness as if they would like to retire. To the relief of " that individual " and most of those {persons present, the lecture came to a close, and after singing a short hymn the benediction was pronounced, and the congregation dispersed. Our ■correspondent says he has given a true unvarnished account of what actually took place, and it can be verified by a dozen witnesses if necessary. The effect has been that several persons have left the church. It is not likely that the person who was singled out in that fashion will enter the church of his forefathers again. He emphatically denies that he made any such statement as that imputed to him, and says that the first he heard of it was from the pulpit. When the commissioners come down to New Plymouth to investigate the affairs of the church they are likely to have a state of affairs laid before them iby the petitioners that will create some surprise.