AN EXPLANATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 714, 6 September 1870, Page 4

AN EXPLANATION.

TO THE EDITOR (>F THE £T_R. Sir, — Will you kindly do me the favour to publish, in aa early issue of your valuable paper, the annexed statement of facts relating to the Baptist Tabernacle, Christchurch, and greatly oblige. Your obedient servant J. THORNTON. Christchurch, Sept. 5, 1870. It has been said that truth is sometimes strap ger than fiction. An example of this will be found in the following statement of facts. 'lhe history of the Baptist Tabernacle, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, about which bo much difficulty has arisen, and so much scandal circulated, is the following: — For several years previously to the erection of the church in Hereford street, I was the Minister of the Baptist Church in this city, the place of meeting being the chapel in Lichfield street. In the year 1870, a dispute arose, which ended in a separation. The separationists, myrelf among the number, met for consultation, and decided to form a > ew cause, and erect a new building. To carry out this resolution, a building committee was elected, consisting of twelve members. Mr John Tunmer was appointed treasurer, and I was requested to act ns secretary. A site was secured, plans and specifications obtained, and the erection of church and school-room let by contract. The building was ptoceeded with for a time satisfactorily, when suddenly the contractor absconded, leaving the matter in a state of confusion. The c-ramittee met to consider what steps should be takon, when it was resolved to employ labour and finish the building by day-work, one of the committee being appointed to superintend the operation. Collectors were appointed to solicit subscriptions, myself among the number. So long as the treasurer was in funds, things went on as well ns could be expected, but the progress was slow, and tho demand for wages hcivy. At length the funds in the hands of the treasurer were txhausted. and new subcriptions came in slowly. About this time the Treasurer requested me to take the paying of wages as they became due from time to time. I consented to do so, and for some time was able to keep the work going by dint of hard work, long hour*, and great personal sacrifices. At length my health- failed; fatigue, exposure, and mental anxiety brought on a complaint which the doctor declared to be incipient paralysis, and ordered perfect quiet nnd re*t. Further exertion was now impossible, for I had lost the use of my limbs. I requested the com mi' tee to have my account audited, which they did, my impression being that my work was finished. I was laid aside for some time, during which the efforts made by the com mittte to meet the emergency were few and feeble indeed. Weeks went on apace, and men brgan to clamour for their wages, and looked only to me. The work was in danger of comipg to a stand-still. In this extremity I begged and borrowed every shilling I could lay my hands upon, in the hope, as I was fust recovering, of being able to repay myself when strong enough to renew my efforts. 1 took the money which should h.ve paid my rent, grocer's^Lill, &c , to pay the carpenters' wages, and struggled on as best 1 could to get the work completed ; but all my efforts failed. Pron;i*es had been made which were never realised, and disappointment and disgrace stared us in the face. Under thete circumstances, it was suggested that I should go on a collecting tour, and do my best to raise an

amount sufficient to liquidate all the liabilities. I consented to go, and stated that 1 would go first to Otago and continue my efforts until I had succeeded, and would not return without the money if I could help i. A document was drawn up, authorising me to collect on thU behalf in Dunedin or ilsewhere, and was duly signed hy all the officer* of the church. Armed with this authority I went forh at the bidding of the church of which I was minister. At this time a balance was due to me hy the building committee amounting to £47 ISs 2d, and my stipend for many months previously had been almost nil. Before commencing my journey it was suggested that, as I had sacrificed so mu'-h, and the church were under such obligations to me, it was only fair that I should have some security for the future. In furtherance of this, a resolution was proposed acd carried in the church meeting empowering the deacons to have a legal document prepared and executed guaranteeing me the undisturbed possession of tbe pastorate of the said church, together with ail the emoluments arising therefrom, so long as my health and strength permitted me to discharge the duties thereof. A copy of this resolution was sent to the church's solicitor, with instructions to prepare a document ia harmony with its spirit. A deed of covenant was prepared by the solicitor, embodying these particulars, and was duly executed by the deacons on behalf of the church, and is now in my possession. In the spring of 1868, I left Christchurch for Dunedin on my mission. Finding that my success in Otago was only partial, I considered that I might have a larger field to work in, and so accomplish my object sooner in Australia than in New Zealand. I therefore resolved to proceed to Melbourne, and took my passage in tbe steamer, travelling in the steerage to prevent expenses. Before leaving Dunedin I wrote to the deacons, informing them of my movements. I began my canvass as soon as practicable after ray arrival in Victoria, and for a time wai very sanguine of success, and wrote to tell ray people so. After a while, however, 1 observed a shyness in the manner of some, and in others unmistakeable indications that suspicion existed in their minds that all was not right. At length it assumed a more seriou* form, and I was accused of being an impostor, on the ground that I was not the minister of the church I represented myself to be. lat once produced my authority to do the work I was doing, and so escaped. But succes was now out of the question. My expenses were heavy, and I was soon overwhelmed with difficulties. I wrots to the deacons and informed them of my troubles, but received no reply. After a time I tried again in another direction, but with the same result ; I saw that some hostile influence was at work, but was unable to tr»ce it to its source. 1 left Victoria and tried the other colonies, but was again met with suspicion and distrust, and bad to make my escupe, the documents in my possession alone preventing me from being arrested. At length I was presented with a description of my personal appearance, &c, which brought me to a stand ; a country paper describing me as an impostor, swindler, and the rest, concluded the notice by saying that the police were on my tracks. What all this could mean I was at a loss to understand. I resolved to find out. I' had written to the deacons as many as eeven or eight times, and had never received a single line in reply. I began to suspect something wrong in that direction ; I returned to Melbourne, and questioning my wife, I found that before she left Christchurch, which was only a few wetks after I had arrived in Melbourne, Mr Cricks, one of tbe deacons, had read something from the pulpit of the chuich respecting my dismissal, but she was not aware of any authority having been given him todo so, or that any communicttion had been sent to the churches in Australia to that effect. A new light rushed into my mind at once, and I resolved to proceed to Christchurch without delay, having just money enough, after paying my expenses, to procure a steerage passage in the steamer leaving next day. I was inclined at first to regard the matter bb only an idle report, but on my arrival in Christchurcb, discovered beyond ail doubt that I had indeed bten dismissed from my offico months before, and that the circumstance had Leen published in the Magazine, and other publications issued hy the denomination, and sent to every part of the colonies. lat once, on tbe 2nd June, wrote to the deacons, informing them of my return to Christchurch, and requested that they would inform me on what ground I had been dismissed from my offi c in violation of the covenant, at the same time intimating that my report was ready for examination. In a fitw dnys after this I was summoned by one of the workmen who had been employed on the building, but whose wages bad not been paid, for the amount due to him, but not having the means of meeting his claim was sent to prison, and paid the debt in Lyttelton Gaol. As coon as I was discharged I wrote once more to the deacons, remonstrating against the treatment I had received, and proposed to submit the matter to arbitration. 1 his was on the 21st July. I wrote again on the Bth August, renewing my jroposal to etttle the matter in dhpute (if any) by arbitration, instead of going to law, and ufierel to fort-go any money claim if they would do me the justice to have 'my a<:coui t examined. if it was proved that I had been guilty of any wrong let the fact be published, and let me be punished ; but, if otherwise, let my innocence be proclaimed, and give me an opP< rtuni yof an honourable resignation. A 1 hte cmtnuncations were treated with silent c< ntempt. With these facts before him, can any rensonab'.e person blame nic for seeking redress (if I were to do so) in a court of Jaw ? I think not. It U not the money part of the case which prompts me to press my claim in *ny wny. lam branded as an iruposter and s .viiidler. After nearly forty jears of earnest labour in the cliutch, with testimonial*! from

tbe various churches I have served, whieb will, I am persuaded, bear favourable comparison with those of any other minister in the colony, I am disgraced by the extraordinary action of those who had covenanted to uphold and sustain mo in the difficult but important work in which I was engaged. I am aware that two objections are raised : first, that I sent tho deacons no money ; and secondly, that I did not write. The first is true ; the second false. I »ent no money, for the strongest of all reasons — I had none to send ; and no one with the facts above stated before him will be surprised at that. It would bave been much more surprising if I had. But I wrote seven or eight times, sometimes (especially at first) hopefully, afterwards full of doubt, nnd almost in despair. Not one word of reply was ever received ; and since my return to Christchurch I have ascertained that no reply was ever sent. But the question is asked, what did you do wieh all the money you collected, for we have evidence to prove that you collected a great deal. I will answer this question by supposing a case. I suppose a commercial traveller wants to go from Christchurch to Dunedin overland, and to call at most of the stations, farms, and other places on the way. He hires a horse and trap at, say, 12s a day. As he wants to call at almost every house, it is necessary to have some one with him to take charge of the horse, &c, while he transacts his business. Many of the homesteads be bas to call at are miles out of the main road, therefore the journey occupies more time. After transacting his business in Dunedin, and resting his horae a day or two, he returns to Christchurch, after being absent, say, 14 days. Now, what has it cost hira ? 14 days' hire of conveyance at 12s, £8 8s ; 14 days' hotel charges for two travellers and horse, together with punts, toll-gates, &0., at least 25s a day, £17 lOs, making, at the lowest calculation, £25 18s for the journey. Now, I have been absent from Christchurcb, doing the work I was sent to accomplish to the best of my power, more than 500 days, travelliog from place to place, subject to these heavy expenses nearly all the time, every penny of which had to be paid out of the money collected, as I had no income from any other source. These facts speak for themselves. But I am asked why I did not confine myself to the centres of population, and so prevent so much travelling. Simply because in all the larger places where I expected to succeed the best there are Baptist Churches to whom the information had been sent tbat I was not the minister of the church I represe-ted myself to be. I had, therefore, no other course left but either to give up and sink under my misfortunes or confine my operations to outlying districts of the countries through which I passed, concealing my whereabouts as well as I could. Finding that I bad realised as much, after paying expenses, as would give me a steerage passage to Christchurcb, I regolved to come, and hare the matter examined and explained. The result is painful in tbe extreme. AH my efforts to obtain a hearing and a peaceable settlement have been met with silent contempt. lam sent to prison to pay a debt contracted in tbe erection of tho church, with which church I am told I have nothing to do. I left on my mission in good feeling with all my people, so far sb my knowledge went; I returned to find myself cast out like a bone that has been picked. Nothing could be more repugnant to my feelings than to be compelled to publish such a statement of fact as this. I have courted inquiry and investigation in vain. The most damaging misrepresentations have been circulated against me, and have been published in almost every paper in the colonies. I have asked the church to meet rae, examine my accounts, and let the report be published. If it be proved that I have done any wrong let me be punished, but if otherwise, give me an opportunity oi an honorable resignation : I cannot do more.