CHURCH DISPUTE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 288, 6 December 1933, Page 8

CHURCH DISPUTE

OFFICERS AND MINISTER [ST. ANDREW'S, PALMERSTON GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETS. i Pur Press j WHLLINGTUN, Dec. J. Au imbroglio involving a minister, the Rev. G. 1. Brown, and the Oilice bearers ami congregation of St. j Andrew’s Church, L'almerstou North, is I being reviewed at present by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, which is meeting iu Wellington specially to consider :i he trouble. The meeting commenced [ to-night and adjourned until to-inorrow. , Its decision will have the effect of de--1 ciding whether the Rev. Brown is to ' remain a minister of the church. The notice culling tho meeting states (hut the business is to hear and determine a diss, nt and complaint by the Rev. G. T. Brown against the resolution of the Wanganui Presbytery dissolving the pastoral tie at St. Andrew’s Church, Palmerston North. The Assembly decided to meet “in private,” but members ol: the public were not ejected, it being requested only that they be discreet iu describing what they might hear of tho meeting. Tonight was occupied by the reading of documents which formulated the charges against the Rev. Brown who gave his written replies to them and described the proceedings of the various church bodies which have led up to the present position, and explained the various persons’ points of view. These dealt with events as far back as 1925, but. the happenings bearing most closely on the position have occurred since April this year. The dissent has revolved mostly around the minister’s motor-car ali lowance, and the culmination was a j series of charges based on Mr. Brown’s I conduct at various meetings, and laid Iby about 14 office-bearers, who hold the I view that be is not fit to retain his position.