The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-07-20 00:00:00

DISTURBING A CONGREGATION.

At the Westminster Folicemourt,, in Loudon, John !Mime,
a respectably-attired young man; has been *barged with
annoying the congregation a a sect knoan as tile Bible
Christians, who hold their meetings in a certified place of
wonhip
. .

Mr. J. Haase, of Marlborough-terrace, Battersea,
one of the managers of the chapel, sail on Sunday
afternoon the prisoner was in the chapel, lau4hing and
stamping his feet. He was asked to desist, but would
not, and when requested to leave the chapel he made
use of a very filthy expression. At length a constable
was sent for and the prisoner given into custody. The
service was going on at the time.
Defendant said he went to the chapel, and the people
there were laughing at the " Shakers," who were
dancing, falling about, kissing each other, and con-
ducting themselves in a most extraordinary way. Ile
never stamped his feet, and denied using the expression
imputed to him.
The Magistrate asked Mr. Haase what the defendant
was talking about.
. . . . .

. „
Mr. Haase Paid the defendant was referring to the
pro,ress of the service. He could not here explain the
tenets of the sect, but they were called Bible Chriatians,
and met in a place certified for public worship. The
dancing spoken of was the operation of the spirit.
When the people felt the influence of the Hi fly Ghost,
they danced fur jiiy ; sometimes they fell down, but
that was very rare ; it was the manifestation of the
spirit. On the day of Pentecost the Holy Ghost
descended in the places Where the 'lliaeiples were
sitting.
Mr. Finnity, and another witness. Paid that the de-
fendant did and said nothing; Mr. Flunky added that
there was dancing, men and women hugging and
kissing each other, and conducting themselves in a
very indelicate way. All the people in the building
laughed. He asked the preacher, who was a
female, who would take her position if she died.
She answered she had been dead seven yeas!. He asked
her whether King David danced before the ark,
but got no reply. He asked her if the Spirit ever
moved her to dance, and she replied that she frequently
got up and danced in the middle of the night. He
hail danced there as well as the others, and when they
fell about, danced, and embraced one another, every-
body would laugh. He did not believe in the tenets
of the sect, and was not one of the congregation.
The Magistrate said he was afraid, if people adopted
a form of worships° very unusual and new to the present
day, they must expect a congregation of the class that
evidently assembled; but at the 831110 time this was a
certified place of worship, and those whoobjected to it
should not go there and disturb people who thought they
were doing right. He hoped there was some mistake
on the pert of the complainant and his witness about
the expression imputed to the defendant; if that had
been proved, he should have severely punishci him.
However, according to his own account, the defendant
had laughed, and though his mirth might have been pro
eked, he should not have annoyed the congregation
while Divine service was going on. He should iequire
the defendant to rind one surety in Li to keep the peace
for three months.
The surety was at once entered into.