The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-06 00:00:00

DISGRACEFUL PROCEEDINGS.

On Sunday last a most disgraceful disturbance
took place at Christchurch cemetery, West Hartle-
pool, arising out of the existing unpleasantness be-
tween the Rev. J. H. Burges, incumbent, and
Mr. R. W. Jackson. The account we have re-
ceived of the matter is as follows :—A funeral was
to take place in the grounds of the cemetery on
Sunday last, and, as incumbent of West Hartle.
pool, and chaplain of the cemetery, Mr. Burges
of course considered it his duty to officiate. He went
to the cemetery, therefore, for the purpose of exer-
cisinr, his proper ministerial office, and just before
reaching the piace of burial he saw Mr. Jackson,
and his son Mr. W. Jackson, hastening to the spot.
On arriving at the cemetery Mr. Burges went into
. the keeper's lodge, where he usually robed, to put
on his surplice, and whilst there turned to speak to
a member of the congregation who he supposed was
present in the apartment, having accompanied him
-to the cemetery. To his great surprise, however,
he found that the door of the lodge was secured,
both Mr. R. W. Jackson and his son resting with
their backs against it, evidently with the intention
of preventing him getting out. He attempted to
force his way out, but was pushed violently back
three or four times by Messrs. Jackson, the elder
of whom had in his hand a letter which he desired
Mr. Burges to read. The rev. gentleman said he
would read nothing whilst ho was a prisoner, but
that if permitted to go out he would both read the
letter and return an answer. He again attempted
to effect his exit from the apartment, but was
again dashed back by Messrs. Jackson, and he
then went to the window and called " Police."
The inspector of police, who was at the cemetery,
went to the window, and was asked by Mr. Burges
to release him, but he said he could not interfere.
Mr. Barges then asked him to send to Mr. Robin-
son or to Mr. Dixon, magistrates. Mr. W. Jack-
son said Mr. Dixon had no jurisdiction in the
matter. Mr. Barges said Mr. Dixon had jurisdic-
tion, as he was a county magistrate. He was de-
tained in the lodge about 20 minutes, when the
people, becoming excited, appeared determined to
take out the window. They expressed themselves
very indignant at his detention. He desired that
they would not take out the window, and Mr.
Jackson fearing that probably some disturbance
would arise told Mr. Barges if he would take off
his surplice, he would let him out. Mr. Barges re-
plied that Mr. Jackson had no right to (let* him,
and that he would not take off the surplice, as lie
had put it on for the performance of the usual se:-
vice of the church. Shortly afterwards, the
Rev. -- Ridley, vicar of Stantofa, came up, and
then Mr. Jackson, handing him a surplice out of
the lodge, desired him to put it on and do duty.
Mr. Barges again attempted to get out, but was
again pushed back. In a few minutes afterwards
Mr. Ridley knocked at the door of the lodge for
admission. He said Mr. Barges was not the law-
ful person to do day. Mr. Burges said, " Mr.
Ridley, you received a letter from the bishop,
telling you not to interfere with me in the dis-
charge of my duty ; you are, therefore, disobeying
the orders of your diocesan." Mr. Ridley admit-
ted having received the order mentioned by Mr.
Burges, but said he was only desired not to inter-
fere until the bishop had given his d. cision, and
that since then the bishop had decided that he
would not interfere. " Then," said Mr. Buries,
"you are tenfold more wrong in interfering."
Rather than that a scene should take place at the
grave of the deceased whom he was about to bury,
r. Burges told Mr. Ridley he would give place,
and that he might bury the child, only he did not
resign his right to do the duty, and should protest
in presence of the people. He was then let out of
the lodge, and when outside the door, protested.
Mr. Ridley and Mr. Jackson entered the ceme-
tery, and Mr. Ridley got into the reading desk,
Mr. Jackson standing near him. The father of the
child thereupon took up the coffin and left the
church with it, greatly excited, and declaring that
a knife should be put through his heart before he
Allowed. Mr. Ridley to do duty over his child. He
said he would allow no one but Mr. Burges to per-
form the service. Mr. Burges having, after he
had made the protest against Mr. Ridley's doing
the duty, taken off the surplice, was about turning
away from the cemetery, when Mr. Jackson called
out to him to return and read the service, and Mr.
Ridley said, " Mr. Burges, I will give you leave
to read the service." Mr. Burges said he would
not do so on Mr. Ridley's permission ; if lie under-
took the duty, he should do so as his own, when
Mr. Ridley hurried him into the room, and told
him to take the surplice he (Mr. Ridley) then had,
and also the book. Mr. Jackson at the same time
called out to the people, evidently much alarmed,
that Mr. Barges was coming, and would be out in
a minute. The sexton of the church interfered,
and brought Mr. Burges his own surplice, in which
the rev, gentleman then went to the grave and
buried the child. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Ridley
turned away from the cemetery, the people, we are
told, hooting them a considerable distance. Surely
it is high time, for the credit of the Church, as
well as of the parties immediately interested in this
disgraceful and unpleasant dispute, that some steps
should be taken to terminate the strife which has
been too long and too ardently pushed forward in
Hartlepool.