Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-03-10
Fri. htful Riot in a London Church.

From the London Times, Feb.
Yesterday there were three services as usual
at 81. Georges Church. the last of them-that
at o'clock-being of so frightful character,
that none who had the misfortune to be pres
ent will ever forget it. The rioting was most
alarming The violent conduct of the rioters
completely eclipsed their efforts on the preyi-
Gus Sunday, the circumstances connected with
which have been brought under the notice of
both Houses of Parliament
BY o'clock the people began to assemble
for the evening service. Cannon street road
was almost impossible, and when the gates
were thrown open there were at least ). 600
people anxiOusly waiting for admission. The
rush was terrific, but no accidents of any kind
are reported, owing to the admirable tact with
which the police, who were stationed outside
managed the mode of admission. There was
no refusal to suspected" or other persons
and all who presented themselves were nj.
lowed to go in, until the church was so dense
ly packed that it could hold no more. No
sooner had the congregation assembled than
bowling and yelling of the most audacious
Kind was commenced, and was continu ed with.
out cessation until the priests and choristers
walked In procession to their accustomed
places in front of the altar At this time a
perfect storm broke out, cries of fire were
raised, In order to cause dismay, and some of
the gas lights were simultaneously turned out
MIR. Churchwarden Thompson. upon whom
the whole of the constabulary arrangements
inside the church devolved obtained the as
sistance of some Of his friends, and forcibly
elected some of the ri2gleaders among the ri
"ters from the church, leaving them, when
tey were thrust outside, to be dealt with by
the police. AT the time for reading the les
sons, the Rev f. Stuart, NJ. A, incumbent of
st. Mary Magdalen, ascended the desk, and
was greeted with terrific shout of 'sOff, of, -
''PuSeyite, and mo Popery" At this mo-
ment, body of men and boys in the galleries
began singing Rule Britannia" the chorus
"BrltanS never will be slaves" being taken
up with tremendous energy by persons in
other parts of the church. Others mimicked
tae reader, whose style is certainly peculiar
and the whole congregation was in a state of
the highest possible excitement. Lucifer
matches were struck, orange peel thrown
about IN every direction and there is reason
to Know that fireworks were introduced into
the church, and would doubtless have been
used, had 1T not been for the energetic and de-
termlned conduct of the churchwarden
Mr. +. Il. Lee was again the preacher. and
when he assembled the pulpit he was assailed
oy perfect hurricane of vituperation and
abuse. The most filthy epithets to which the
human tongue could give expression were
hurled at him, in addition to the more polite
recommendations to $50 down" and BE
on :. No POpery," and s. Go to Rome" He
gave for his text the words of the prophet
Isaiah, =. .Wstchman, what of the NIGHT p, hnt
nothing could be heard by those who were
within half dozen yards of the pulpit. The
people who had INDUCED in singing "Rule
britannia now struck up with great yehe-
mence :: We won't go home till morning, y
upon winch Mr. Lee stopped, and regarded
them win an expression of unmistakable dis
gust. After heightened pause he asked
whether he should go on and received loud
shout In the negative. He exclaimed II will -
and then proceeded to defend the conduct of
Mr. Bryan King. the rector; said he had made
concessions which had only made the mob
worse; denounced the conduct Of the people
before him as sacreligiOus; said that those who
made these disturbances were unworthy of the
name OF Englishmen, and argued that Mr..
hing was acting cOnstitutiOnalIy and legally
In the course he had adopted The teuper of
the mob, which was the term more than
once used by MIR. Lee when speaking of his
auditory, did not at all improve the temner Of
the people, and they Kissed and yelled, shouted
slammed doors, and so efcctually drowned the
preachers voice, that, though he spoke for
forty minutes, not another word he uttered
was heard.
At the close of the sermon not fifty people
lett church, and there was every desire to re-
peat the scene which was enacted on the pre
vlous Sunday evening, of pelting the alta,
with any articles which could be convenient,
hurled against it; but in this resDect Mr.
Churchwarden Thompson was too much for tn,
Iio'eIS' ihaSmuch as prior to the opening of the
churcn lot the evening service he had caused
every hassock, cushion, book or other article
winch could have been used in this manner tc
DC removed Being unable to amuse them.
serves In this way, the people sang songs
some of them the Doxology; while fights We're
going on IN every part of the building The
Dannisters OF the reading desk were broken
down, but the altar fortunately escaped.
When this state of things had continued
about halt an hour after the close of the ser.
vice, Mr.. Inspector Alison entered the church
with body of police, and began the process Of
clearing out-an operation which lasted nearly
an hour
MI Dandy Seymour, NJ. ?. who, in reference
10 'he rlotOus proceedings at ST. Georges, has
10 amend the act of the session of the Sd and
ttn years OF her present Majesty, chap S6, for
better enforcing church discipline was present
at last night s service, and will therefore be
aoie to relate his own experience to the House
In his bill