Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-02-22
THE RELIGIOUS DISSENSIONS IN ST.
GkORGE'S.lN.THE.E
From the London Times

Yesterday evening there was frightful riot,
resulting IN the destruction of much of the
church property in the parish church of st.
George-ln- the-Esst. Unhappily, notorious as
this parish has become in consequence Of the
religious differences which prevail and serious
"a have been the disturbances which have
taken place, everything which has previously
occurred sinks into insignifcance when COM
pared with the terrible scene which was wit
messed there last nj ght. The morning service,
at which the Rev. Bryan King, the rector,
preached, was comparatively tranquil, the
afternoon htany service was good deal inter-
rupted, but at the evening service there was
such scene as would be impossible for any
language adequately to describe The con-
duct OF the congregation was, to use the only
phrase at all applicable to it, .'deyilish." By
o'clock Cannon street. in which the front
gates of the church are situate, was filled with
people who were anxious to obtain admission
into the church, and loud and imperative de-
mands were made that the gates should be
thrown open.
Awed, however, to some extent by the pres
ence of strong body Of police, there was no
actual riot outside, but at half past the public
were admitted into the church. and then COM
menced proceedings of which it will be our
painful duty to give some description Even
ing service at st. Georges commences at
clock, and at quarter of an hour before that
time the church was densely packed, there
being at least 5000 persons present, of whom
about 1000 were boys, who had come with the
determination of making a row, and who took
possession of the galleries. Previous proceed
ings at this church have been compared to
theatre on the first night of pantomme but
no theatre ever contained such an audience as
that which assembled at ST. Georges last
night There was cat-calling, cock-crowing,
yelling, bowling, kissing, shouting of the most
violent kind, snatches of popular songs were
sung. loud cries of Bravo" and Order came
from every part of the church, caps, hats and
bOnnets were thrown from the galleries into
the body of the church and back again, while
pew doors were slammed, lucifer matches
struck, and attempts moro than once made to
put out the gas. In this there was a regular
organization, but it was not successful although
various .artS Of the church were at times in
darkness. During all this time the mob acted
without check of any kind, for, although there
was strong force outside, not one policeman
was allowed to enter the church.
cry was raised for the demolition of the
altar, which was elabOrately decorated, and
the threat would have been carried out had
not the altar-gate been gallantly defended by
Mr. Stutfeld, son Of the county magistrate
OF that name, and one of Mr.. King 5 choristers
over the apSe, or quasl altar, is a beautiful
candelabrum, and this at once become an OBJ
Ject OF attack. HassOcks were collected from
the pews and hurled at it. Many of them
struck it, and every moment it was expected
that 1t would come down. AS it was, it was
seriously damaged. Another object of attack
was the large cross over the altar, at which
hssSOcks and cushions were thrown from the
gallery. At this time there was fighting,
shouting and singing in all parts of the church
with no one in authority to suppress it. The
scene at this time was perfectly frightful, and
would in all probability have ended in blood
shed, had not Inspector Alison, upon his own
authority, entered the church with a dozen
policemen, and ordered it to be cleared. Turn
cd out of the church tho rioters suggested an
attack on Mr.. Kings house, and many persons
who went there were very roughly han
died. In the course of an hour INSPECTOR Ali
son had got the whole of the disorderly crowd
into the street. A considerable quantity of
furniture has been destroyed, the cushions in
the gallery were torn up, Bibles and prayer
books thrown about in all directions and some
OF the altar decorations have been injured