Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-02-11
EXTRAORDINARY SCENE In A
CHURCH.
a Lunaiic la a Pulpit.

A correspondent OF the London Daily
News writes to that journal January
20: On Sunday morning the service at
the lrvingite Cathedral, at Albury, near
Guildford-a building which was erected
at cost of 100000 by the late Mr..
Henry Drummond-was interrupted in
somewhat alarming manner. The SER
vice had proceeded to the reading Of the
prayers, when Captain Symes, mem
Der Of the congregation, was observed to
leave his seat. He at once assembled the
stairs and entered the pulpit. Closing
the door, he stretched forth his hands
and addressed the congregation. He
said he was commissioned by God to de-
liver message, which would not be
heard with favor. At this juncture sew
eral Of the church officials rushed up the
pulpit stairs, aud begged the gallaut
Captain TO desist. The request was met
by the Captain drawing a sword from
sheath, which was concealed under his
coat, and, waving it above his head, he
said that if any person interfered with
him in the delivery of his message, he
would run him through to the heart. A
precipitate retreat was made by the off
cials, and ih the meantime Captain
Symes proceeded TO address the congre-
CATION, warning them that il was his
duty to tell them that perdltion was their
fate if they continued in their present
faith. Mr.. Armstrong, barrisIer at
law, and an intimate friend Of Captain
Symes, left his seat, and running up the
pulpit stairs, begged him to core down
The Captain raised his sword, and
striking Mr.. Armstron across the
hand, nearly cut off one of his fingers.
The alarm caused by this extraordinary
conduct was very great. The ladies'
Of the congregation screamed and many
Of them tainted The male portion of
the congregation left their seats, and,
assembling in knots in the aisles of the
church, called TO Captain Symes to come
down. One gentleman, undeterred by
the injury inflicted on Mr. Armstrong,
ascended the pulpit stairs TO expostulate
with the Captain. The only reply he
received was the presentation at his head
OF loaded revolver Hearing the
"click of the weapon, he slid down the
stairs on his back and hid behind the
staircase. During this scene the Duke
and Duchess of Northumberland, who
are regular attendants OF the church,
lefts their seats. The Duchess tainted,
and was carried from the church by her
attendants Captain Symes had now
full possession OF the pulpit, and, strik-
ing the sword on the Bible, he proceeded
in loud tone to deliver what he termed
his message, amidst the screaming of
the females, and vociferous calls TO
come down of the males. The off.
cials of the church had by this time
armed themselves with long poles, and
with these they went into the pulpit and
after a tremendous scuffie, succeeded in
knocking the sword and revolver out OF
the hands Of the Captain. They then
laid hold of him and dragged him down
the pulpit stairs. As the Captain VIC
lently resisted, a rope was procured, and
with it he was bound hand and foot, AID
tied to one of the pillars of the building
He was subsequently given in charge to
the police, and on the following day was
brought before a magistrate. On the
certificates Of two surgeons, he was re
moved to lunstic asylum.