Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-03-30
MoBBrNG A VICAR.
SeandGlous Scenes, Fighting and Shout
ing i'm an English Church.


scandalous Scenes, Fighting and Shout
ing i'm an English Church.
A disgraceful scene has been witnessed
in England at the Church of Holy Trini-
ty, BOrdesley. Some days ago the Bishop
of the diocese served Mr.. Enraght with
formal inhibition from officiating at Holy
Trinity, and the living was offered to and
accepted by the Rev, IL. Allan Watts, Of
Sunderland. On Sunday morning the new
vicar underwent the Introductory process
of reading himself in. There was great
crowd in the churchyard, and the ADA
cent streets were filled with noisy MOB,
while the church was crowded. lmme-
diately the vicar made his appear
ance in the yestrv he was served
with protest by one of the ritual
list church wardens, Directing to his
presence on the ground that ne was
disposed to degrade the services ana upset
the regular machinery of the parish. On
entering the church he was greeted by a
storm of Kisses and loud cries OF TRAIT
Orw The members of the old choir TOOK
took up position at the end of the church
and were lOudest in the uprOarlous mani
festatiOns. When the vicar ascended the
pulpit he was pale and agitated, ana
amid the babel of sound his voice was
scarcely audible. He began by saying
that he hoped those members of his con-
gregatiOn who had attended the opening
service with the object of creating DIS
turbance would become quiet and peace
able wOEshipers. Derisiye laughter ana
unseemly shouts proceeded from various
parts of the building, and the supporters
of the vicar were so enraged that col
lisionsbetween the two parties seemed IN
evitablO.
The Chief of Police, who was present
with force of men, pushed his way
among the rival sections and entreated
them to observe something like decency
in place of worship. AS the vicar pro-
ceeded his voice was drowned by nts OF
coughing and other concerted Interrupt
ton, while some of the most systematic
disturlers evoked bursts of laughter by
shouting out a familiar piece of gag"
from a local pantOmime, which was fol-
lowed by counter cries of "Shut upw
and $50 To-" On finishing his formal
task of reading himselfin, the vicar alb
rubtly left the pulpit, and the proceedings
were brought TO a termination. The
mob then rushed outside to join their COM
panions in the churchyard, with the ap-
parent object of mobbing the vicar. The
police formed a compact phalanX to escort
the clergyman to place Of safety. The
vicar placed himself in the middle of his
body guard amid a tumult of groans and
shouts. Some of his supporters cheered
him and pressed forward to assist the
police In clearing the passage. The mob
followed the vicar and his body guard,
bowling and pushing them about till the
gentleman reached his residence. Here
another demonstration was made, and it
was deemed necessary to leave a number
of policemen outside the house to protect
it from damage.
The proceedings at the evening service
were even of more disgraceful character
than in the morning. The force of police
was doubled, but nevertheless several
free fights took place. Cat calls were
INDUCED in from the commencement, and
the vicar, on appearing in the pulpit, was
greeted with storm Of he seXerasII9 t
the ringleaders were turned out, and to
prevent a rush of rOughs the church doors
had to be closed. The wears sermon,
which was cOuched in very cOnciliatOry
language, was frequently interrupted with
most offensive remarks, such as 'Shut up,
traitorr $50 back to Sunderlandv'
''When is the harlequinade coming on?'
and "When is the farce coming OnW
Extra precautions had been taken to get
the vicar safely away. Forty or fifty
policemen were formed in line to afford
clear passage, but by an irresistible rush
the reverend gentleman was carried away
down the churchyard amid an indescrib-
able scene of excitement.