Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-07-25
TIfRILLfNG SCENE IN CHURCH.


"a friest Preaching witha Brace of Revolvcrs
strapped to His Waist.
From the Kansas City Times July 30
A most extraordinary and dramatic scene
was enacted at st. Mary's church yesterday
morning. The disgraced rector, with brazen
eflrontery had despite threats of violence
bodily donned the sacerdotal robes, and to
the outrage of decency performed the sacred
rites of the church.
The audience, one OF tho largest ever i'm the
church since Jardine came 10 il and which
included a number OF well-knuyn young
men Of the city, testified their disapproval
by stamping and derisiye shouts OF laugh
ter. --.-.s s-s- - 49,
TAe erova 1egan 10 assemble long before
the hour for service, and by II o'clock the
Fsnrss yas IN tcits utmost capacity The
only ladies' present were a half d1se.s fc.saie
members of his flock. Twoor three police
men had been stationed i'm the rear of the
church at the solicitation of the rector, and
lie vestry were present in full force, armed
WIZ, reyolvers, in anticipation ut nSJ'
Father r-.,,.tIe had brace of revOlvers
strapped about his waist underneath his
priestly gown, determined to resist to the
last any attempt to remove him by force.
a short time before the service began he
walked through the church as If to determine
disappeared in the sacristy before boy clad
in a white robe came out and burned incense
i'm front of the altar. The choristers, headed
by a small boy bearing aloft an immense gilt
cross, appeared at the south door of the church
and marching slowly down the middle aisle
took their places in the chancel. A chant was
then sung, at the conclusion of which Jardinc
came out of the sacrlsity clad i'm priestly vest
ments and proceeded with the service. At
his appearance Mr.. Josheph Sherlock who
was in the rear of the church, was heard to
exclaim audibly, "The devil is now bowing
before the altar" The audience remained
perfectly quiet until in repeating the
decalogue he read the seventh command
ment, .'Thou shall not commit adultery"
when he was greeted with storm of dersive
laughter, stamping of feet, and cries OF
"rats" "rats."
He was evidently prepared for this out
burst which lasted several minutes, as the
only effect il produced on him was to cause
the lines about his mouth to deepen and his
naturally pale face to grow paler. AS soon
as quiet had been in a measure restored he
proceeded in firm voice and with a pecu-
liar emphasis to read 'Thou shalt not bear
false Witness" This did not have the effect
he intended and was received with hisses.
The commandment, ''Thou shalt not covet
thy neighbours wife," called forth thunder
Gus applause, which exceeded i'm violence the
demonstration which had preceded it. The
rest of the service passed off without inter-
ruptiOn until he began preaching.
All through the sermon the speaker was
constantly interrupted by stamping and
shouting, the exhibitions of disapprovai
being the most pronounced where he de-
nounced those who believed him guilty as
ignorant, prejudiced louts, and when he
posed as Il martyr in a good cause.
Thus ended one of the most extraOrdi-
nary scenes ever witnessed in any church.
1t was an exhibition of the indignation which
exists in Kansas City against the polluted
priest-an indignation which may be differ
emily expressed by other people, but which
is so deeply felt that il cannot be restrained.
A remarkable incident of yesterdays demon
stration Ia the fact that although several
policemen were present at the solicitation Of
Jardine, not a single effort was made by
them to prevent the occurrence Of "a disturb
ance which in any other church would have
subjected the participants TO speedy arrest
and prosecution.
In the evening there was a similar disturb
ancs. After the benedicton was pronounced
the crowd still lOitercd around the church.
Somebody cried out, "lie's in the spank
risty," and the people rushed to the sacred
spot. Hundreds of men gathered there,
curiously gazing at the modest building.
The police were in and among them, but
they found no intimation of violence.
As soon as Jardine had dotted his robes he
reappeared in the church Immediately in
front of the chancel, where several of his
lady friends awaited him. The crowd, which
now numbered FULLY 1000 people, catching
sight of him through the windows, swarmed
around the Eighth street entrance, render
ing egress in that direction impossible. Jar
dine appeared very much disturbed by the
camor of the crowd, and, seating himself on
the front pew, drew two immense navy re-
volvers from beneath his gown and placed
them on his lap. His Vestrymen who sur
rounded him would occasionally shift the
position of their reyolyers, which were con-
cealed in their pockets. The priest finally
put up his reyolyers, and the police escorted
him from the church.