Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-07-29
zxreAcRD1NaRy SCENE IN A CHURCH.

| 4 most extraordinary and dramatic scene
was enacted at st. Mary's Church Sunday
morning. The disgraced rector, with brazen
cHrcntery ard despite threats of violence,
boldly donned the sacerdotal robes, and to
the outrage Of decency performed the sacred
| rites Of The Church.
The audience, one Of the largest ever in
| the church since Jardine came to it, and
| which included number of well-known
voung men OF the city, testified their dis
approval by stamping and derisve shouts
of laughter.
The crowd began to assemble long before
| the hour for service, and by IL o'clock the
church was filled TO its utmost capacity.
The only ladies present were half a dozen
female members of his flock. Two or three
policemen had been stationed in the rear OF
the church at the solicitation Of the rector,
and the vestry was present in fall force,
armed with revolvcr3, in anticipation of a
:lay Father JarGne had Il brace of re-
| voIyers strapped about his waist underneath
| his uriestlv gown, determined to resist to
The last any attempt to remove him by force.
| 4 short time before the service began he
| walked through the church as if TO deter
mine the pulse Of the audience. He had
scarcely disappeared in the sacristy before
u boy clad in white robe came out and
| burned incense in front of the altar. The
choristers, headed by Il small boy bearing
| aloit an immense gilt cross, appeared at
the south door Of the church, and, march
| ing slowly down the middle aisle. took
! their places in the chancel. a chant was
| then sung, ut the conclusion OF which jar
dine came out of the sacristy clad in priestiy
vestments and proceeded with the service.
| At his appearance Mr.. Joseph Sherlock, who
was in the rear Of the church, was heard to
exclam audibly: 1.-THE devil is now bowling
before the altar" The audience remained
perfectly quit until in repeating the deca.
| lorue, he read the seventh commandment,
''ihou shalt not commit adultery" when he
was greeted with storm of derisive laugh
| ter, 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 Il measure restored he
proceeded in q firm voice. and with a pecu
| liar emphasis TO read Thou shalt not bear
false witness" This did not have the elect
| he intended, and was received with hisses.
| The commandment, Thou shalt not coVet
thy neighbours wife, called forth thunder
Gus applause, which exceeded in violence
the demonstration which had preceded it.
| The rest Of the service passed oil Withoutln-
tcrruption until he began preaching
Ali through the sermon the speaker was
| constantly interrupted by stamping and
| shouting, the exhibitions Of disapproval be-
| ing iilc most pronounced where he denounc-
ed ;hosc who believed him guilty as igno-
r;.nt, nrcjudiced louts and when he posed
rs Il martyr in 2 good cause.
Ia the evening there was similar dis
turbarc,.. After the benediction was pro-
nounccd the crowd still loisered around the
churci Somebody cried out, "He's il the
sacr:,ly," and the people rushed to the
sacred spot, Hundreds of men gathered
there, curiousIy gazing at the modest
building The police were in and among
them, but they found no intmation Of vio-
| lecce.
As soon as Jardine had dotled his robes
he reapIeared III 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 Fig nth street entrance,
rendering e9ress III that direction impossl-
BILE. Jardine appeared very much disturb
ed by The clamor OF the crowd, and, seating
himself on the front pew, drew two i'm
mense navy revolvers from beneath his
gown and placed them on his lap. His YES
lrymen who surrounded him would occa-
sionally shift the position of their revolvers,
which were concealed in their pockets. The
priest finally put up his revolvers and the
police escorted him from the church.-kdn-
SaS City Nc'rs, 20th.
| - =
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, JULY A, lSS3,