SCENES IN CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 137, 10 June 1911, Page 17

SCENES IN CHURCH.

WICKLIFFE PREACHERS OUT IN FORCE. I SCUFFLE AT THE. AIiTAUr I A disturbance followed a protest made on •Gsiod Friday by a band of Wickliffe preach-' ers. headed by Mr. J. A. Konsit, at HolyTrinity Church, Uoxton, London. During the height of the disturbance, it is stated, a wooden cross was broken. The polb-e were summoned, and shortly after their' arrival order was restored. j The service was conducted by the Rev.! 11. \V. G. Kenrick. the vicar, and the trouble In the church occurred during "the veneration of the Cross." The senior curate, the Rev. W. Dolman, pulled aside a violet veil shrouding a cross and uttered the words, "The wood of the Cross." Mem- i bers of the choir passed from their stalls to the front of the altar and were apparently. it is said, in the act of kissing or about to kiss the unveiled cross when Mr. Kenslt,| leaving the pew from which he had been ' watching the ceremony, walked to the i front of the chanrel and exclaimed In a loud voice, "This idolatry in the Church of Enadand must cease." | The whole congregation rose, and many' gathered round the YVieklifTe prra-ehers. who had congregated in a band. The chancel! gates were hastily closed. The adult; choristers quitted their slalls and barred the way to the altar. In the central aL«le ; of the church, it is stated, blows were ex-j changed. Cries of "Why don't you leave 1 ns alone?" *T protest against this awful idolatry in the Church of England." "Shame," "Sacrilege," and "Leave thej building" were heard. A chorister later stated to a Press representative that he was seized by the throat, and several choristers had their surplices torn. A priest made an ineffectual effort to get possession of the cross, but was carried off his feet in the scrimmage and fell to the gTound. Almost at the same moment, be said, the cross was snatched from its socket on the altar and in the medley became broken. The organist throughout the proceedings continued to play. On the arrival of a sergeant and a number of constables the demonstrators left, after further protests. MR. KBNSIT'S STATEMENT. To a Press representative Mr. Kensit made the following statement:—" For about two years I have been corresponding with the Bishop of London over this church and a number of others. I have reported this service as having -taken place on a Good Friday. I made up my mind that the service should not be allowed this year without a protest. 1 asked a number of my friends to -be present at the church and to support mc in any protest I felt called upon to make. During the strictly legal part of the service we made no signs of protest .of any kind. But when I saw the choir fall down to kiss the "image which the priest had in his hand. I felt it was time to make a strong protest. Accordingly I left my seat, advanced -towards the front of the church in front of the chancel steps, and said: 'It is time this idolatry in the Church of England ceased.' The words -were hardly out of my month when there was a general rush at mc from the choir, and my [friends closed round mc from behind. A ', general scene of disorder followed. Event , ually the gates of the chancel were closed, and I was wedged in a position close against , them and was pushed on to a chair. I then said: 'I call upon the Lord Bishop of London to stop this service in this and every- other church where it is held.' Mr. Kenrick. the vicar, -was close to mc on 1 the chancel side of the screen. I said tc * him: 'Mr. Kenrick, you know that this te " an illegal service,' to which the vicar re 1 plied, 'What law am I breakingT 1 "Someone got into the chancel and seized c the crucifix, and a struggle ensued between - the choirmen and members of the Kensil party. In the general struggle the cruci fix was broken into pieces. It is about 1 2ft. 6in. long. Someone blew a poUc. whistle in the chnrch, and the police arrivet on The scone, and advanced to the fron: -where I -was standing, and a constable cam. s forward and said to the vicar: 'nere an the police officers. Ts there any charge? t, The vicar replied: 'I do not want to mak. ~ any charge at all. All I want is that the: j. be removed." After that I came out. c was not struck In any way. One of ou 1 preachers lost his silk hat, onp had his coa y lapel torn off. and I saw one of our sup y porters pressed over .the back of a pew. In g side the chancel the ohfltirmen resisted tt