The Rev. Mr Gladstone

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3103, 29 September 1899, Page 7

The Rev. Mr Gladstone

SOME EXCITING BOENES. The Melbourne 'Age,' of 18th September, reports that an extraordinary scene occurred on Friday night at a lecture delivered by the Rev. G-eo. Gladstone, at Barmah township, on the Kiver Murry, near Naahalia. A tancy dress ball was recently held at this place, and Mr Gladstone advertised that he wo aid lecture on " The Sin and Shame of Dancing," with special reference to this particular ball. The school in which the lecture was given was packed, and immense crowds assembled outside, numbers having travelled considerable distances to hear the lecturer. From he outset great hostility was manifested towards Mr Gladstone. He was called a liar to his face for some of his assertions, and when he proceeded to make deprecatory remarks concerning the Gippsland yeople, he was promptly ordered to " shut up " and leave the people of that part of the colony alone. Meanwhile, a couple of fiddles were being played outside, and one individual preformed a step dance in the school porch. Ihe climax was reached, however, when Mr Gladstone asserted that the Irish were the cause of all the social evils with which the Englih-speaking people were cursed. He said that the chief characteristics of the Irish were drinking, dancingi and dynamiting. The uproar became deafening. Mr Gladstone appealed for "fair play " and was significantly informed by a brawny Irishman at the door that he would get it if he only came outside. The lecture concluded amidst the greatest confusion, and Mr Gladstone was severely hustled. Many of those present declared their intention to drop him into the River Murray, which is within 50 yards of the school. The lecturer escaped by a side door and through the scrub, and obtained a lift in a buggy belonging to a kind hearted farmer, who did not desire to see a clergyman maltreated. If Mr Gladstone had not thus effected his escape, he would unquestionably have been severely dealt with. Great indignation is expressed at the bitter attack made upon the Irish residents, of whom there are a large number in the Barmah district.