'Fire Linked With Black Magic'

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30769, 5 June 1965, Page 1

'Fire Linked With Black Magic'

(N Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 4. Ministers believe that the destruction of an Otara church by fire early today may be linked with indications that it was used as a headquarters for a group practising black magic. It is thought that the! church —St. John’s in East, Tamaki road—could have been used for some black magic rites about midnight; on Thursday shortly before the fire broke out. However,] police hold the view that some mentally deranged or perverted person may have been venting his feelings against religion by desecrating the church. On two occasions since Easter signs of persons practisine witchcraft have been fount in the church Bib'es have been burned, circles drawn, hangings burned and names written in blood After the church authorities reported this to the police a

watch was kept on it every night. According to Detective Sergeant J. W. Tootill, in charge of the investigation, it was just “bad luck” that the watching police patrol was called away on Thursday night. “It had been very closely patrolled nightly,” he said. The police had been called to another matter when the alarm was given shortly after 1 a.m. today. The fire is thought to have started about ] midnight, probably in the area of a vault where early members of the family who ] built the church are interred The church was reduced to a shell of stones and “just a .heap of ash.” ! Detective Sergeant Tootill I said the church could not ] have caught fire by accident The Rev. A. Jolly, a Methodist minister at Papatoetoe, said there was strong evidence of black masses and black magic having been performed in the church. It would appear that something had happened on Thursday ] night which resulted in the Are Mr Jolly said the church was an Anglican-Methodist joint-ownership building

originally constructed as a private family chapel on a farm estate. It was one of the smallest in New Zealand, seating 60, and had recently been renovated. It was in excellent condition before the fire. The last service in the church was held last Sunday afternoon.

[ The resident priest in Otara, the Rev. Norman French, said acts of vandalism had begun on Good Fri- | day when certain objects were found to have been burned on i the altar, damaging the altar ] cloth. These included black candles and sulphur. The church had been entered through a window. I A month later the church ■was entered by breaking the 'same window and it was found that pews had been moved back and a black circle painted on the floor. The words “Golden Dawn” were painted in black inside the circle. A bible and a cross had been placed in the centre, covered with oil and set on fire. Mr French said lie did not believe it was sheer vandalism as the damage had been much too orderly. It seemed to him to be a form of unsophisticated black magic. It was possible a black mass had taken place, but there was no conclusive evidence. On the second occasion four or five beer bottles and a vodka bottle were left behind. Mr French said he was certain the fire was the result of ‘Their work.” i