RIOT ACT READ Scandal Surrounded Builder Of Hall

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 2

RIOT ACT READ Scandal Surrounded Builder Of Hall

The Latimer Hali, a landmark in Christchurch since 1892, will shortly fall beneath the bulldozers of the demolition men to make way for a car park and later a new Young Women’s Christian Association hostel.

The news will be received with regret by numerous married couples who first met at a Saturday night dance at the Latimer. These dances were started by Mr F. J. Rydings and his nephew, Mr C. G. Rydings, in 1945 and it soon became customary for Christchurch youth to regard Saturday night as Latimer night.

Now the last dance has been held and the owners of the hall, the Y.W.C.A., are dismantling interior fixtures for sale, and preparing the hall for demolition.

For more than 60 years, the Latimer Hall has been recognised as “respectable.” Today’s citizens, however, have forgotten that its construction as the Temple of Truth was surrounded by scandal, and its builder, Arthur Bentley Worthington, was the cause of the first and only reading of the Riot Act in Christchurch.

Worthington arrived in Christchurch with his “wife” and “two children” in January, 1890, from the United States. His first action was to advertise “a most important lecture to all students ot religion, science and metaphysics.”

His purpose was to introduce a new doctrine of truth which elicited the truth and discarded the error from all other systems. He was described as “an impressive speaker, tall, with a mop of grey nearly white hair, compelling grey-blue eyes, a soft voice, graceful bearing and a persuasive manner, appealing greatly to women.”

Criminal Record Many people, both men and women fell under his spell. What they did not know was that the new “Messiah” was a con-man and adventurer with a long criminal record, who had left a trail of victims across the United States His real name was Samuel Oakley Crawford. Ordained as a Methodist minister at the age of 20, he was not long in forsaking the ministry for the more congenial business of obtaining money by false pretences. The law caught up with him and he was sentenced to three years’ gaol. On his release, Worthington continued his fraudulent ways, posing as a lawyer (he did study law at one stage), a banker, political orator, real estate agent, spiritualist and mining speculator.

In the midst of these activities he found time to marry eight wives, the last of whom he robbed of 12,000 dollars to elope with Mrs J. J. Plunket, who came with him to Christchurch posing as his legal wife with her two children. By 1891, Worthington had established his Students of Truth society and dedicated his lectures to his “wife”, — “to her whose gentle love drew me from paths of sin—whose life each hour is more Christlike than any I have ever known—companion, colabourer, comrade, friend, and wife.”

400 Followers In less than two years Worthington was able to state that he had bonded together more than 400 regular, sincere, and devout worshippers—students of truth. Few of the students understood what Worthington’s doctrine was all about, but they accepted it without question and followed the strict vegetarian diet he set out as one of his requirements.

Worthington persuaded his flock that a temple was need-

ed and they set about raising money. On December 25, 1891, the foundation stone for the Temple of Truth was laid. The temple with its six ionic columns was described as one of the finest buildings in the city. The ground floor seated 1000 and the galleries a further 600.

W’orthington was evidently a man who enjoyed home comforts for he obtained more money from his students for a fine residence for himself and his family. Business matters did not apparently concern him for he nominated eight trustees to administer the financial aspects.

Quarrel With “Wife”

In 1893 Worthington quarrelled with his “wife” on the grounds that she placed too much emphasis on Sex in her teachings. The motto of the order was “Chastity in thought and continence in action”—a motto which Worthington obviously did not consider as applicable to himself.

Worthington, with the support of his trustees, forced Mrs Worthington leave and sig. , a document agreeing to leave New Zealand and give up her rights and properties, cease to bear his name and not give any details of his past life. His teachings stressed that his students should love their enemies but Worthington did not follow them. His bitter and malicious statements about his de facto wife led many students to break away. His interests in a Christchurch woman whom he visited late at night caused more students to leave.

Statements made by Mrs Worthtagton to the newspapers led to the case being raised in the House of Representatives. After much discussion, the Prime Minister, Mr R. J. Seddon, said the matter should be left to the local community.

Past Revealed During these years, Worthington’s teachings met opposition by sections of the community, including ministers of religion. These were described by Worthington as “Japanese praying machines, and curs, barking at street corners.” The man who obtained evidence of Worthington’s criminal past was a Methodist minister, the Rev. John Hershing. When he made known the facts, Worthington’s followers were shocked but many, especially women, still remained with him.

In January, 1895, Worthington persuaded his trustees to seil Temple of Truth. It was sold at half its original cost to Worthington, who could only make promises of payment.

The debenture holders, many of whom had mortgaged their homes or contributed their savings, were unable to

get the interest due and were rendered penniless. A few weeks later, Worthington departed for Sydney for “health reasons.” HiS intention not to return was changed by the persuasion of his trustees who had followed him. Back in Christchurch, he upset his followers by taking for his ninth wife, Miss Evelyn Maud Jordan—an action which his students considered hardly lived up to the motto of the society.

Left Country The debenture holders still wanted their money, and in December Worthington left again for Australia saying he would go to the United States for funds. None was forthcoming.

Although he left unpaid debts behind, when the trustees were asked by Hobart citizens for information on him, they replied he was a man of irreproachable character.

Former students called a meeting and angrily refuted this statement and a letter was sent setting forth the facts on Worthington. Christchurch thought itself well rid of the “Messiah” of truth, but 18 months later Worthington was back and advertising a lecture in the Oddfellows Hail on “My work in Hobart and Christchurch and why I returned.” Such was the temper of the crowd that Worthington was given a police escort to his home after the meeting. He called another meeting on September 26, 1897.

Police Protection Worthington asked for police protection and the entire Christchurch police force, reinforced by constables from Kaiapoi, was on duty outside the hall where a crowd of 6000 was waiting. The cab to take him home after was hemmed in by a surging hostile crowd. The police drew their batons but to no avail. It looked as though they would be overpowered when Mr R. Beetham, S.M., mounted the box of the cab and read for the first time in Christchurch, the Riot Act.

“Our Sovereign Lady, the Queen, charges and commandeth all persons being assembled immediately to disperse and peaceably depart to their habitations or to their lawful business under the pain of being guilty of an offence on conviction of which they may be sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for life. God save the Queen.” The police were able to clear the crowd and Worthington escaped unharmed. The next morning’s edition of “The Press,” under Topics of the Day, stated that the demonstration was “a disgrace to those participating and a scandal to the city.” He remained in Christchurch giving lectures until January, 1898, when he left—this time for good—to Australia.

There he was given a long prison sentence for fraud. Later it was reported that Worthington joined the Salvation Army in Sydney and was lost sight of.

Later Users It appears that the Temple of Truth remained in the hands of the Students of Truth Incorporated. A mortgage on the property was held by Samuel Kennedy Bassett until 1913 when the temple, which had been renamed the Choral Hall, was purchased by the Young Women’s Christian Association. Sometime before 1913 the hall was converted into a theatre. A sloping floor, which still remains under the present floor, was laid, and theatrical equipment, some of which remains at the back of the stage, was installed. According to Mr C. G. Rydings, the hall was used as a civic theatre, the venue for concerts, shows and meetings. The Reform Party leader, W. F. Massey, who was later Premier, is said to have held some stormy election meetings there. Mr W. Taylor, Mayor of Christchurch from May to June, 1911, is said to have used the choral hall for civic receptions. Under the Y.W.C.A., the hall was again renamed, Latimer Hall. For more than 50 years it has been extensively used for community activities, and its turbulent early history all but forgotten.