EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN A CHURCH.

Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 37, 14 February 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN A CHURCH.

A Sheffield paper has the following : — A remarkable, scene took place iv Glossop-road Baptist Church one Sunday morning . recently. On the 18th November the following advertisement appeared :— " The Rev. John Bailey, 8.A., of the Glossip road Baptist Church, is publicly challenged to show from Scripture where we are taught that Ho of the pulpit — viz., that man has 'an immortal soul ' which does not die at death. — M. Kent, 21, Havelock Square." Mr. Kent is a member of the congrega tion, and attended service ou the Sunday morning. He was among those who remained for Communion. As soon as the ordinance had been dispensed, and while the customary offertory was being made, Mr. Kent rose, and in a low voice, but evidently in a state of great excitement, demanded that Mr. Bailey should there and then prove the doctrine upon which he had publicly challenged him 1 " I rise," he Baid, "on this solemn occasion to refute that lie of the pulpit, that man has an immortal soul that does not die at death. There is no existence of the soul after the death of the body." - Mr. Kent added that he had made this subject a study for the last four years, and having given his whole attention to it, he was thoroughly convinced that the doctrine was a " lie of the pulpit." Mr. John Eaton, one of the deacons, went up to Mr. Kent and quietly removed him from the church. Mr. Bailey afterwards expressed his regret at the unseemly scene which had occurned, and mentioned that when the public challenge appeared two deacons were appointed to wait upon Mr. Kent in reference to it. The pastor added that he did not know whether the deacons had discharged their duty or not. Mr. Kent, who was formerly a clerk with a wellknown firm of shareholders in Sheffield, has evidently a mania in regard to this particular doctrine.