THE ALLEGED KIDNAPPING OF A PRIEST.

Evening Post, Volume LIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1897, Page 6

THE ALLEGED KIDNAPPING OF A PRIEST.

Of tho extraordinary story about the alleged kidnapping of a priest, sent by cable from London some weeks ago, and tho reply made to it, The Times gives the following particulars :— The Bishop of Marlborotigh presided on 7th November at a meeting of the Britishand Foreign BibleSocicty in Highgate. He had, he said, received many valuable testimonies of the good work done by the society, and none were more remarkable than that which he bad from a priest who had been entrusted with several important missions by the Pope. Before coming to London he was engaged in special work in Alsace, but, after many years of anxious thought on bis part, he camo to London and, desired to be admitted to the orders of the Church of England. His "preparation" was entrusted to the Bishop, who then found what a remarkable man the priest was. That man's testimony

was that in France there was, a few years ago, not one Bible in every 1000 homes, but that things had since improved in that respect owing to the efforts of this society. The same was the case in Spain. When the time cune that he was able to inform the Bishop of London tfiat this priest had undergone a thorough "preparation," the man was suddenly found to be missing. He had doubtless been " shadowed" all the time he had been in London, and it was afterwards found that one night, when in Kensal-town, he was kidnapped, and eventually taken back to the place he had left in France. Letters had been received from him since, which showed that he still wrote under constraint. The Rev. Robert Butler, of St. Charles College, St. Charles-square, W., writes to The Times saying that he is the person who '" kidnapped" M. Guyot, according to the vocabulary of the Bishop of Marlborough. He continues: —" M. l'Abbe Simouis, of Oberbrann in Alsace, an intimate friend of ' M. Gnyot, had not ceased to correspond with him, aud on 4th November, 1895, came to London to see him, and during a brief stay in this college called on him twice. Having known M. Guyot from youth he used bis influence, but* at that time to no purpose, to induce him to reconsider his position. M. Siinonis is, I believe, a member of the Reichstag, and is the head of an important organisation for good works in Germany. Some months later M. Guyot, whom I only knew by sight and from his friend, called over from his house opposite to see me, aud, as I was starting out to keep an appointment, our interview was between St. Charles-squave and Notting-hill Station on my way. He told me that his religious superior had written to him kindly and offered to reinstate him in due time, that his mind was made up to accept the offer and return to his order, and that he wished to go off at once, because he had heard that his aunt was ill, to whom, I had heard from Abb 6 Simoiiis, he was deeply attached, for she had bronght him up. He asked me to lend him £2 10s for his journey. I lent him £3, and refused his offered receipt. Immediately he arrived in Alsace he returned the money; soon after he wrote to tell me of the plan of his superior, and of his happiness, and to ask me to make known his return to the Church to two persons whom he wished to console with the news. His reticence with those who had known him in London has only become known to me^in these last days, from interviews with them reportedjn the daily papers."

The patients of the Porirua Asylum had a most enjoyable evening on New Year's Eve, it being the occasion of their annual Christmas Tree entertainment. The large central hall was artistically decorated with evergreens, and two huge trees heavily laden with gifts occupied the stage. Fully 200 patients and a great number of visitors were present. After dancing had been engaged in for some time the gifts were distributed, the distribution evidently causing great pleasure to the recipients, whose faces must have repaid the Medical Superintendent, the head attendant (Mr. M'Lean), and the staff, for their zealous efforts in helping to make the affair a success. Mrs. Scboch, with, a party of ladies and gentlemen from Wellington, helped to enliven the musical portion of the entertainment considerably. Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Mason and Messrs. Leslie and Ellison also assisted. The Brooklyn supporters of the Hon. T. W. Hislop at the general election intend to entertain him and Mrs. and Miss Hislop at a social gathering on the 20th inst.