CHRISTCHURCH "CHRISTIANS." ON THE WING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1908, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH "CHRISTIANS." ON THE WING.

WITH A MOB BEHIND THEM. Usually Christchurch opens its arms widely to the preachers of new doctrine, or old doctrine served up in new guise, but /or onco the populace clenched its fists at a band of missionaries who call themselves "Tha Christians," according to a report in tho Press. On Friday night the brethren who were assembled in Cathedral-square, where the apostles of all kinds most do congregate, almost' came in contact with trouble- at tho hands of casual listeners', and next night the collision ■ came. Several scoros of youths, ranging in age from seventeen to tVventy, commenced to hustle a speaker. Then tho 'crowd scenting violent fun, became infectod with tho spirit of mischief abroad, and in a few seconds tho -utmost confusion reigned. Tho hoodlums jostled all and sundry upon tho unfortunate evangelists, who began to beat a precipitate retreat down Worcester-street, towards the river. They wcro hustled into a run and chevied round Oxford-terrace into Cashel-street, followed by a mob howling them down as Mormm'l3. Eventually all but two of the victims made good their e3qape by clambering into passing tramcars, the remaining pair, however, being penned in by the mob who handled them anything but gently. Ultimately they struggled away towards Cathedrnl-sqmre, and in. the process one vanished, but the other, having lost his hat, wa3 very much at the mercy of tho populace. A posse of polico co-mo to his assistance, and afforded the hunted individual a muchneeded measure 'of piotcction. The polico (who kept their tempers admirably) endeavoured to reason with tho mob, but were met with the stridentlybellov/ed chorus, "Wo parted on the shore." After a breathing space the constabulary determined to convey the man to tho police station, and their progress was marked by hoots, howls, and other marks of popular execration of the supposed Mormons. The procession turned into Montreal-street, and as the bridge was approached cries were raised on all sides, "Duck the Mormon." "Chuck him in the river !" One or two determined rushes, possibly with the idea of carrying those suggestions into effect, were made, but the polico closed in and got their man across the bridge in safety and inside tho gates leading into the rear of tho station, the gates being banged in tho faces of tho clamouring rabble, which continued to Ghout "We want tho Mormon." Within the friendly shelter of the polico station enclosure, the hunted man, who was dripping with perspiration and slightly dazed, sank down upon a convenient seat* In conversation with a Press reporter, he stated that his name was C. Morgan, that he was a nativo of New Zealand, but had no settled place of abode. Ho was not a Mormon, but belonged to a band of Christians who obeyed tho Scriptural exhortation to go out and preach the Gospel. They had been holding a convention in Christchurch, and members of the fraternity were present from different parts. His companion in misfortune, who had escaped earlier in the evening, was named E. Mead, and enma fiom the Waikato district, and both of them ifJid been severely cuffed and kicked. Morgan was kept at the polico station until 11.30, and when he retired to his place of abode there was no appearance of any one likely to dispute his peaceful outgoing. On Sunday night the Christians again attempted a service in the square, and once more a gang of youths of ths "flashy -hooligan typo" dispersed the, evangelists.

Professor Fcsr, of Heidelberg University, has carried out several hundred experimenta with a new boruni, , discovered byProfessor Paquel, of "Vienna, and has obtained striking results. Tho experiments proved conclusively that the serum enables tuberculosis in young children to bo diagnosed with certainty. An infant pa tient is inoculated with the scrum, and, if Euffering from tuberculosis in any degree, red spots appear on the skin where it has been inoculated uithin a period of time varying from six to twenty-four hours. One great advantage o£ thc> Paquet Fcrum ia lhat it docs not cause fovcr or other undesirable effects on (ho patients, and infants already suffering from fovcr can be sufe'ly inoculated. Professor Feer, basjng his opinion on the cxperionco gained in 341- cases, declares that Professor Paquoit'g eorufcn i« a valuable moans of diAjtuofiin,? tubacculout in infauti.