LUNATIC IN A CHURCH

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1914, Page 3

LUNATIC IN A CHURCH

. INNOVATIONS IN SERVICES PROPOSED. I THE USE OF THE GRAMOPHONE. (II TKLEOItiPH— SPECIAL TO THE POST.) AUCKLAND, This Day Innovations of a novel and sensational character threatened to attend the service at Otaika Church (near Whangarei) on a recent Sunday, but it has ended m the innovator— an elderly man— being committed to the Auckland Mental Hospital. It appears that on the Sunday m question, when the local Anglican vicar (the Rev. Mr. Favell) proceeded to Otaika Church to conduct a ser\ice, he discovered a man in possession °l ™? bmWmg. The man claimed that he was the patron of the church, * n ? be confided the opinion that brighter services were necessary in order to attract the parishioners. He explained that he had found it necessary to make a few improvements, and he showed the astonished vicar a gramophone which had been installed in the vestry, with the horn directed into the church through a hole which had been C^ "v tH walL ' The sid <* of the l church had been decorated with a number of prints from illustrated papers. l lhe man proceeded to explain that the singing of the congregation had been unsatisfactory, but he believed that with i^fi n°„ the gramophone there was little likelihood of further shortcomings in that respect. It was at this stale that the vicar discreetly took his departure. It was ascertained from other residents that the man had a gun in his possession, and that he had intimated that he would use it upon any preacher no disapproved of or upon any parishioner whose conduct at the church was •j T t0 an cxcm P lai ' v standard. He said he was particularly anxious to shoot anyone who sang out of time. *i. V * Cal * osfc no y ime m re Porting the matter to the police, who took the unfortunate man into custody. Two medical men had no hesitation in certifying to the unsound state of his mind.