HARMFUL TO RELIGION

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 9

HARMFUL TO RELIGION

MAGISTRATE'S COMMENT BRAWLING AS PROTEST (United Press Association. —Copyright.) 1 • LONDON, 27th January. Five of those who took part in the demonstration at St. Cuthbert's on Sunday last have been summoned at Darwen for brawling at Divine sorviee and bound over, in their own recognisances, to keep tho peace for a year. The defendants pleaded that their act was a protest against Bomisb practices. The vicar, the Eev. Mr. Lauria, claimed that he had absolutely kept his induction oath, and did not admit reservation. The chairman said that the Magistrates could not refrain from calling the attention of the Church authorities to these unfortunate disputes, which were hindering law and order, and were not serving the interests^ of religion. The resentment of the congregation against Anglo-Catholic ritual culminated in the calling in of the police at St. Cuthbert's Church, Darwen, on 15th January; also in the abrupt abandonment of the morning service. The majority of the worshippers objected to the vicar, tho Rev. E. Lauria, using the Song of the Eucharist. When Mr. Lauria proceeded to.the altar to lead the singing, over a hundred of the congregation rose and sang hymns. Others knelt and some women quitted the church sobbing. Meanwhile, the organist played music conflicting with the hymns. When the congregation reached the third hymn tho vicar left the church and brought the police. He addressed the protesters, saying: "Do you know you are very blasphemous." Some replied: "We want our own service and we are going to have it." Confusion reigned. The protesters resumed the singing, and the curate and choir returned to the vestry. The vicar requested the congregation to leave, and the service ended.