EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN A CHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 11452, 21 January 1901, Page 2

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN A CHURCH.

On Sunday morning, Dacnnlor 2, the services at St. James's Ohiirob, Whitehaven (England), commenced about eleven, ami immediately a man appeared bssricg a large brass croBS, followed by the vicar'(the Rev. R. Duncan). There was a general mug of the congregation, stamping of feet and otuer marks of disapprobation, followed by the larger portion of the congregation leaving the church. The scene that took pteco baa been partly anticipated (torn ah iiilitnation given by the vicar the previous Sunday, when he announced that the croii would ba introduced into the church. The choir, which numbered about forty, resigned almost in a body ( and a petition waß presented to tho vioar from the majority of the members 6f the church asking him to reconsider his decision, but he declined, and adberSd to his debliibn. Difficulty was experienced in getting anyone to carry the cross, but a man belonging to another church consented to do so. Only seven boys and three men of the choir turned up. Thete was no interference during thß service. The vicar, in his discount, claimed that what he Was doing was a desire to proclaim trnth, and that though he might be met with persecution he should continue to carry out his work. Bt> long as things in the church went on in the ordinary course the world took rib notice of their doing 9, but once anything was supposed to be but of the usual way attention was arrested. Over and over again it had been the way of the church that as long as she was dull, dead, and still the world was perfectly eon Writ tb let her alone, but once let there be 1 ail earßeit desire to testify manfully and boldly for the truth, then they were sure to crime into collision-with ihs world, and ttffSs'b the of the heedless and unconcerned. At the conclusion of the service there was a large aeaemblago outside the church; who hooted and boohed the vicar, but otherwise he was not interfertd with.

The demonstration against the use of the processional cross iu the riitifning vrsg nothing compared with the scenes at evensong. When a man appeared bearing the cross there was a perfect storm of indjgeationi People boohed, cried '• Shatne ! " stariiped their feet, sind then cheered. Ode map loudly protested; and the sidesmen sndeaVofei to remove him. A perfect paridemonium afterwards reigned. An excited crowd waited outside for the vicar, who left the church at & Isle hbur ( and w*B escorted home by the police.