CHURCH LOCKED

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 78, 15 March 1935, Page 8

CHURCH LOCKED

Service on Verandah DISPUTE AS TO OWNERSHIP Trouble said to have arisen over a dispute about the ownership of property has led to the Merrylands Free Church being locked against its minister, the Bev. W. Breach, and congregation at Merrylands, says the ‘‘Sydney Morning Herald,” but a declare lion has been made that the services will continue. Trouble was expected at the church recently, and as a precaution a police man sat in the vestibule during the service. Nothing untoward happened, however, but later in the week, according to Air. Breach, the ordinary locks were removed from the church doors and padlocks affixed. A notice on the front wall of the building announces that it has been closed until further notice. On Honda'. March 3 the g unday .... n..,.i , ce - ls ducted in a pri'ate home .near b" Mr. Breach raid that the church •’■as I ? non denom'national one and was at f ended b". men and nomen ~r ail creed s . He- has been preaching a go? pel that has been non -sectarian. H< said that about Is months ago an old gentleman of his acquaintance purchased the land on which the church now stands, and commenced to erect a building in which non sectarian doctrines could be preached. When the i building w as almost complete, M r. Breach said, the old man sent for hi? ; and asked him to take ovc, •■"i.trol of 1 the church. The old man drew up a d-e-timeir transferring the property to Mr. Breach’s control, and the latter set about carrying out his friend’s wish. •Since then the old gentleman had died, and it was following upon his death,

Mr. Breach said, that the trouble started. “The doors of the church have been locked against us, and the build ing contains two organs, a small library and all our prayer books, as well as furniture and other property,” he added. When the pastor and his congregation arrived at the church on March 3 for lhe evening service, accompanied by a sergeant of police, the building , was in darkness and the front gate chained and padlocked with an additional chain to the one usually used by Mr. Breach. It was found that the new padlock was not locked, and it was decided to | conduct the service on the wide, open j verandah of a school hall at the rear; of the church. There the congregation gathered, anil in semi darkness Mr. | Breach presided at a short service. At the conclusion of his sermon. Mr. j Breach said: “Eighteen months ago I sought to bring the word of God to you. The Free Church of Merrylands will go on. Through the blood of Christ we claim vievtorv. Our hinderers are not fighting against you and me, but I agaii'-t God. I plead with you Io pra - ■ for m**n. u hoe’ r r fliev 'ua- b* - I T’r?• that ilod ma speak to then 1 | [he belo r-d gentleman who has now I gone handed oi or this church to me. ' 1 and v.° must carm- on, ' Mr Breach said that what con , c rn. A i him dneplv was the Tvay in which mr : I tain charges against him had ups- t his i i wife. “My wife has cried night nun ! day because I have been persecuted. | But ail will be well.” he added. The sergeant of police stood by. nnd I later enw tho padlock roulaeed on th' '