SCENE IN A BAPTIST CHAPEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8360, 13 September 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

SCENE IN A BAPTIST CHAPEL.

AN extraordinary scene was wit:: wed on a Sunday lately in the Strict Baptist Chape! of Chelmondiston, a village about six miles from Ipswich. For some time past the minister (Rev. J. Cordle) has been at variance with some of the leaditig members of his congregation. It is said that the dispute began with the singing at a Sundayschool meeting of some of Moody and Sankey's hymns, which were in the pastor's opinion heretical. However this may have been, the result was that ten or twelve of the old members were practically shut out from church-fellowship. Two of these members, who were formerly deacons, gave notice of a church meeting for Sunday morning, and were accordingly present, with ft considerable following of friends. Directly the service concluded the pastor read a statement to the effect that he had taken legal advice, and that all persons trinity of riotous behaviour would be dealt with according to law. The senior deacon asked whether the service was concluded. The pastor, who evidently considered he was legally safe so long as the service was in progress, replied that it was not. By way of bridging over the interval between twelve and two (the latter being the hour for afternoon service), ho called down the school children, catechised them, and induced them to sing a number of hymns on the promise that they should hereafter be rewarded with a treat of tea and cake. In about three-quarters of an hour the children wero dismissed, and the minister started a prayer meeting. Whilst this was proceeding the deacons and their friends sent out for bags of biscuits and buns to make up for the dinner they were sacrificing. When the prayer meeting was over the minister said they would spend a few quiet moments, and then he would give them an address. This announcement aroused intenso indignation among the hungry dissentients, more especially as the minister spent his few quiet moments in munching biscuits. One of the deacons called out shame" with great emphasis, and an old lady quoted the text, " Vengeance is mine, and I will repay, saith the Lord," adding, "And I believe He will." The minister took for his text the words, "I nm the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine;" and preached at the old members for threequarters of an hour. Ho was frequently interrupted, and on each occasion he took an ostentatious note of the words used. At two o'clock the dissentients went home to dine, leaving a funeral service to proceed quietly ; but they returned in force when it was over, and a scone of disorder followed. A resolution was passed calling upon Mr. Cordle to resign, because of the low condition of the church, and the brethren, after making many appeals to each other's Christian generosity, fell out all round, some calling their brethren slinks, liars, and rogues. In the midst of the hubbub the minister went after the village policeman, who refused to interfere,"and the squabble continued for nearly an hour, the disputants adjourning from the chapel to the vestry, and thence to the burial-ground. The villagers and school children gathered around, and were much amused at the proceedings. In the end Mr. Cordle locked up the building, and threatened to tako legal proceedings against the offenders.