PAINFUL SCENE ATA FUNERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11243, 12 December 1899, Page 6

PAINFUL SCENE ATA FUNERAL

A painful scene occurred at the cemetery at Sale (Victoria), on December 5, owing to a J difference of opinion between a Roman Catholic clergyman and an Anglican clergyman, as to who was entitled to read the prayers over the body of a single woman, aged 27, whose father was a Protestant and mother a Roman Catholic. The young woman was brought tip as a member of the Church of England, but a week or two ago she made a request to be baptised and admitted to the Roman Catholic Church, and be buried where her mother would be buried. Her wish was communicated by the mother to a priest, and on Saturday night (December 3) she was baptised, and died soon afterwards. The j funeral was arranged for ilondaj, and on j the body reaching the cemetery, Father Syn- j not (Roman Catholic) and the Rev. H. P. I Scott (Church of England) were in attend- ; ance to read the prayers. The coffin was \ carried to the Roman Catholic section, where ; the grave was prepared. The father of the deceased informed the priest that his services i were not necessary, as the prayers would be read by the Rev. H. P. Scott. The priest replied that the girl was a Catholic, and over age, and he was going to conduct the service, and would decline to permit the Rev. H. F. Scott to conduct any service in the Roman Catholic portion of the cemetery. The coffin was then placed on the footpath, and the Church of England burial service was read, after which the coffin was placed in the grave which had been prepared, whereupon Fathei Synnot at once commenced to read the Roman Catholic burial service. This greatly excited deceased's father, and he ioualy protested with raised hands. Father Synnot said he intended to finish the service,' and warned the objector not to assault him, whereupon the mourners prevailed upon the father to come away, and Father Syirnot finished reading the prayers without further interruption.