A LUNATIC AT CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13700, 17 March 1908, Page 5

A LUNATIC AT CHURCH.

THE MINISTER THREATENED

"A WORKER OF MIRACLES."

[a V TKIJJG A I'f!.-— correspondent.]

C h »iSTeu on oh, Monday. An unusual experience befell the Rev. T. Tail, of St. Paul's Church, yesterday. I Just as Mr. Tait was finishing Ids morning sermon, he noticed a young man come in at the Front doer. The man wended his way quietly down the left aisle, hesitated for a moment when be got near the pulpit, and then walked over to the other J side of it, evidently with a view of find- j ing some moans of getting on to the platform. Being unsuccessful in his search, j he came right round the pulpit, • and mounted the steps. lie was then, of course, lost to sight by the congregation, although visible to the preacher. Up to this point, none of the worshippers in (lie church had attempted to molest the man, but presently a couple of elders arose from their seats with a view to finding out what had become of him. During this embarrassing interlude, Mr. Tait j could plainly see the man mounting the steps and watching him intently. With one foot on the platform, the intruder glared at the preacher for some couple of minutes. The situation was extre'mely perplexing to Mr. 'fait, but he continued his sermon, meanwhile keeping an eye on the. man, till the elders came to the rescue and conducted him outside. About 5.30 p.m., just as Mr. Tail, was preparing for the evening service, the man came to the manse in Latimer Square and demanded to see Mr. Tait. He refused to give Ids name to the maid, and when Mr. Tait, went out he commenced to talk wildly, and to say he was endowed with power to work miracles. He was very earnest in impressing on Mr. Tait that he had had a revelation on Thursday last, reiterating the statement that if the rev. gentleman persisted in preaching that evening he would shoot him, and it would be the last sermon he would ever deliver. The alleged miracle-wor-ker had blood on his collar and temple, and. pointing proudly to it, stated the Almighty had placed it there. When the stranger had departed, Mr. Tait rang up the police, but from another source the. latter had been informed that the lunatic was in the vicinity of St. Paul's, buttonholing passers-by and beseeching them to come and hear him preach that night in Mr. Tail's church. Accordingly, Sergeant Bird went down and arrested him. He was taken to the police station, and this morning was committed to the Sun nyside Mental Hospital on a charge of lunacy.