Maniac Who Wanted To Preach In Church

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 239, 10 May 1933, Page 3

Maniac Who Wanted To Preach In Church

WANTED TO TELL ABOUT END OF THE WORLD

ALMOST STRANGLED MINISTER AFTERWARDS CLERGYMAN TELLS OF HIS STRANGE EXPERIENCES THIRTY YEARS’ SERVICE TO CHURCH •‘I have been in the ministry for 80 years and during that time I have experienced many interesting episodes and met many interesting people,” said tire Rev. J. Paterson, when addressing the Wanganui Rotary Club at its weekly luncheon. He recounted several true stories concerning weddings in Australia, while he also told of a maniac who wished to preach to the people concerning the end of the world, and who nearly strangled him after the service. Mr. Paterson said that 30 years ago young ministers in the Church of England and the Presbyterian Church had been dealt with vigorously. He had been sent to Broken Hill, a big mining city with a population of 3,000 men and 13,000 women and children, and lie stayed there during alO months’ strike. Almost civil war had been experienced. The labour section had been headed by a Tom Mann. The whole thing had collapsed suddendly due to the efforts of some wag or genius who discovered that Tom Mann had been a publican in England and had been before the Court for watering beer. The men sent home for a copy of the paper containing a report of the case and showed it’ round, in addition to taking several facsimile copies and distributing them. When the working men knew that Tom Mann had been guilty of watering down beer, they would have none of him and drove him out of the town, for they considered that a man who would water a working man’s beer could never be their friend and leader.

Nervous Bridegroom One morning, said Mr. Paterson, he had been sitting in his study when the door suddnly opened and a man was pushed through, the door slamming behind him as he tell on the floor. Asked what he required, the man picked himself up and said ne wished to get married that day. With his bride-to-be he had gravelled iUIO miles from the backblocks, and, as he had never seen a parson before, iie was fearful as what would be done to him when he was being married. Mr. Paterson told him that it would be quite all right and impressed upon him the fact that he was to say “I will” at the right time. “What are you going to do to me?” asked the man of Mr. Paterson. “Nothing,” replied Mr. Paterson. “Oil, yes you are,” was the reply. “They told me to watch out till the parson got hold of me, because he was pretty rough.” Mr. Paterson said he had replied that the man would have nothing done to him, but the bridegroom, still disbelieving, asked to be let off lightly, taking a, roil of notes out of his pockets as an inducement for leni-1 eut dealing. When Mr. Paterson refused he was asked co buy the couple some clothes, but he was too busy and referred them to the publican’s wife and arranged to meet them at the j church.

Arriving at the church during the ‘afternoon, Mr. Paterson found that the doors were not open, while outside there were hundreds of miners who had arrived “to see the cookies get married.” They demanded to he let in and poured into the church as soon as the doors were open. Going into the vestry, Mr. Paterson found the bride dressed in a lace curtain with a conspicuous piece of pink .ribbon, while the bridegroom was bedecked with a long frock coat, grey trousers and a wealth of orange blossom. !

Miners Enjoy a Wedding When the pair entered the church there was a roar of laughter from the miners and Mr. Paterson had to warn them that unless they were quiet he could not proceed with the wedding. He commenced the ceremony in silence, but had not said more than three or four words when the bridegroom called out loudly “I will.” The miners gave three lusty cheers and Mr. Paterson had to remonstrate with the bridegroom. “We got through the service eventually, punctuated by ‘I wills,’ and the cheers of the miners,” said Mr. Paterson. “But when I asked the bridegroom to come into the vestry with me he steadfastly refused, saying that I wished to do something for him. Finally, I had to fetch the books from the vestry and get him to sign them in the church. When J gave him the certificate he enquired, ‘How does a bloke know when he’s married. f don’t feel any different.’ He looked quite happy, however, and the next morning I saw him drive off with his wife for the back blocks. Maniac in Church Mr. Paterson said that on one occasion he was taking the morning service in a church and he was Availing for the offering to lie taken before preaching, when a man got up from his seat and came over to where Mr. Patrson sat. “I have a message to tell this congregation. The end of the world is coming and I want to warn them,” lie said. “I suddenly realised that 1 was dealing with a maniac,” continued the speaker, “f reasoned with him ami suggested that lie wait until the evening service when he could deliver his message to a larger congregation. He agreed to do this and 1 commenced the sermon, which I may say was one of the shortest 1 have ever delivered in my career. “As hastily as 1 could I made my way to the vestry after the service, the man hard on my heels. As I opened the door he sprang on me. I knocked me into the room and jamb ed his foot on the door so that no one could get in. Fortunately, a policeman in the congregation had noticed the man speak to me before the sermon and did not like the look of him. He followed round to the vestry and finding that entry could not he gained by the door, made for the window which, unfortunately, was barred, “He called out to me not to let the man get me on my back so that

he could strangle me. and with sev oral helpers forced an entry through the window. It was ten minutes before they could get into the room, and it was one of the most unpleasant experiences 1 have had. Thu young man, who turned out to he a naval officer, was taken in charge, but lie died Ihe following day.” Mr. Paterson said that the man’s behaviour had been peculiar on board ship and liis mind finally became deranged.