A DISGRACEFUL SCENE!

Colonist, Volume XVII, Issue 1898, 8 April 1875, Page 4

A DISGRACEFUL SCENE!

TOO WICKED FOX A CHRISTIAN BURIAL,

The remains of Frederick Merritt have at lasfc been deposited in the parish churchyard at Cowley, near Oxford. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon, Feb 3, eleven days after the death of the deceased. The clergyman of the parish having, refused to allow the corpse to be taken into the church, the proceedings assumed at one time a very serious character. Nearly a thousand people had assembled in the churchyard by the time announced for the funeral, three o'clock. The Jtiev. Mr Green, vicar of Littlemore, was engaged to officiate. The church door was locked. Cries were raised of " We'll have him in the church ; and we'll break the doors open," and " Where's the parson." ' On meeting the corpse at the gale the officiating clergyman was asked by oiio of the friends if he intended to allow the body to be taken into the church. He replied, "lama stranger, and am acting by the Bishop's orders. Kemember we are in Christian land, and I beg you will not interrupt the service." He then proceeded to read the burial service, amid cries of " Take him in the church." On arriving at the church door the clergyman proceeded towards the grave, but he was stopped by the mob, who told him to go into the church and read the burial service. After standing motionless for a few minutes he was hurled into the porch, followed by a Dumber of the excited people, and if the reverend gentleman had not been protected by a few friends he would undoubtedly have been ill-treated. Almost immediately afterwards the clerk was pounced upon by the mob, because he did not open the church door. .Seeing the threatening aspect affairs .were assuming, Mr Green consented to allow the body to be taken into the church if the door could be opened. A sledge hammer was fetched to burst the door opea, but before the hammer had arrived about a dozeu men got info" the church through the belfry and ripped off the lock with crowbars. When the doors were : opened the corpse was taken into the church and the burial Berviee was r d, the crowd conducting themselves in an orderly manner. After the service at the grave was over a vote of thanks was given to the officiating clergyman, and he was told that he ought to have the living of Cowley.. — Edinburgh Beview.