\ EXTRAORDINARY SCENE AT A vestry.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4868, 13 June 1890, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE AT A VESTRY.

On April UIU a meeting of tho parishioners of St. Bololph, Alijgiito, was held at tho Vestry flail, when tho viour (the Kov. K. H. ilnddon) ocoupicd tho olinir, nnd a scone of tho wildest poseiblo excitement and uproar took place. Tho senior churohwardon (Mr Edwin Hell), claimed his right to take the chair at vestry meetings, but tin's Mf»» doniod him by tho vicar, who said, tho law of England had nlw/aya vested m lho vionr or rector right to prosido at moot.inpa of Iho parish, nnd tin's particularly applied to the Raster Vestry. Ho declinod to loave tho ohair, and directed tho vestry clerk to read tbo minutoa of the last meoting. Whilo Ihis wun being dona it was proposed that Mi' Bell should take lho chuir nnd not tho vioar, and tins wns declarer. 1 to bo parried by llioob\in:liwarden, for whqm a number oi man, women, and boys hnd voted. Tho churchwarden thon claimed his right to sign tho minute-book as chairman, but tho vicnr said ho should not allow it. Tho vicar signed tho book, which Ihn pluirchwnrdcii domnnded m loud tones. Much oioitenientprovniled.antlnsthoohurchwarden could not got at tho miuuto-book ho proceeded to crosg tho table. Ho was pulled back by »omo of his frierula, while I)r Column, to prcvont lho churchwarden getting tho book put his arms round Mr Boll's waist. Assist mice was rendcrod to tho ohuichwardcn, and a goncrnl in£l6,> took pluce, threats boing issued broadcast. Dr Cotman allegod that Mr 801 l had struck him, and tho pulico were communicated with. Scvorul stalwart oftlocrs cnterod tho room, nnd tho churchwarden wiib forthwith givon into cuilody. Another dreadful slrugglu cnauad, some of Mr Boll's friends trying to prevent his arrest. Four of lho coiielables conducted tho churohwntdon* to Poelhlng-lnno Police station whero tho inspector m chargo iuvealignted the matter, but on consideration refused to entertain tho ehurgo. Tho churchwardon then, returned triumphantly to the vostry.-hall, to flnd that m his nbscnco nothing bt^t a oontimial wrangle had boon going on. He was cheered to lh.o echo, and a ohair was placod m front of the vicnr on lho table, on which he Bat. Ho waa voted " tho oh.n\r,'' but tho vicaL' declined lo movo, o,ud, th,on it wns decided by tho churchwarden to proceed with lli.o bu^ncss. of tbo mooting First he ea\d ho (UounUt, (hey wcto. to nive worked stuuolhly tttid auiioably as thoy bad dono m

tbo past. Ho had never made ft penny out of tho parish, as wus suggested, while he hnd been ehurchwurden ; indeed ho bad spent his own money on tlio inhabitants. Most wicked libola had been committed on him, and ho should at onco commence proceedings opninal Dr Cotman for what he bud dono that day. Ho bad been dragged through tho streets of tho City, nnd degraded by being taken to tho police-station. Winterer dnmages he recovered m tho action for false mi priaonment which bo sliould bring bo should I giro to the poor of tho parish. Such a eceno as he had witnessed that day, had never disgraced tho City before. — Tbo Vicar said they had discussed tho question quietly, and then the churchwardon conceded tho licar'e right to preside, but now be doparted from it. — Tho churchwarden emd that was uot so, and ho charged tho vicar with, being guilty of making erasures m one of the parochial books. — The vioar most indignantly denied tho ohargo. — Tbe churchwarden was asked to withdraw m tbe face of tho vicar's donia], but ho deolined. — It wbb then decided by tho churchwarden to elect tho usual officers of tho parish for tho year onauing, and ho and Mr J. D. Simmonds were ro-appointed churchwardens, whilo the ovcrsoora, parish committee, etc., were also olocted amidst uproar and confusion, which made it impossible to hear what was boing said. Ultimately tho churchwarden declared bis meeting at an end.— The vicar, who had sat m tho chair calmly looking on tho whole while, then said that as the churchwarden's meeting was illegal, be should proceed with the business m tho usual way and elect the officers. Ibis course the church wardon and his friends objected to m the atrongCßt possible way, but amid tho wildest confusion the vicar transacted tbo routine busino;s, Mr Bell not being re-elected churchwurden. — Tho meeting wus thon declared to bo adjourned.