STRANGE EXPERIENCES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 107, 9 May 1933, Page 4

STRANGE EXPERIENCES

t CLERGYMAN’S REMINISCENCES : MARRIAGES IN AUSTRALIA MANIAC WISHES TO PREACH "1 have been In the ministry foi 30 years and during that time 1 have experienced many interesting episodes and met many interesting people, said the Rev. J. Paterson, when ad ■ dressing the Wanganui Rotary Club al ! its weekly luncheon yesterday. He recounted several true stories concern- ' ing weddings in Australia, while 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 ag> young ministers in the Church of Eng land and the Presbyterian Church ha». been dealt with vigorously. He had been sent to Broken Hill, a big min ing city with a population of 30,000 : men and .13,000 women and children, and he had stayed there during a 16 months’ strike. Almost civil war had been experienced. The labour section had been headed by a Tom Alann. Th< whole thing had collapsed suddenly duo to the efforts of some wag oi genius who discovered that Tom Alann 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 Air. Paterson, he had been sitting in his study when the door suddenly opened and a man was pushed through, the door slamming behind him as ho fell on the floor. Asked what he required, the man picked himself up and said he wished to get married that day. With his bride-to-be he had travelled 300 miles from tho backblocks, and, as he had never seen a parson before, he was fearful as what would be done to him when he was being married. Air. Paterson told him that it would be quite all right and impressed upon him the fact that he was to say "I will’ at tho right time. "What are you going to do to me?’’ asked tho man of Air. Paterson. "Nothing,” replied Air. Paterson. "Oh, yes you are,” was the reply. "They told me to watch out till the pardon got hold of me, because he was pretty rough.” Air. 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 roll of notes out of his pockets ns an inducement for lenient dealing. When Air. Paterson refused he was asked to buy the couple some clothes, but ho wf.s too busy and referred them to the publican’s wife and arranged to meet them at the church. Arriving at the church during the afternoon, Air. Paterson found that tho doors were not open, while outside there were hundreds of miners who had arrived "to see the cookies get mar ried. ” They demanded to be let in and poured into the church as soon as tho doors were open. Going into tho vestry, Air. Paterson found the bride dressed in a lace curtain with a con spicuous 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 minors and Air. Paterson had to warn them that unless they were quiet he 1 could not proceed with tho wedding. He commenced the ceremony in sil once but had not said more than three 1 or four words when the bridegroom ’ called out loudly "I will.” The min ers gave three lusty cheers and Air 1 Paterson had to remonstrate with the bridegroom. "Wo got through the service eventually, punctuated bv *T wills,’ and the cheers of tho miners,’’ said Air. Pater son. "But when I asked tho bride groom to come into the vestry with he steadfastly refused, saying that 1 wished to do somethig to him. Finally I had to fetch the books from the vestry and got him to sign them in the ' church. When I gave him tho certificate he enquired, ‘How does a bloke know when he’s married. T don’t fcei

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

Air. Paterson said that on one occasion he was taking the morning ser rice in a church and was waiting fo ,hc offering to be taken before preach ng, when a man got up from his scat ind came over to where Air. Paterson sat. "I have a message to tell th > jongregation. The end of the world s coming and I want to warn them,’ ae said.

"I suddenly realised that 1 was Icaling with a maniac,” continued the peaker. "I reasoned with him and uggosted that he wait until the evenng service when he could deliver his ncssage to a larger congregation. He igreed to do this and 1 commenced the icrinon, which I may say was one of he shortest I have ever delivered in nv career.

"As hastily as I could T made my way to the vestry after the service, the man hard on my heels. As 1 opened the door he sprang on me, knocked me into the room and jambed his foot on the door so that no one could get in. Fortunately, a police man in tho congregation had noticed the man speak to me before the ser mon and did not like the look of him Ho followed round to the vestry and finding that entry could not bo gained by tho door, made for tho window, which, unfortunately, was barred. ‘‘Ho called out to me not to let. the man get mo on my back so that could strangle me, and with several helpers forced an entry through tho window. Tt was ten minutes before they could got into tho room and it was one of the most unpleasant experiences I have had. Tho young man, who turned out to be a naval officer, was taken in charge, but ho died tho following day.” Air. Paterson said that the man’s behaviour had been peculiar on board ship and his mind

finally became deranged. Several more interesting and amur ing anecdotes were told and on conclusion of his remarks flip speaker wan thanked for his address hr Mr. F Symes.