RELIGIOUS CHANGES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 116, 24 March 1879, Page 2

RELIGIOUS CHANGES.

Tho Bishop of Manchester in a recent sermon dwelt at some length on the great changes that had come over tho church during the last fifty years. 'Whilst he could not say they were all of them for good, undoubtedly a great change had taken place, which, he doubted not, would lead to tho exteesion of religion among tho people. As compared witli fifty years ago, religion was now more widely diffused than formerly; the congregations were more numerous, and the services in the church were more ornate. In so far as this represented homage to God, it was no doubt exceedingly commendable, but lie was much afraid there was a disposition at the present day to place too much reliance on the externals of worship. Tlier? was much discussion about religion over tho walnuts and wine in tho drawing room, but whether that was a gain to the church lie could not say. Referring to the two different schools of thought in the church, and tho difference between tho type of tho old-fashioned evangelical clergymen and tho Ritualists, his lordship said the Ritualists of the present day seemed to lack that simplicity and largeness of mind and faith which so greatly distinguished the early founders "of the tractarian movement.

BURGLARY AT A CLERGYMAN'S HOUSE, At Woodstock Potty Sessions, on Tuesday, Alfred Tuckey, an American, fortyfive, ra charged with feloniously enteriii" the dwelling-house of the Rev L. A? Sharpe, of 'l'ackley, near Woodstock. Oxon, The court was crowded to excess, and the greatest interest was manifested in the case.—Tho Rev L, A. Sharpo, a gentleman seventy-two years, of hale and heaity appearance, stated that shortly before nine o'clock on the previous Thursday evening his footman told him that there was a ladder against a window in the garden. He went up stairs and found the window was fastened, when he ordered the ladder to lie removed, On his returning to his bed-room he looked round the room, and said he would look under the bed. He held up the valance, and saw two striped red stockings, at which he gazed in wonder, and seeing them move,'and llrs Sharpe observing them at the same time, she crie.d out/ " Come out my boy," and he then answered, " I am coming out." Sooij a man's head and hands appeared from under the bed. Witness dropped upon the shoulders and clenched tho man's neck with each hand. At this prisoner .remonstrated, and managed to raise himself, He lifted witness up as well, and lie was afraid he should be overpowered Prisoner begged to be allowed to get up, and as he °iose witness hurled him on the bed and thrust his hand into his neckerclieif, and told him lie would strangle him if he did not be quiet, He sent hjs daughter down for servants, who immediately came up. One of them saw lie had got a pistol, and some one threw half a jugful of water over it. flic pistol was fired in tho struggle, and his footman, named Rose, was'" 1 slightly wounded (the bullet striking a button glancing upwards, and causing a rent iii the coat). After much struggling tho pistol was wrested from the accused, and tiom that time ho offered little resistance. They tied his legs and hands behind him', and witness had him conveyed in his carriage to Woodstock Station. A ba« was found under the bed containing a jemmv a bottle labelled " Pure chloroform and poison," with the namo of " John Pa«e dispensing family chemist, 47, Bhtckfriars tln ' oe P ieces of oalic °. A J3 0 Railway Guide, and an English I and French dictionary, Prisoner had no boots on, Witness had a long conversation with prisoner in the carriage, and the latter said ho rolocked the window. The prisoner (interrupting): "It was in answer to Mrs Sharpo in the bed-room. She said it was open, and I told her it was shut, and I opened it with a broad tableknife." When witness first saw the prisonei it was about half-past nine, or about It was certainly nine. Witness said'to prisoner, "This will bo an assize case and not go to the Quarter Sessions" He s.ud lie meant to have asked for money and witness S'lid ho would not have had it, and he replied, "I think I should have had it if I had held this to your head at twelve o'clock at night," gesturing as'if he still had the weapon in his possession. Tho prisoner evidently seemed to know the place, and asked them if they knew linn when he was there, nineteen years ago, when ho said Mrs Sharpe spoke to him out of tlio window, When tlio prisoner came from under the bed, witness called for a poker, and ho said, "Don't hurt me, sir; it is my first attempt, lam a starving W an," He said lie received his education at Rugby, In cross-examina-tion by the prisoner, the witness said two or three of them had hold of the pistol when it exploded. The prisoner cautioned them several times as to their touohW the pistol, as it might go oft again-a statement which was partially confirmed by the footman Rose and other witnesses, Corroborative evidence generally was then given by the footman, John Rickett, the coaenman, Mark Wells, and Inspector liowen when the prisoner was committed tov trial at the assizes for the (listrict. Prisoner is a man of most determined appearance, and from his writing and statements, and mode of cross-exami-nation, .is evidently a man of good education.

A most extraordinary sight was witnessed in Read's paddocks at Giaborne a few mornings ago at daylight,' Very many acre of land perfectly snow white with mushrooms, which might have been oasily gathered by a cart load. Tlio Herald informant states there was not a square foot of ground in which mu.sfijrgoiaa were not to be seen,