FIVE MEN IN A PULPIT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8036, 7 January 1905, Page 6

FIVE MEN IN A PULPIT.

Disgraceful Scene in a Scotch

Church.

Hostile Hymns.

The troubles of the Free Kirk and the Wee Kirk are straws in the wind compared with the differences which divide the flock of the Dalkeith Evangelical Union Congregational Church. Morning service, on a recent Sunday* 1 , was notable for the fact that the pulpit contained two rival preachers and three fighting men, all trying to perform their specific duties at the same time, while the conflicting halves of the congregation sang hymns against each other. The minister of Dalkeith is the Rev. Robert Dermid Brown. He does not meet with unquestioned approval by the members. Among other sins alleged against him is the ownership of an ice cream saloon.

The reform party had invited him to withdraw, and had invited somebody else to take his place. Mr Brown had replied with a fearsome Scottish instrument known as a caveat, and they tried to fight it all out in church. There are two doors to Dalkeith Church. The minister holds the key of one; the malcontents have the other. When Mr Brown and party reached the church they found the malcontents in possession, and a young man named Scott—brilliant in a blue lounge suit and a green tie —in the pulpit. The Brown party entered by their own door, and listened to Mr Scott' prayer, interrupting with jeers when the supplication did not please them. The prayer over, Mr Brown elbowed his way into the pulpit, and called for the hymn, " Onward, Christian Soldiers." Mr Scott folded his arms, and listened to the music. The hymn was sung with great vehemence, while the rival faction jeered, and after the " Amen,'' the verses were sung all over again. The Scott party, keeping strictly to their own half of the church, had a small organ, and they countered with "Fight the Good Fight." The rival pastors lost their tempers, and stimulated the two choirs by gesticulating wildly at each other. Then Mr Brown shot up his arm. Both parties stopped singing. Both ministers tried to address the congregation.

The din was terrific. Three more men stepped into the pulpit. Evidently they were on the side of the minister, for the opposition shouted loudly that three prize-fighters had gone up. The fighting men were content with looking fierce. No blows were struck, but the shouting and the insults were such as have seldom disgraced a house of Divine worship. Accusations were hurled at the head of Mr Brown. In reply, he made personal imputations against the character of his assailants.

" If you are a gentleman, and have any respect, quit this pulpit!" said Mr Brown to his rival. "If you don't," he added reflectively, " I will throw you down the stairs."

Mr Scott declined to leaye, and the din became greater than ever. Tempers were worn threadbare, and there was every promise of a free fight, when the young man with the green neclitie said that he would stand aside and allow Mr Brown to make a statement, resuming bis own service afterwards. " If you try it," said Mr Brown, " I will throw you out."

Mr Brown delivered an extraordinary tirade, constantly interrupted by laughter, objectionable remarks, and the shuffling of feet. " Madam," he said to one objector, "there will be no laughing in hell!"

At last he finished, and then, as if satisfied with his performance, forebore to eject his rival with the green tie, and stalked out of the church, followed by his bodyguard and his supporters. Mr Scott said it would be a mockery to proceed with Divine service after such a scene as that, so he and his party left also, after a discreet interval.