SCENE IN A CATHEDRAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12395, 20 February 1908, Page 7

SCENE IN A CATHEDRAL.

Socialist Enters Pulpit during Service.

An amazing score occurred in Manchester Cathedral during ihe Clnistmas morning service, a local Socialist surreptitiously entering the^ pulpit and attempting to address the cougrogalion on the subject of the unemployed. The interruption took place at the close of the opening Christmas hymn, "Christians, Awak»! Salute, the Happy Morjr." T'ue hymn had been Guug with great heartiness, and the sound of the "Amen" was dying away, when a man, wearing a- red tie appeared in tJie pulj.it. The intruder wr.s recognised by "some of the congregation as Mr Stewart Gray, the leader of .the Manchester unemployed. He had entered the cathedral early, and taken avoat near the choir, so thaj; he had easy access to the pulpit. Evidently labouring under great excite, menl, Gray shouted to the congregation, "I cannot understand jou singing a hymn of this kind when thousands are starving in the city ! I protest against the birth of the Saviour being celebrated when thpro are so many poor people in the world who are not helped. It is blasphemy r and in the name of GoS I protest-." But the intruder co*\\d get no further with his harangue, f*t the cathedral officials at orce rushed to the pulpit and attempted to remove him. Giay, however, resisted, and clung to the pulpit desk. A violent struggle ensued, and after a few minutes the man's hold was released, and .he was carried bodily down the windinjj sfcevs and out of the cathedral by way of Derby Chapel. Gray continued to shout while he wa^ being removed, aiid to drown •the sounds .of disorder the organist flayed a voluntary. , The police were notified of the disturbance, and were asked to see that Gray did not enter the cathedral .again. He continued 'shouting in the roadway, and threatened to hold a public meeting near the cathedral. He was not* however, allowed to do this.

Haprily there- waß little confusion amongst the worshippers.' Bisbop WeMon was the preacher, hut he made no mention of the incident in his sermon.

Mr Gray has been identified with the land reform movement, and until recently was superintendent of the Manchester CorpoTation Farm Colony.