The Evening Star. FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 376, 24 March 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1871.

A ciac^iiaTANCE ] ias been related to ti», whip)?; if incorrectly stated can be denied, and. if correctly stated, deserves attention. A man named Dell,

belonging to the Primitive methodistj denomination, was absent from home, but remited money regularly to his family. In his absence, his wife died. "When out of her mind, from the effect of her ailment (erysipelas in the head). a neighbour had sentfor the Rev. Pather Macdonnld, and had the rites of the Roman Catholic Church performed on her. On the return of Mr. Dell from the Thames, lie proceeded to make preparations for her funeral. In accordance with a wish he had heard her express, that she should be laid beside a deceased child, Mr. Dell had a grave made iv the same place where those^ of the same communion bury their dead, when he was informed by the Eoman Catholic clergymen that they claimed the body for interment iv tho Eoman Catholic burying ground. Mr. Dell naturally objected, and the clergymen persisted in the most peremptory manner in demanding the body, and threatened M>. Dell with ulterior consequences. At the funeral, which took place yesterday, a Catholic clergyman —unin vited^—accompanied the procession to the Cemetery, persistently demanded the body, and, failing in his object, read a formal protest, and announced his intention ot exposing Mr. Dell, and denouncing him from the altar. We tfive the story as it has been given to us, and we are bound to say, from the best authority. Such an attempt, in this year of grace, seems such an anachronism, that we are slow to believe the story and hope it is untrue. It is a free country, and very tolerant; but family relations are sacred, and he would be a bold man that would attempt to lay the hand of ecclesiastical authority on those relations ; and bolder still that would seek to extend that authority over those of another communion.