CHURCH DISTURBANCE

Chronicle (Levin), 7 September 1948, Page 6

CHURCH DISTURBANCE

Attempt To Drag Pastor From Pulpit WELLINGTON, Sept. 7. A party of men who considered that some remarks reported in a Supreme Court case last week and alleged to have been made by a leader of the Commonwealth Covenant Church at Lower Hutt, were a reflection upon some of thenij. caused a disturbanee at the evening service in the church on Sunday. It is claimed by members of the church to have been organised rioting, and they said that several thr.eats to burn down the building have been received. In response to a whistle, more than 40 men rushed down the aisle of the church and attempted to drag the pastor, Brother Frank Wilson, from his pulpit, it is alleged. Interviewed yesterday, several members. of the church stressed that the attack was premeditated. The men had entered the church as if to take. part in the service and,.. at a signal from their leader, nad promptiy gone into action, it was stated. Strong opposition from the large congregation caused a general disturbanee till a police oflicer arrived and the crowd dispersed. ^ "Innocent Service" "There was nothing at all in the sermon to arouse these men," said a church ofiicial, Brother B. Eatwell. "It was a sweet, innocent oaptismal service." "We expected a demonstration, but nothing like this," he said. "After their first attempt, the men kept interrupting the service at intervals." Brother Eatwell described the affair as an example of hooligan■ism "that exempiihes the pagan mode of living at present prevailing." ijesultory disturbances of a minor nature had occurred in the past, said another church official. They haa leained to expect them. Brother Eatwell claimed that reports on the Supreme Court action were a lot of "bosh," having no truth in them. Only Seven Men Involved Five. men claimmg that they were responsible for the disturbanee approached a Wellington newspaper last night. They had' taken the action because of cer-j tain statements allegediy made by Pastor Wilson, they said. Their siory difiered widely from1 that told to reporters by church ofheials yesterday. After claiming that only seven men had entered tne church, they described how one of them had stood up and informed the congregation that he was going to give Pastor Wilson a'| piece of his mind. He had then walked up the side aisle of the church while his cornpanions | walked up the centre aisle. On teaching the pulpit, one of the men had been repeatedly struck on the head by a woman mem'oer of the congregation, who kept shouting Halielujah at the top of her voice. As another of the men approached the pastor, a church ofiicial began waving his arms and shouting: "Don't strike our disciple, Jnn, or he'll strike. you dead." The men claimed that they were told that they should have been members of the German Army. They stated that after trying to shout down the congregation for about half an hour, they left the cnurch and found a crowd of about 40 standlng on the pavement. None of these people, they said, had had anything to do with the disturbanee.