A DISGRACEFUL SCENE.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 265, 17 April 1875, Page 3

A DISGRACEFUL SCENE.

TOO WICKED FOR A CHRISTIAN BURIAL. (Edinburgh Review) The remains of Frederick Merritt have at last been deposited in the parish churchyard at Cowley, near Oxford. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon, Feb 3rd, eleven days after the death of the deceased. The clergyman of the parish having refused to allow the corpse to be taken into the church, the proceedings assumed at one time a very seiious character. Nearly a thousand people had assembled in the churchyard by the time announced for the funeral, three o’clock. The Rev Mr Green, vicar of Littlemore was engaged to officiate. The church door was locked. Cries were raised of “ We’ll have him in the church ; and we’ll break the doors open,” and i; Where’s the parson." On meeting the corpse at the gate the officiating clergyman was asked by one of the friends if he intended to allow the body to be taken into the church. He replied, “ I am a. stranger, and am acting by the Bishop’s orders. Remember we are ain Christian land, and I beg you will not interrupt the service.” He then proceeded to read the burial service, amid cries of “Take him in the church. On arriving at the church door the clergyman proceeded towards the grave, but he was stopped by the mob, who told him to go into the church and read the burial service. After standing motionless for a few minutes he was hurled into the porch, followed by a number of the excited ipeople, and if the reverend gentleman not been protected by a few friends he would undoubtedly have been ill-treated. Almost immediately afterwards the clerk was pounced upon by the mob, because he did not open the church door. Seeing the threatening aspect affairs were assuming, Mr Green consented to allow the body to be taken into the church if the door could be opened. A sledge hammer was fetched to burst the door open, but before the hammer had arrived about a dozen men got into the church through the belfrey and ripped off the lock with crowbars. When the doors were opened the corpse was taken into the church and the burial service was read, the crowd conducting themselves in an orderly manner. After tha service at the grave was over a vote of thanks was given to the officiating clergyman, and he was told that he ought to have the living of Cowley.