Objecting to the Sermon.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 9 January 1892, Page 3

Objecting to the Sermon.

Thejudge of the Blackburn County Court; has just decided a case which has no unimportant bearing upon the subject of an Englishman's liberties. When a member of a congregation has an objection to listening to a particular preacher, is it within the right of any one to detain him against his will? Mr Leach, a coal merchant, oi Darwen, has a strong objection -whether well or ill-founded matters not to. Mr Elderton, the curate of St James' Church, Darwen. Tbe vicar he is ready to hear; but the curate, for some reason, ha cannot, as folk say, " abide." o strong is the prejudice that he had been seen by the sexton many times loitering about for tokens of who was going to preach. But the sharpest eye may be deceived. One day Mr Leach attended worship in the full conviction that the vicar was going to deliver the S6rmon ; but 10, it was the ourate who ascended the pulpit. (i^rW the coal merchant quietly Wjßfc for the door. Then -it was that the constitutional question was raised, for Mr Leach found the door not only looked, but guarded by a •' sidesman," who had his shoulder against it, as well as by someone who was holding the handle fast on the ontside. Mr . Leach, of course, demanded to be let out. The sidesman's answer was, " I have instructions not to let you out unless you are ill." Thus Mr Leach was compelled to take a seat and listen to the unwelcome discourse. Such was the case on which this action was brought against the vicar, churchwardens, and sidesman. In the end the judge decided that there was no justification for the conduct of the sidesman and his instructors, and accordingly gave his verdict for the plaintiff.