A SENSITIVE PARSON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 16 March 1909, Page 4

A SENSITIVE PARSON.

An unusual incident occurred at the Parish Church, Southbank, a suburb of Middlesbrough, England, one Sunday morning, when the vicar announced that, owing to the presence in the church ot a certain person, he did not intend to preach a sermon. The individual referred to had returned to the church after an absence of several weeks, and had resumed annoying the vicar. He belongs to the Church Association, whilst the vicar is a member of the English Church Union. “ I bore this man no ill will,” said the parson, “ but I took the step because it was high time that the annoyance ceased.” Asked the exact nature of the alleged nuisance, the vicar replied that the man came to the church with the deliberate intention of annoying him. As soon as the text of the sermon was given out, the man was in the habit of turning the leaves of his Bible rapidly, thus creating a rustling noise. He also smiled and made grimaces in the course of the sermon. He sat in the front seat, immediately underneath the pulpit, and looked up at the vicar; and as the latter was an extempore preacher, the annoyance was great. “He has been doing this for over two years,” added the parson, “ but he left the church in October, and I thought that the matter was ended, but he returned and sat in the same seat.” The vicar also said that two years ago the same man interrupted by calling out during the sermon. The parson took legal proceedings, and the man, apologised to him.