A Barbarous Proceeding.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1465, 26 September 1885, Page 4

A Barbarous Proceeding.

The action of the Rev. Coker Adams, rector of Saharn Tony, m excommunicating Mr Payne, a farmer, eighty-two years of age, has created a sensation m Norfolk.: Mr Payne ; does not attend church, and, it is said, he refused the clergyman adtniss'oh to his house. A . letter was written threatening to excommunicate him, but Mr Payne, not understanding the process, wrote J to inquire whether any part of the last year's tithe had acc'dentally remained unpaid. He received the foilawing reply : — Sir. — My letter of last Sunday was not written m consequence of an y personal matter. You have, as you truly say, always paid me my dues. I wrote to remind you that you had persistently neglected to attend the Church's services, and refused, to receive her ministers, and that I. should therefore feel it my nainful duty fj tb- pronounce you cut off from the Church's communion and .membership. The wish I express at the end of rtiy letter was quite sincere, and remains unaltered still. — Yours faithfully, CoKpn Adams." The wish referred to m tjhe first letter, was that the rector prayed; to God to change Payne's heart and save his soul. When the sentence was passed, the whole congregation was taken by surprise. Just before the sermon,' the rev. gentleman said, "In the name of God," &c, making use of the, entire, form of excommunication, which is generally •believed to be obsolete. Mr Payne seemed unmoved by the proceedings.