SCENE IN A CHURCH.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1037, 16 February 1882, Page 4

SCENE IN A CHURCH.

A late Sydney paper states: —When the famous Jenny Geddes cast the historical three-legged stool at the head of the parson with whom she differed on a point of theology in the church at Edinburgh, nearly 200 years ago, the scene which followed was probably very little more exciting than that witnessed in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Clarence-street, yesterday morning. The Rev. Dr. Kellvnack, Wesleyan minister had exchanged pulpits with the Rev. Mr White, the pastor of St. Andrew’s congregation. There was a large congregation present, and Dr. Kellynack, in the presence of a new audience was if anything, more eloquent and earnest than usual. When his sermon had only been half completed, a woman dressed in a faded brown costume marched down the aisle and when in front of the pulpit she stood still for a minute. The clergyman paused, and the stranger, in a shrill, hard voice, which all in church heard, eried, “ Shut up, you old dog, What you say is b rot. You are going to hell and damnation.” A thrill of excitement went through the congregation. The intruder was evidently going to speak again, and this time more vehemently, but the elders and committee men had gained presence of mind, and she was quickly forced out of the church and given into the custody of -a policeman. She gava the name of Kate. O’Brien, and was brought before the Central Police Court, and charged under an old Act. passed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, with disturbing a congregation met for Divine worship. A host of witnessses were present to describe her conduct, and repeated with solemn faces the awful language she had used. When the fourth witness had been called, the prisoner in a low voice said, “ My God, they will call enough witnesses to hang me.” She was committed for trial.