EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN A CHURCH.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1174, 13 October 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN A CHURCH.

A max did penance at All Sainis’ Church on Sunday evening, July 30ih, for his conduct towards a servant girl, who now awaits her trial for manslaughter. The church was crowded, and after evening prayer, as the Vicar was about to enter the pulpit, he requested the congregation to remain seated. He then said :—“ We are about to deal with a matter of a most ancient character—a case of Church discipline. It is a very common reproach to us English churchmen that we are the only body of Christians amongst whom holy discipline is dead. Among Roman Catholics, in the Eastern Church, amongst the Presbyterians of Scotland, or the English Dissenters—l know not anybody of Christians where salutarydiscipline is dead except in the Church of England. I believe, as firmly as anyone in this church, it would bo a perfectly intolerable evil for a parish priest at his own discretion, to call before him in the church any notorious offender for public rebuke; but, it becomes very different when atting with the consent of the churchwardens, congregation and parishoners. The offender will soon come into the church to ask forgiveness of Ins fellow men, the one he has wronged, and Almighty God." The churclKvardi mi then brought the man into the church. On reaching the chancel steps, the vicar motioned the man to kneel. This he did, and the senior churchwarden then handed the vicar, a paper, when he said to the man, “ Do you acknowledge thia to be your handwriting?” He, in a low voice, said ” Yes.” The declaration was then read as follows:—“ I, Llewellyn Dartre, do acknowledge to be guilty of a most grievous sin, for which 1 do here by'ask the forgiveness of my fellow men, and of the woman I have wronged, and of Almighty God. In proof of my repentance, I promise to carry out the penance laid upon me in the presence of this congregation." The Vicar then said : 11 The penance laid upon you is, that you go to the Assize Court at Wells, when it shall next be held, and take your place where I shall sit you, by the prisoner nt the bar. Will you accept that penance F” The man answered, "Yes." Turning to the congregation, the Vicar said, “ I am going toast you all a question. .Seeing that this man has humbled himself in the House of God, and provided he carries out his promise, will you forgive him F If so, answer ‘ 1 will.’ ” The congregation replied, “I will." The Vicar : “ One thing more. Will you all, so far as opportunity may permit, so help this man towards living a better life, and shield him from reproach in this matter ? If so, answer ‘ I will.’ ” The congregation replied "1 will” The Vicar then, turning to the youngman, pronounced these words : —•" God be with thee, my son I and give thee the peace of true repentance to live a better life from this time henceforth. Amen.” The vicar afterwards ascended the pulpit, and preached a sermon.

At the Somerset Assizes on Wed- ; nesday, 2nd August, Helen Hill was indicted for the manslaughter of her child at Clevedon ; also for concealment of birth. This was the girl whose sweetheart, the father of the child, was the subject of the above proceedings.— The Grand Jury threw out the bill for manslaughter, and the prisoner, pleading guilty to concealment, was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment without hard labor.