UNKNOWN INTERRUPTER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 156, 17 March 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

UNKNOWN INTERRUPTER.

UPROAR AT QUAKERS' MEETING. Tumultuous scenes took place at a meeting lately at the Friends' Meeting House in Bishopsgate, E.G., at which Mr. Roden Buxton was to have given a half-hour address on "International Agreements'' tinder the auspices of the London Peace Committee of the Society of Friends.

On the previous .Uondoy Mr. Buxton was prevented from dc'ivering an address in the same place. After cheers had been given at tl.c outset for the British Army . nd the Allies, an elderly, sturdily-built iinn with a short pointed beard, who were a frock coat and spats, took his stand in front of the chairman's table and held the floor throughout the remainder of the meeting. There were frequent calls for his name, but he refused to give it.

At first many people mistook him for one of the Friends. He began:

"The spirit moves me to address a fewwords to you from the 20th chapter of Exodus." (Cries of "Chair, chair. ) He quoted: "Thou shalt not kill," and addressed the meeting in this fashion: Thou shalt not get angry. (A Voice: Three cheers for the Navy and one for Beattv.) Thou shalt always keep thy temper. (A Voice* (Jet your hair cut !) Thou must not bear malice. Thou must always keep thy mind free from evil thoughts. (Cheers for Admiral Jellicoe.) Thou must prevent another from doing wrong. (Cries of: Tho Kaiser.) If thou finucst another doing wrong correct him. (Applause.) Thou must always protect the weak against the oppressors. (Applause.) It is only the wicked who need chastisement. (Cries of: Germany.) "1 AM A MAN OF PEACE." Suddenly half a dozen men made a rush at the unknown and began to run him down the aisle. There was a violent struggle for several minutes, but in the end the unknown reappeared atthe table, with crumpled collar and ruffled hair, and began declaiming again as loudly as ever. In reply to cries of "Name, name," he roared: "I am a man of peace. (Derisive la: gliter.) I came here to tell you " At this point the crowd began to sing "Rule, Britannia." A Voice: Have you been naturalised ? The Unknown : I can trace by descent through British families for 500 years.

Another Voice: Three cheers for the speaker. (Cheers.) Voices, chanting in unison : We want Buxton. The Unknown (who was getting hoarser and hoarser) : I can go on for an hour yet. (Uproar.) I have the floor. ("Let's hear Buxton.") Neither the chairman nor anyone e'se shall prevent me from using my tongue. The Chairman (Mr. Henry Harris) : The time for holding this meeting lias expired. (Uproar.) 1 am sorry this uninvited speaker has prevented you from hearing Mr. Buxton. The meeting is now closed.

Tlie meeting broke up with the singing of the National Anthem. .Mr. Buxton then spoke for about 10 minutes to those who remained on "whether we can do anything to make this a war that would end war." The Peace Committee wish it to he known that the attempt to eject the unknown interrupter was made against their wish and without their authority.