STRANGE SCENE IN A PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2775, 14 February 1882, Page 3

STRANGE SCENE IN A PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

- An unusual scene occurred at StAndrew’s Presbyterian Church, Clarence : street, Sydney, on the morning of t Sunday, December 18. There was a' largo congregation present, the Rev, Dr Kelynaok, a Wesleyaa Minister who had exchanged pulpits with the Rev. Dr White, the pastor of St. Andrews, had half completed his sermon when a woman who was the worse for liquor, and who was dressed jin : »' faded brown costume, marched ’ tip’the aisle and stood still for a minute in front of the pulpit. The h’ preasher paused for a moment in his discourse, when the woman cried out in, aloud tone, “Shut up, you fool, what you say is all rot; you are all going to hell and damnation.” This caused considerable exitement amongst the ’ congregation. The woman was about to speak again when she was forced out of the chnrch by the elders and given in charge of a constable. She gave her name as Kate O’Brien, and was brought before the magist, trates of the Central Police Court next day. She was charged, under an old act passed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, with disturbing a congregation which had assembled for Divine ‘ Worship. She made no defence, except that she was drank, and did not remember anything of the occurrence. ' The, Bench committed the accused for .trial. .