A SHAM CLERGYMAN.

Te Aroha News, Issue 4, 30 June 1883, Page 3

A SHAM CLERGYMAN.

THEMangawai correspondent of the Auckland Herald says, — A considerable amount <of excitement, intermixed with profound regret, has been caused by the advent ■amongst us of an adventurous stranger. It appears that on or about the 29th of May a young man with plausible exterior arrived at Mr. Haselden's of Te Arai, from Tauhoa, where he had been conducting services according to the formularies of the Church of England, giving out that he was authorised by the Bishop so to do. His deportment and fluency, and his vast amount of Biblical research, quite took the fancy of Mr. Hasclden, and he considered that all was right Although there was no written anthority or introduction produced, the person alluded to passed as Mr. Rodgers, and purported to be a student from Edinburgh, where he nearly got his diploma. Mr. Haselden was so taken with the individual that he caused him to be introduced to Mrs. Ryan, sen., here^and herfunily, where he enjoyed himself amazingly, visiting a chosen few, and was the admiration of the youngladies. He also forced himself upon Mr. Tutin, the churchwarden, and from him he obtained the surplice and conducted service on the Arai, and on the following Sunday lie conducted service in the Mangawai church with surplice on, the organ and choir coming out strong. A collection was made amounting to l'ss or thereabouts, which was duly handed over to him on behalf of the Home Mission, for which

congratulations and thanks followed: Mr. Rodgeiß then went on to Kaiwaka church. He then stayed some time at Mrs. Claytons, and thence journeyed to the Wairoa. The affair has caused a considerable amount of trouble, Rodgers not only preaching, &c, but also amusing himself with collecting a considerable amount of tittle tattle, and thereby setting neighbours in a violent state of agitation, all under the cloak of authority from the Bishop. "Rodgers "has taken a rise out of us and no mistake, and " Rodgers " will be a by wd here for many a day.