CLERICAL FOLLIES IN THE WEST.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 270, 3 April 1873, Page 7

CLERICAL FOLLIES IN THE WEST.

A good deal of public indignation has been called forth in Exeter through the peculiarities of the Vicar of St. Michael and All Angela' Church. The rev. gentleman insists on a separation of the sexes during divine service. On Sunday a gentleman and his wife, who formerly resided in Exeter, went to the church, and seeing a notice at the door that the seats were all free, selected a seat. They had not been seated very long, however, before a young man went to the gentleman and told him he was sitting on the wrong side of the church. He refused, however, to leave, and was then spoken to by the church warden, who told him he was acting contrary to the rules of the church. The Rev. J. Toye, the vicar, also ordered him to go to the other side of the church and leave Jus wife on the female side ; but he was still obstinate, and Mr, Toye, amidst much excitement, told him in a very loud voice that he would not commence the sevice while he remained on that side of the church. The rev. gentleman then went into the pulpit and spoke to the following effect : — " That a person was occupying a seat contrary to the regulations of that church ; that he had been requested to move to the opposite side ; that the said person was the first who had ever failed to comply with such regulation, and that service would not be commenced while the seat was thus occupied," Upon thi3 the offender left, but meanwhile a policeman had been sent for. — London Cor. of "Irish Times."