A FIGHTING PARSON

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 6 December 1912, Page 7

A FIGHTING PARSON

There are a . good many "muscular" Christians among the clergy of to-day but few go so far as a Melbourne minister who has made himself noted for the manner in which he combines picL ty with pugilism. The church ai which he officiates is in the slums of Melbourne, and his flock are far from I being of a docile character. A number j of young hoodlums have long been n source of annoyance to him in the performance of his duties, smashing the windows! of his church, and breaking even the gratings on the ventilators in their determination to do damage, ft was quite a usual thing until, recently, lie says, for men to set crackers off in the church and constantly interrupt and jeer at the pro.fchcr. First of all he tried soft words, but findin»; these of no avail lie decided to adopt more forcible measures'. So one Sunday night when the interruptions were as bad as '• al. She descended from the pulpit, quietly removed his coat ami walkkur up to the rinsrleador. an athletic youth of 10, "landed" him a blow nn t.ho iaw which felled him H (lie floor. The rest of the party, cowed by their loader's defeat .wore easilv ejected from the church, but outside they gathered their forces and nian--1 nod an attack. The clergyman, however, did nof retire with the vietory only half won. but "went for" the mob right and left, doing much execution, and succeeding in oomplotoiy demoralising them. He says lie i." glad now that he learnt boxing and wrestling at school. He is of an 'eminently practical turn of mind. .Si\ vears ago, according to his account, lie descended upon Fit/roy, >l>lbcurnc, intent upon reformation. iHe bought three houses, all of "bad remit a Hon, and converted them into his present mission church. To attrne 1 - people to his services he gave di-.pla.vs of moving niotures, getting » *unnlv of films' at chean rates. Till'-■ret was awakened; nml thos» •f----forts woi-« .iwnrrV! bi' ineiT-ri-iiu/lv lnrce and at-t-'Uitive oonrrroLM' i T!-) till r-vv til" r.i,-dv ''■>-- been fhe -hW difficult-, bo 1 - fl-at !-.<■• bron onelWl at lear-t f^.v-;-:-;i-No doubt hi-- fist; have irsnire-1 in the hearts of th" hf-oli<rar.s a r^- 1 "'""'' which his sermons «-rvnld neve- jr.-" succeeded in producing umrdc'l.