RELIGIOUS "REVIVAL" AT WELLINGTON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 487, 6 April 1869, Page 3

RELIGIOUS "REVIVAL" AT WELLINGTON.

The unusually quiet country district of Wairarapa, in the Province of Wellington, has just got up a religious dispute of a violent character. The particulars are thus told by a correspondent of the Otago Daily Times: — Some time ago a Danish preacher named Backland was introduced to the district by a well-known religionist named Deck, who has a large congregation of his own in this town. Mr Backland was welcomed as a brother by the Presbyterian clergyman, Mr Ross, and the Wesleyan one, Mr Rishworth, and both reverend gentlemen allowed him the use of their pulpits. Soon what is termed a "revival" began to follow his ministrations, and the women especially went mad about

: him. Prayer meetings were held, and , people went into fits, others stood up I and confessed their sins, while others '■ announced themselves to be regenera- [ ted and cleansed from all sin. In fact all the regular revival " business " was gone through in a complete and perfect way, and it is even said that one of the converted, being pressed for Eayment of a debt by another, excused imself from payment by quoting the text about its being more blessed to give than to receive. On one occasion Mr Backland gave out a hymn, but before the congregation began it he called out " you hypocrites, how dare you attempt to sing that hymn !" and then went on to abuse the congregation. Messrs Eoss and Bishworth, becoming scandalised by these proceedings, and doubting the orthodoxy of Mr Backland's doctrine, called a meeting to announce that they had no more connection with him, and at that meeting denounced him in strong language bs a " Plymouth Brother." Mr Backland in return called another meeting to defend himself, and this meeting was crowded, a large portion of the audience being women. Mr Backland read extracts from his diary, gave an account of the good work he had done, abused the other clergymen, and after a good deal of prayer, closed the meeting. Thereupon another chairman was chosen, and Mr Eishwood proceeded to reply to, and in his turn abuse Mr Backland, the women being particularly demonstrative in their interruptions. A most disorderly scene ensued, to find a parallel for which the local paper says it would be necessary to go to the penny theatres of Whitechapel, or the beer-shops of Bateliffe highway. After a row of some hours' duration, the proceedings terminated by some one enveloping Mr Backland's head in a towel smeared with butter. :