Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Saturday 23 September 1899, page 5


SsDnssiUGssonaO JLoffiSanp© Ss^ as (SBsirgj^'DifflsiDDn

LiveSy Scene asiuf a Mmmed

An extraordinary scene occurred at a ( lecture delivered by the Rev. George Gladstone, at Burmah, a towm-hip on the Murray near Nathalia, on Friday night. Hecently a fancy dress ball was he'd there, and Mr. Gladstone advertised that he would lecture upon the ' Sin »ud Shame of Dancing iu the ball aforementioned.' The schoolroom wau racked, and an immense crowd as

sembled outsiilc, numbers having travelled lout; distances to heHr lh« lecturer. From tho outset, greiit hostility was manifested towards Mr. Gladstone lie whs called 'a liar' to his face for some of his assertions, and when he proceeded to make deprecatory remarks concerning Gippsland people ho was promptly ordered to ' shut up 'and leave the people in that part of the colony alone. All this time a couple of fiddles were being played outside, and one individual performed a step dance in the school porch. A climax was reached when Mr. Gladstone asserted that the Irish were the cause of ali the social evils with which the English-speaking people were cursed. He said the chief characteristics of the Irish were drinking, dancing and dynamiting. The uproar became deafening, and Mr. Gladstone then appealed for fair play. He was significantly informed by a brawny Irishman at the door that he would get it if he only came outside. The lecture concluded amid the greatest confusion, and Mr. Gladstone was severely hustled. Many persons declared their intention to drop him into the river Murray which was 50 yards away. Only for the fact that Mr. Gladstone escaped by a side door through, the scrub, and obtained a lift in a buggy belonging to a farmer who did not desire that the clergyman should be maltreated, be would unquestionably have been severely dealt with. There is great indignation at the bitter attack made upon the Irish residonts, of which there are a large number in the Barmah district.