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We had
some difficulties with the Roman Catholics. Several of them were converted,
and two young women brought their beads and rosary to Mrs. Corbridge and gave
them up. This roused the anger of other Roman Catholics in the town and of
the priests. One night Mr. Corbridge was not feeling well and stayed at home,
Mrs. Corbridge remaining to nurse him. So I had to conduct the open-air
service in the Market
Square alone. The crowd was
larger than I had ever seen it before. My workers rallied round me and I was
provided with a chair. As the service proceeded the crowd grew. Until the
benediction was pronounced everything had gone on in peace and quietness, but
the moment the benediction was said the crowd began to sway menacingly. My
band of workers and myself were in the centre. The swaying grew more powerful
and the people more excited. Then they set up one of those wild Irish
Catholic yells and closed in upon us. My workers gathered round me for my
protection. One ferocious woman in the crowd took off her clog and struck at
me with the heel. But just as she was driving the blow home, her companion
came between me and the heel and was felled to the ground. There were a few
policemen near the spot, and when they heard the yelling and perceived what
it meant they worked their way into the crowd and came to my rescue.
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