Reading the Riot Act

Arthur Bentley Worthington arrived in Christchurch from America in 1890 with his wife and two children. He announced in a series of newspaper advertisements that he would deliver "a most important lecture".  He published a fortnightly leaflet called "The Worthington Lectures" and within two years he claimed to have over 400 "regular, sincere and devout worshipers" whom he referred to as "students of truth".

Christmas day 1891, less than two years since his arrival, saw the laying of the corner stone of the Temple of Truth. Situated on the corners of Gloucester Street and Madras Street, the Temple was to be paid for by donations from Worthington’s students and was to include a family home for Mr and Mrs Worthington and children. The Temple was completed and a grand affair it was.

However it was not long before the dream, or deception, began to crumble. In 1893, a local Methodist minister, John Hosking had gathered some considerable evidence proving that Worthington was instead one Samuel Oakley Crawford and had so far accumulated eight "wives".

Ordained as a Methodist minister when aged 20, Crawford had posed as a lawyer, banker, politician, real estate operator, spiritualist and mining speculator. Students were shocked, however attendance at his Sunday Services increased.  Worthington/ Crawford's charm must have been immense as a year later he arranged to buy the Temple of Truth from the trustees for half its original cost.

It would appear though that people would eventually tire of the shyster, and his popularity began to wane. Twice he left for Australia and twice he came back.  

In September 1897 he returned to Christchurch and was to give a lecture entitled "My work in Hobart and why I return". An angry crowd assembled for this lecture and due to the noise level it was abandoned. Worthington, however, was determined and for his lecture the following week he sought police protection.  

The Christchurch Star reported that a crowd of some 6000 people gathered and on it becoming obvious they had no intention of dispersing, a provision of the Criminal Code Act was invoked, and for the first time in Christchurch's history, the Riot Act was read.

"Our Sovereign Lady the Queen chargeth and commandeth all persons being assembled immediately to disperse and peaceably depart to their habitations or to their lawful business, upon the pain of being guilty of an offence on conviction of which they may be sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for life. God Save the Queen."

Mounted police (all four of them) were instructed to charge the crowd and those on foot (the remaining 36) drew their batons.

Worthington left New Zealand and was not heard of again until The Star reported that a Samuel Oakley Crawford, otherwise known as AB Worthington died in a New York Prison Cell on December 15, 1917.