The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-04-22 00:00:00

CURIOUS GOOD FRIDAY CUSTOMS.

The curious custom of flogging the effigy of Judas
Iscariot was observed by the crews of several Por-
tuguese and Maltese vessels which were lying in
the river Thames and the docks of London.
In the early morning a figure intended to repre-
sent the traitor Apostle, made of wood or straw,
and dressed as a sailor, was hoisted to Mae yardarm,
where it remained suspended while the sailors attended
mans. Then, at a meeting of the crew, the captain
was appointed master of the ceremonies, a compliment
which is repaid by an extra allowance of grog. Under
the captain's supervision the effigy was lowered over-
board, and having been solemnly dipped three times, was
hauled in and lashed tightly to the capstan. A proces-
sion was formed, the ship's bell violently rung, and the
bound apostate saluted with mock solemnity. The
crew afterwards prceeded to belabour the effigy with
ropes' reds until his garments were reduced to tatters,
upbraiding Judas with his treachery all the time.
Under the combined influences of fervour and rum the
crew lashed themselves into a state of fury, during the
continuance of which the figure was unlashed and
trampled to pieces amid a volley of howls and execra-
tions. At this stage of the proceedings the ship's bell
was rung, to indicate that a further supply I". f grog
was awaiting distribution. Order was rest, Ted as if
by magic, and, the sailors having refreshed themselves,
preparations are made for the disposal of the remains
of the effigy. The pieces were gathered together and
burnt on the ships in the Thames, but As fires are not
allowed in the docks, the observance of the rule was
departed from there, the effigy being ignominiously
cast overboard. A period of about three hours is gene-
rally wasted by the sailors in this observance.

The singular custom was observed on Good Friday
at St. Bartholomew-the-Great, West Smithfield,
London, of throwing down 21 sixpences on a stone in
the churchyard, where the old women of the parish
pick them up. The money is said to be the gift of a
lady who was buried there, but the bequest is so
ancient that no will can be traced, and even the exact
place of her grave is not known. The custom is,
however, well handed down by tradition, many
people assembling each year to visit the ceremony.
A number of street Arabs came on the scene,
attracted by the report that "tanners was to be giveu
sway," but went away crestfallen when they found the
bequest was limited to old women.
The annual Good Friday's sermon provided for by
one Peter Symonds in his will, hearing date 1587, was
preached at All Hallows, Lombard-street, Loudon,
by the Rev. Prtbendary Mackenzie, who, taking for
his text Hebrews ix., 22, "Without shedding of blood
is no remission," delivered a short but able discourse
appropriate to the day. At the close of the service
the special provision made nearly 300 years ago by the
testator was duly carried out, some 60 or 'so of the
younger boys of Christ's Hospital, the choir boys of
the church, and a few of the Sunday school children
being duly marshalled by the Vestry door, where,
under the superintendence of Mr. Churchwarden
Howden, each child received a new penny and a small
packet of kraisins, the representatives of the Sunday
school having a bun apiece in addition. Several of the
poorer parishioners who were present were presented
with a shilling each and a loaf.