The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-11-14 00:00:00

THE REV. C. H CRAUFURD ON HIS
MARRIAGE.

Handbills having been extensively circulated,
stating that the Rev. C. H. Crauford, Rector of
Oldawinford, would publish a pamphlet entitled
" A few words to his parishioners, and particu-
larly to his congregetion, on his second mar-
riage," a great many persons attended the church
on Sunday morning, expecting to hear the rev.
gentleman make some observations. The
church was well filled, but instead of their curi-
osity being gratified in the manner anticipated,
they had instead a sermon on the Irish Church,
by the Rev. Adley. Our readers will recollect
thal an extraordinary sermon was preached by
Mr. Craufurd ou his marriage with his cook, on
the 29th of March last. The preface of the
pamphlet is entitled " Avis aux Penny-a-liners
and Writers of Anonymous Letters," and is as
follows :
To penny's-liners I have only to say that, shonld
they condescend to criticise this slight brochure, I trust
their lucubrations may obtain them a dinner, but they
I certainly will ant obtain them any reply from me. To
the • petty larceav rogaes,' who may favour with letters
to which they are afraid or ashamed to append their dirty
names. I will merely repeat what I said some years ago
in the Corn Exchange. that, as I contemptuously commit
their unread productions to the flames, I thank God that
the writers have not had an opportunity to pick my
pocket, or t, rob my larder: for of that, or of anything
else more mesa, I judge them fully capable."

Mr, Craufurd repeats in the opening sentences
of his " Few Words " that he never read one
word of the " diatribes 'to which he refers in
Lis prefatory notes, and it was only recently and
accidentally, he says, that it cause to his know.
ledge that souse of hie parishioners took offence
at his celebrated sersuou. The rev, gentleman
adds :
" Having carefully revised that sermon. I am at a loss
to imagine what just ground of offence it can afford, ex•
cep', an important exception I admit that, at page 12. I
say that, in this punch, the chief distinction between
empLivere ir Sc, cants consists in the superior
f th, ' r Were wealth I feel nu
• . .•.,' !• ••• t. 40 •etly, the aforesaid distinction

French phrase, has

Au aneedeta is given in a note touching
Capability Brawn," the fatuous gardener. 'lt
is relatud," says Mr. Craufurd, "f th.is Mr.
Brown (for in those days gardeners were not
made baranetsl that once on taking leave, after
a conference with Lord Chatham, he exclaimed.
• Go my lord, :Ind soya your country ! ' to which
the Great Man replied, •Go and adorn it.'"
The parishioners of Oldswiniord have, it ems,
carried their grudge against the rector so far as
to withhhold the " supplies" no needful occa-
sions. Mr. Cradurd says :

" Recluse as I am, and for the reasons mentioned in
my sermon. fully intend to continue, I cannot ha utterly
indifferent to the ruaintensnce of friendly relations with
you. I. therefore, hope toot what I have now said may
allay the instation whinis it seems my somewhat hasty
sermon caused. But should it he otherwise, in the ap-
pro..' of my conscience, and the enjoyment of my now
happy home, I shall rest completely satisfied, consum-
mately content. Bat, before I conclude, there is one
other subject which I wish to mention. Though my
sermon woo not altogether complimentary, I can assure
you I thougist for too well of you to suppose you could
godly of the low volgarity, the ludicrous absurdity, of
attempting t) vent your spite against your Rector, by
withholdding your contributions to the honour of God,
or to the welfare of the poor. No conduct, I repeat,
could be MOr., ludicrously absurd than this. For what
dross it matter to me. more than to any other gentleman
in the parish, whether you keep your church in decent
older, or whether the children of the poor are educated
lip contributing to such purposes yen du me no favour
—not the slightest ; by withlsoldlng your contributons
you du me no harm. The only dolfarence is that, it. the
former ease, you do somewhat, at least, in honour of your
Ureator and your Redeemer, somewhat to bersetit your
poorer brethren, somewhat to promote your own salsas
tion. In the latter you dishonour God, you wrong Use
poor, and so damn your souls."

Mr. Crouturd continues in this strain through
a couple of pages inure—singling out by the way
the conduct of "one venerable lady 'for special
animadversion. In respect to another matter,
however, the ladies in a body seem to be in the
same couderahation. The rev. gentleman re.
marks :

'One remark, and I will no longer trespass on your
patience. Nothing is more ill-bred. nothing evinces vul-
garity more gross, than staring; and I therefore really
should not have thought that my wife would be persiat-
ently stared at, except by the meanest of the people.
For their own sake., I lamest to find that this lowest of
all species of impertinence is indulged in towards Mrs.
Crauturd, by some who usurp the title of ladies ! I
tbiuk too. that, on one or two oecasions, when the Sac-
rament of the Lord's Supper has been administered, I
have observed a few ladies advance, with rather unseemly
haste, to the rails of the chancel, apparently with a view
to take precedence of my wife, who has, of course, to*
much decency to join in the race. With regard to both
of these acts of rudeness, I can assure those whom it
may concern, that Mrs. Craufurd and I readily accept
the ignorance of good manners with which the parties in
question must be afflicted. sun 101 l and complete excuse
for their bail mariners. But, as regards the latter point,
bow they will answer to Hun who has commanded us,
even when bidden to an ordinary feast,' to sit down in
the lowest room,' for their unseemly eagerness to occupy
t .e highest place, at the great and solemn Fast oa Ha
most sacred Body and Blood, it is fill' their. own con-
science* to say. Having now concluded the observations
which I felt it needful to make, ladies and gentlemen, I
bid you heartily farewell."

A postcript is added, with reference to the
painting and repairs of the church. Mr. Crau-
furil offers to become one of a committee, even
if limited to three or four, to make up the defi-
ciency in in the sum required, although it should
cost him fifty pounds. And then Mr. Craufurd
winds up with a general self-vindicatory para.
graph :
"1 call God to witness that I say this, not in that
spirit of purse-proud arrogance which I have so severely
and en justly censured. God knows that my purse is far
too short to meet, as I could wish, the numerous and
heavy claims upon it—claims which, if duly considered,
I am sure would make more than one gentleman in the
perish ashamed to give less on such Occasions than ten
guineas for each guinea contributed by me. I say it in
that spirit of piety and of chivalrous devotion, without
whieh no man has the smallest pretensions to that loftiest
of all titles, the title of a Christian gentleman—the
spirit which, where the honour of our God and Saviour
is concerned, regards money as we regard the dirt be-
neath oar feet.

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