The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-26 00:00:00

The Asylum for Idiots, Earlswool.

The autumnal election of this charity was held
yesterday, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-
street, Mr. Alderman Abbiss in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings of
the day, said he had little to comment upon on this
occasion, and he, therefore, requested that the
ladies and gentlemen present would remain quiet for
two or three minutes, as the poll would be opened
immediately afterwards. He had to congratulate
the friends and subscribers on the continued good
health of the inmates, and on the flourishing con-
dition of the institution. (Hear, hear.) There
were, indeed, two or three points to which he must
refer. In the first place, the board had ventured
to do something which they had never done
before, but he hoped the subscribers would
think that in what they had done the
board had acted discreetly and wisely. (Ap-
plause.) It was a fact well known to all present
that the cholera had visited this City, and there
was one case which had been brought before the
public, and subsequently came under the notic3 of
the board, where the mother and five children had
been attacked by cholera. One of the children left
was an idiot, and the board, deeming the case to too
one of an exceptional character as regarded the
usual forms required, had at once admitted the idiot
without any preliminaries to the benefits of the
asylum, subject nevertheless to the approval of the
subscribers. (Loud applause.) If the meeting
approved of what had been done he begged those
present would raise their hands `?(Here every hand
was held up.) He was happy to find that the pub;
lie appreciated the step which had been taken, and
that they had come to the same conclusion as the
committee. They had now some 430 children as
inmates, and the home was quite full. To Pre"
vide for the ensuing election it had been thought
expedient to make temporary provision for addi-
tional inmates, by converting some work-
shops, by which 100 more might be acconone"
dated. It was imperative that this should be done.
Out of the £30,000 required to carry out the ex-
tension of the building, &c., the committee had re"
ceived in promises and cash £3,000, leaving a 013,
of £27,000 to be furnished by the subscribers an
the public generally. The intention was to find an
i
asylum for 800 instead of 400 inmates. The board
however, pledged themselves to incur no debt, bu
to proceed only as they may have funds in band.
(Hear, hear.)
The poll was then declared open, and the ballet
commenced. It appears that on this occasion the
number of candidates-204—is unusually large, W
exceeding any former list, and although the space
in the asylum is so very limited the board have de;
tided to admit 30 cases, viz., five for life, and 25 fe
five years. During this autumn and the ensoiedg4
spring a special effort will be made to obtain fortot
for the enlargement of the asylum, which canil.e
well be longer delayed. The board propose to raise
among themselves and friends the sum of £2709;0
and they hope that the subscribers and the pub't
will contribute so liberally that the desired objo'
may be attained.

Scene in Northmoor-Green Church.
of
The Bridgewater Mercury recounts the particularsisst,

another disgraceful scene which occurred on Sunday e
and was far worse and more distressing than any prcc3din:
ones. Mr. Hunt commenced the morning service W..;
after 11 o'clock, and proceeded for a time in the ordinal
way, when it was suddenly interrupted by a great CO131;
motion being observed near the door, followed by s lo
wf-
t
burst of laughter and a stamping of feet, the evident
tention being to create as much noise as possible. r°1:1
cause of this tumult was the entry into the church of
women and four men, attired in what they designated then)
"vestments." These consisted, for the most part, of seVell%
pieces of paper, either pinned or sewn together, in the
of a cloak, and intended to represent a cope (similar to that,
worn by Mr. Hunt in his high celebrations.) The pap
er
was of various colours, and consisted of strips of 133P0
hangings. On the back, in the gayest colours. were pies 6
of paper arranged in the form of alarge cross. Pieces of largs,
placards, printed on different-coloured paper, pages of °lit:to
trated periodicals, &c., fastened together, helped to core P-of
the costume. One man wore a high "cardinal's hat" roadbed
a
yellow paper; another had strips of coloured paper attach
to his cap, in imitation of the ribbons of a recruit, and "
in front an immense placard, " Scottish Life Insurni3e-ir
while behind was another large placard, " Sangersvelepa
brated Hippodrome." The two women are named
Sweet and Ann Bird; and the four men were It°1::t
er-
Totthill, John How, Edward Hitch, and —Parsons. 0
diately after the entrance of these persons there was $„. ,arse
Wlaccession to the congregation of people' who had to
" the procession." There was a complete interruPtic'biar•
the service, and Mr. Hunt called a constable to se3tgoat
self beside the pulpit. On leaving the pulpit, 11115
proceeded to the vestry, where he attired himself
Popish habiliments, and again came forth, preceded iltitao
server, who bowed low in front of the altar table eselj I,lr.
he passed it. The boy having lit the candl°s'
loud
Hunt knelt down, when there immediately ensued %fp'
noise caused by scuffling and stamping of feet and cc; and
ing, with some laughter. Incense was nest boo' ' tteeat
directly this was commenced the uproar became
indeed. Some put on their hats. The bulk of t 1 ola
bers of the congregation, no longer content with 6°'r
citea•
their feet, began to hiss and hoot, and got very « Go
to
Cries were also raised of " Put it away !" sad folds.
Rome !" In concluding the service, and before 139:v0001
of the "consecrated elements," Mr. Hunt lifted thohissia
with both hands above his head, upon which sow° iv coos-
took place. Himself and his "server" were the °l'.log the
nannicants. Most of the congregation after lesvi vfore,
church remained outside, and waited for some iilll°erteS
Mr. Hunt appeared, when he was saluted with sent opt t°
" Go to Rome !" " How many stamps have 'ee ham. tilt°
'ee ?" &c. Mr. Hunt was escorted from the sP°t
) constables.

MR. WOODIN is just now starring it in Drigbt°l3
with great success.