Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-06-21
NUMBER 3O2.9uw
The English Clergy.

The readers of Macaulay's History will
remember the Interesting account he gives
OF the inferior social position held by the
clergy in Englanda hundred and fifty years
ago as compared with thatwhich they now
enjoy, and the many curions details he cites
In support of his position. A writer in the
May number of FydzerS Magazine, has an
interesting paper on the changes which
have taken place in the manners and con-
duct OF clergymen, even within the memo
ry of men now living. Our readers may
be amused at few extracts
"'Billy' Butler alias tile Reverend Will
liam Butler, Vicar Of Frampton, Dorset, >
FhO1dled about twenty years ago at an ad-
y&nced age, was wont to relate that he had
known three generations Of clergymen.
The first dined at one. smoked their pipes,
drank their beer, and sailed out in the af-n
ternoon for stroll, in the course of which r
they occasionally did bit of poaching. A
hare or rabbit was snapped up by the aid
of a half-bred greyhound or lurcher, or a
pheasant was Brought down in the twiligh =
under the pretense OF shooting at yermin.
Atnine O'Clock supper rewarded the labors''
OF the day. The Second dined att three
O'Clock, drank port and indulged in pretty I,
nearly the sametieeprSe1 Of smoking pot
hunting, and snpping,, Both generations
were in the habit Of meeting at each others
houses, where they remained, sleeping two
or threein bed, till q cask of ale or a case Of
port was drunk out-much as the Irish
gentry used to congregate for the consump-
lion of a hogs1iead of claret. There was
q room IN Mr.. Buffers parsonage full of ,
spiders, which hecqlled his preserve; the
housemaid being forbidden to meddle with
them, as on a wet day they might be wanted
to make sport Tor clerical party, who shot
them with ipop-g1ns. Then came the third
and mora rpiinaI rnen .NUhn 1iupl a siy had
dinners of,two courses. drank claret, slnok-
ed cigars, Shot like gentlemen with the
leave or on the invitation Of the squire, and
rode to hounds OH hundred guinea horses.
The palmy days of this third race in the
West of England shortly preceded the in
PRODUCTION of what is called Pusey ism,.
which, whatever other changes it may hayer
produced, certainly helped largely to bring
about the greater decorum of dress and
manners, with the stricter attention to-
parochal duty, that have prevailed and
gone on increasing during the last quarter,
of a century. The demure young Leyite,'.
with his silk vest and high single-collared
coat, is commonly h much better parish
priest than his predecessor. Forty years
agola large proportion of the field at any
given hunt in rural district consisted of
clergymen; and we remember hearing Il
retired merchant complain that on one oc-'
tdSlOn WHtll Ilb WAS UltTUNH anu UCIuu.
in a ditch, seven parsons rode over him, re-
gardlcss of his clamorous appeals for help"
Here is an anecdote of the toX-hunting
parson of a former ages
"Till past the middle of the eighteenth
century the poverty of the inferior clergy
was 4 national blot; but when this source
.ofdisrespect was removed or materially less
eiied by the increased value of benetices,
they became obnoxious to a reproach'of an.
opposite kind-to that OF adopting the lax
manners and, joining too freely in the
mundane ADJUSTMENTS OF the higher classes.
Men Of birth and connection, lured into
holy orders by the hope of rich preteI-.
ment, were not likely to attract additional
reverence to the cloth. An illustrative
anecdote is Supplied by Nimrod. "A cer--
tain high-brejl'q digntary of the Church
kept apack of foNhounds, and was one of.
the best sportsmen of his day. When,
however, the mitre adorned his brow, the
hounds were transferred to his noble BROTH
er, who continued them in great style; but
the Bishop did not attend them. Taking a,
ride, however, one day in a country in
which he thought it not unlikely he might
see something OF them, he met the fox. The
hounds were at fault; when, putting his
finger under his wig, his lordship gave one
of his beautiful view-halloos. The hunts
man listened, and the halloo was repeated.
That will do said he, knowing his old
masters voice, that's gospel, 6y G-p" .,...,