Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-04-19
CLERICAL REcREATIoNs.

A writer in a recent number Of Black |
mood Magazine in speaking OF amusements |
10 general regrets that there are so few left |
sin which the country parson may venture |
TO take his share. But says Black !
wood, "the unwritten law against clerical
amusements has, as might be supposed |
some very curious anomalies Their law
fuIness or uulswfulness depends, in some
people minds upon the very oldest dis,
tinctiou-. We remember we are really not
drawine from our Imagination for oUr facts
a clergyman Of the strongest evangelical
views who was very fond Of shooting and
an excellent shot he was. Ii seemed TO
have been borne IN upon him by some OBJ
hqultv Of conscience, not uncommon Ia
narrow minded school, that the sinfulness
of such pursuit lay not in the act but IN the
costume. so instead Of she ordinary shooting
coat and CATERS. he took the field in solemn
state. in a full dress black suit, low shoes
and white stockings, and a white tie With
very long ends-for all the world as If he
were going 10 preach TO the birds instead OF
10 shoot them To see that black swallow
tail 20 through a brambly cover for the
country was wild, aud the chief sport 1t
afforded was cock shootingl was as our
/ American friends would say, "a caution.
| This writer thinks that outdoor exercises
may be cultivated BY the English clergy
| with advantage, the main point being the
| manner in which they are pursued:
sit il desirable that whatever the paTson
| does, he should do well and thoroughly and
the more things he can do in this style the
better There is profane tendency among
his parishioners to look upon him as good
kind of old woman: well meaning according
TO his lights, useful for presiding over soup
distribution and clothing Ssbs, and teaching
little children, but as hei1sess as one Of
these innocents 10 all secular relations of life
Some persons may even fancy that thesC
negative qualities are, on the whole, becom
ing In the clerical character, as not to6-muct
concerned with the things of this world
They make great mistake, ina country hkt
England Euglishmen, high or low, appre
ciate energy and excellence IL every kind
They will respect the pars0n very muel
more If they see that he Is good for some
thing else besides dealing out weekly length
1 of sermon. The squire thinks none the les
Of him because he Is a fair Judge OF horse
= the churchwardcn puts some faith n
? teacher who can take up his parable out @
church, upon turnips. The young farmC
{ and the farmer lad are not great in,dlVImt,
2 The result upon their minds OF their atteni
2 ance not too regular upon the afternoe
E sermon Is very much what the poet descT
e bes-
Il niyer kuowed what, mean'd, bat ] thoUi
q ,ad summat 70 sasy,
An thowt a said wha; ost to, ha ssid, an
coined AWAY
= But they soon get to be fair ia dges Of Il
I terrible accuracy Of the practiced bowie
+ and are rapt in admiration Of the drives I
y four. which seem made so easily, but Whit
q their own stronger arms utterly tail to EN-
l. late And they come TO a very natural
not strictly logical conqiqs.si9..us that at!
the other. The sermons may still be
h beautifully uninteIligible TO them as 1
4 wrist-play, but they will at least have a pie;
70 ant consciousness that their teacher kno
~ what he is about -Nesg York Hed03i