The Grange advance., 1874-11-18
CLERICAL ADJUSTMENTS.
10 Horse Racing the Thing fer the
Clergy.
(From the Saturday Review.)

g. (From the Saturday Review.)
:\lThe recent correspondence between
the Bishop Of Lincoln and the owner Of
Apology produces a rather mixed feel
ing. We do not doubt, indeed, that the
Bishop was in the right. AS general
principle, the clergy will not strengthen
theposition Of the Church by becoming
DIVERS of race.horses. And if the cul-
pri had been half century younger
we should have felt not oely approval,
bu sympathy. for the Episcopal action.
Pthaps the plea Of age ought to make
ndegal difference. Ofendersare often
pfdened on the ground of tender
yrs; but the indulgence due to old
y is not generally understood to mean
tense for breaking the law. AS a
after of fact, however, it necessarily
ters our feelings. We can not be
ard upon an old man for preserving
ome Of the prejudices of his youth.
lorce.racing was never q distinctly
lerical amusement but at least it may
,e said that in Mr.. Kings youth the
;orruptions which are now threatening
to drive respectable men from
the sport were by no means
50 fragrant as they are now. More
over, it is impossible not to feel
sneaking admiration for an old man
who retains his sporting enthusiasm.
Rightly or wrongly, it seems to imply
kind Of masculine vigor. which is a
good quality, even in q clergyman.
Whether or not Mr.. King is a model
priest, we feel that in all probability
he is fine specimen of the English
breed: we can not help in our hearts
applauding the old gentleman's pluck,
just as we used to admire Lord Palmer.
ston for similar qualities; and it is not
quite plain at first sight why a charac.
ter which may be estimable in the ruler
Of country should be altogether mad
missable in the pastor of parish.
This. indeed, is the most interesting
question suggested by the recent dis
cussion. Considering Mr.. Kings age,
he can not be scandal to his Bishop
for very long, even if he should provide
another puzzle for Mr.. Thom. Nor is
it probable that his example will be i'm
itated by his younger brethren. The
very last charge which is likely to be
brought against the clergy is that they
are given to race.horses. But the scan-
dal caused by Mr.. King suggests some
rather curious questions as to the dis.
qualifications imposed by the clerical
character. The rule in all such mat
ters is definite enough, and is fixed
rather by tradition and by custom than
by logical considerations. A clergy
man may indulge in most athletic
sports; he may play cricket or break
his neck in the Alps; fishing is almest
q Christian virtue; and, according to
Mr.. Trollope, no amusement is better
suited to the clergy than hunting.
Here, however, we come upon debata.
BILE ground, and probably the prejudice
against hunting parson is rather
growing in strength than otherwise.
The objection to hunting, so far as it
has any reasonable ground. rests upon
the presumption that the amusement
costs too much time and money to be
compatible with active devotion
to a profession and so far it
does not specially affect the
clergy. A young barrister or doctor
who followed the hounds when he ought
to be sitting on court or attending at
q hospital would soon find his prospects
injured; and the same remark applies
in much stronger degree to the turf.
A clergyman who has sufficient mar
gin Of time and money to be able to at
tend to horse racing must be very ex-
ceptional member Of his profession.
This purely utilitarian argument,
however, is manifestly insufficient to &C.
count for the sentiment: The incon.
gruity between the clerical character
and the turf is not really produced by
the difficulty Of finding time for the
two occupations. The turf is not fit
for the clergy, as most people will be
inclined to say, because, as at present
managed. it is a demoraliZing amuse.
ment. One of the evils which clergy.
men denounce is the taste for gambling;
and horse'racing is rapidly becoming
more and more decidedly q mere alter
native to r0uge-et-n0ir. Admitting
that it is not necessarily immoral for
half dozen gentlemen to try whose
horse can run the fastest, it must be
added that this is by no means IN ex-
haustive description Of modern. horse
racing. The crowd which is to be found
upon our race.courses is not exactly in
the frame of mind appropriate to di-
vine service; nor does its conduct gen.
orally imply that it has much laid to
heart the teaching Of any variety of
clergymen. The practices fostered by
betting men are not exactly in har'
mony with an elevated system of Chris
should preach on Sundays aud attend
race courses on week days, would prob
ably have to rub shoulders for six days
with all the vices which he denounces
on the seventh. He would be bound to
warn any Of his congregation, that, If