The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-11-19
CLERICAL ADJUSTMENTS.
rs Horse Racing the Thing for the
Clergy.
(From the Saturday Review.)

Inc recent correspondence DetWeeu
the Bishop Of Lincoln and the owner OF
Apology produces a rather naked feel
ing. We do not doubt, indeed. that the
Bishop was in the right. As general
principle, the clergy will not strengthen
the position of the Church by becoming
owners Of race-horses. And if the cul.
prit had been half century younger
We should have felt not only approval,
but sympathy. for the Episcopal action.
Perhaps the plea Of age ought to make
no legal difference. Offenders are often
pardoned on the ground of tender
years; but the indulgence due to old
ase is not generally understood to mean
license for breaking the law. AS a
matter Of fact, however, it necessarily
alters our feelings. We can not be
hard upon an old man for preserving
some of the prejudices of his youth.
Horce-racing was never distinctly
clerical amusement; but at least 1t may
be said that in Nr. King youth the
corruptions which are now threatening
to drive respectable men from
the sport were by no means
so fragrant as they are now. More
over, it is impossible not to feel a
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 clergyman.
Whether or not Mr.. King is model
priest, we feel that in all pro Liability
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 charac-
ter which may be estimable in the ruler
Of a country should be altogether mad
missable in the pastor of a parish.
This. indeed, is the most interesting
question suggested by the recent dis
cussion. Considering Mr.. Kings age,
he can not be scandal to mis- Bishop
for very long, even if he should provide
another puzzle for Mr.. Thorn. Nor is
i 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
dial caused by Mr.. King suggests some
rather curious questions as 10 the dis
qualifications imposed by the clerical
character. The rule in all such mat
tiers 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 almost
Christian virtue; and, according to
Mr.. Irollope, no amusement is better
suited TO the clergy than hunting.
Here. however, we come upon debata-
bic ground, and probably the prejudice
against hunting parson is rather
growing III 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 profession and so far it
does not specially affect the
clergy. \ young barrister or doctor
who followed the hounds when he ought
to be sitting on court or attending at
a 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 unitarian argument,
however, is manifestly insufficient to ac-
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 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 mere alter
native to rCugc-et-Roir. 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 an ex-
hsustive 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 d.
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.
tian ethics. A man. in short, who
should preach on Sundays and attend
race courses on week days, would prob
ably have to rub shoulders for six dav.
with all the vices which he denounce.
on the seventh. He would be bound t.
warn any of his congregation that, l
they chose to go upon the turf, they
would try the old exeriment Of touch
ing pitch without being defled; and il
would scarcely encourage q belief il
his sincerity if he at once proceeded t.
try the experiment himself. A suffi
GENTLY ingenious excuse indeed ha.
been put forward by some Of the sport
ing newspapers. They admit that tn,
turf IS in great need of publication
and they ask how it is to be purified i