National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-09
RELIGIOUS POLITICS IN ENGLAND.
''fhe Election was scandslously Rough and
NoisvD


The following letter to the Boston Post may
sffoid some comfort to our election-cursed Amer
lean readers: "a scsne rather unwonted to the
British climate, indeed to any climate, has just
been going on IN the rather plebeian metropoli-
tan parish Of Clerkenwell. 1t appears that the
Office of vicar in that purlieu is filled by popular
election. Men-and women, too, for that matter
go to the polls just as they would in voting for
o member Of Parliament, an alderman or a YES
trJman, and deposit their votes for their favorite
clerical candidate. Now the vicarshIp OF Clerk
enwell Is what would be called, If 1t were merely
Q worldly trust, a fat thing The vicar Is pro-
vided with very comfortable vicarage; he has
an income for life Of something more than o thou
sand pounds year. he 4: an ecclesiastical is mag:
assistance in his clerical functions in the person
Of curate, who is, strange to say, we'll paid.
bouche vas not likely to 60 begging; and as It
was to be achieved by canvassing and election
eering,
BRINGING UP VOTES
and persistent hand. shaking, the contest was sure
to be lively one. lmpecunious rectors and
curates out at elbow gaZed with mild and pious
desire upon the prize; the country clergy and the
city clergy cast equally longing eyes toward the
rather dreary, not to say squalid, quarter Of
Clerkenwell; and first there seemed to be pros
Feet that more than six clerical Richmonds would
the case in all English elections, the Struggle
narrowed to two reverend gentlemen. One was
the Rev. william HoideTness, NJ: a., middle 5
with aristocratic connections. The other was the
Rev. J. II. Rose, b. A. the curate OF Clerk enWell
known in the parish and not only curate but
chaplain OF that famous ClerkenUell prison which
the Fenians tried to blow up some years ago. NO
sooner were these diVines in presence than Wig
orous campaign ensued. 1t was for all the world
like q hot political contest. There were placards
and pamphlets and exhortations without number.
EVERY TAVERN HAD ITS RIVAL ORATORS
occupied by excited, though rather meanly clad
and humble disputants; you would have thought
that the safety or destruction Of the Church OF
England was involved in the issue. The two
reverend gentlemen were on the spot, and did
not hesitate to lead their cohorts Of the church
militant In person They asId ,SS snss s@d
by-streets TO interview humble voters; they ad-
dressed meetings Of their adherents, setting forth
without being Extensively worldly; they dts
pensed such funds as were necessary to deiray
the proper" expenses OF the contest, and they
both worked as zealously as any mundane as
pirant for Parliamentary or civic honors may be
seen to do. There was TO be a nomination" and
nomination day had come to find both parties
This ancient British ceremony took place in
large school-room. The church wardens were
dignity. The Beadie was there, in cooked hat and
staff, to maintain tranquility which was but
too likely to be disturbed; the two candidates
were there, in clerical black and white crayats,
Christian bepignity and federation beaming from
their faces down upon the thousand odd parish
toner's who crowded the body Of the room. One OF
the church wardens, on calling the meeting to
order, (there being, meanwhile, anything but
order in the hail. stated that he would take the
chair without being voted into it. Then began
THE UPRoAR OF PANDEMoNIuN,
such as distinguishes the English elections for
Parliament beyond any conclayes, political or
other, in the world. No sooner had the meeting
been called to order when mild-spoken church
lips were seen TO move, and that was all. HIS
voice was quite drowned by the hubbub. For
%n he he the 81
the chairman, whose lips were seen to move, and
his arms to thrash about, with no distingulshable
utterance. He was at last heard TO express the
hope that the final struggle would be conducted
in quiet and orderly manner sentiment to
which large portion of the meeting seemed to
take serious objection. Then, with much dlfn-
Guilty, the nominations were made. One gentle
man was heard to propose the Rev: Mr.. Rose as
a ut and proper person. SC, and was at once
bly, screaming the name Of Rev. Mr.. Holderness.
and he, too, was utterly snutted out BY the
advocate their fitness and properness Mr.. Rose
eroEe smiling, with his hand in his vest; his
mouth opened, but closed into smile again.
There he stood, patient and tolerant, but the
smile waxcd fainter. Soon it
GAVE PLACE TO SERIOUS LOOK;
several times he tried to speak, but In vain.
Then he whispered to the chairman, who an
address his brother and sister parishioners.' It
was now Mr.. Holderness' turn; but though he,
too, came up smiling and bland, his success was
10 better. The whole of the audible portion or
his speech was, under the circumstances, beaud-
full, but comprised only the three words, MY fell
low. ChristiaIs.' Thus far he got when he, too,
was forced TO 81: down in despair. The show OF
hands followed, and was in favor of Holderness;
then with much shouting and some fighting the
assemblage disperse5. The next three or four
days the polls were opened, and the result Of the
election, one OF the most turbulent that London
has seen for many year, was that the young Gu
rate carried the day by about three thousand ma
iority. / describe this to you as singular COM
mentary on staid and steady England. Remem-
Der that these voters are Of all denominations and
sects, and Of none at all. Catholics, Jews, and,
for all 1 know, Mohammedans and Buddhists,
Comtists and infdels, participated in the election
Of Vicar Of the Church Of England. Women
voted by the hundred. Whether there will be
any charges of bribery and corruption know
not; but during the contest each party charged
such naughtinesses upon the other. Certain It is
that the election was scandalously rough and
noisy. And this is the way they choose their
Vicar In Clerkenwell."