New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-16
Clerical Sports.

Clerical Sports.
4 cable telegram announces the death of
the Rev. John w. King, formerly vicar OF
Ashby Ia Launde, clergyman of the
Established Church Of England, who had
gained great deal Of nOtoretv of late years
as the owner OF several remarkable racin o
horses. He had reached the advanced &c
of eighty three, and his death was probably
the result of fall which he sustained last
September, resulting in broken thigh.
Mr.. King was a clergyman of the old
school. When he first entered the Church
the clergymen had much more freedom
than nowadays, at least as regards their
personal amusements. As long as they
were sound Christians they could hunt or
shoot, or DIN in the other of the ordinary
sports of laymen at pleasure. The differ
ence now is that they must atone for MOI e
latitude in regard to belief by submitting
TO less liberty in their personal habits. Mr.
King although the incumbent of two bene-
Fl ;es in the diocese OF Lincoln, had a great
passion for the breeding of horses. and for
fifty years or more devoted mnch of his
time to that pursuit. His horses were
herited by him with his estates. Ii was
not until about twelve years ago that he
began regularly to train horses for the turf,
which he did under the assumed name of
"Mr. Launde," taken from the village whe Q
he resided. His first great success was
achieved with Apology, a descendant of
some of his family stock, who carried Off
the One Thousand Guineas Oaks and st.
Ledger in 1874, winning tl2,SjO during
the season. Mr.: King was also. the
owner of Holy Friar and Hieroglyphic,
both three year olds ont of mares Of his
own breeding. Holy Friar, as a two
year old, won several good races, placing to
his owners credit 92l25. On the strength
of these performances he was made favorite
for the Derby, and retained his position at
the head of the lists till Camballo won the
Two Thousand and assumed the premiership
in public favor. BY Mr.. Kings death the
is voided to the heavy loss of
his hackers, as also are those of Apology
for the Ascot cup and Alexander plate, of
Holy Frier and Hieroglyphic in some dozen
events. and of Hypocrisy, a two.year old,
in the Middle Park plate this year, and the
One Thousand Oaks and other great FLY
races next year. This disqualification of
Mr. Kings horses for the coming races re.
suits from such engagements being held to
be SO purely personal in their nature that
they can not survive the person enteriD-
them.
The great victories of Apology last year
brought his owner 80 prominently before
the public that the bishop of Lincoln felt
called upon to interfere on account of the
scandal to the church. The good bishop
wrote to Mr.. King threatening legal pro-
and Mr.. King promptly referred
him to his solicitor, or in other words chal-
lenged him to enforce the law, if theirs was
any law to prevent a clergyman of the Es-
t 46lished Church from breeding and train
ing horses. The bishop in response ex-
pressed a doubt Of his ability to bring any
law to bear on the case, and urged Mr.
King to put an end to the scandal volunta-
rily, either by retiring from the turf or
resigning his pastoral charges. This appeal
was successful, and Mr.. King resigned his
livings. remarking that he did so, mot
from any consciousness of wrong or from
fear of any consequences which might en-
sue in the ecclesiastical courts, but simply
because he desired to live the remainder Of
his days in peace and charity with all men,
aud to save his lordship the annoyance and
the church the scandal of futile proceedings
being taken against one who had retired
for some time from parOchial illustrations"
After the controversy was thus closed, Mr..
King changed the name of his yearling
hlly to Hypocrisy, change that provoked
40 little comment.
AS aifording further illustration Of the
'peculiarities," to use no harsher term,
the system under which the
Church OF England is supplied with clergy
men. the case of the Hon. and Rev. Alger-
non Capel, cousin OF the present Earl of
Essex, may be cited. He was presented"
to the living of Watford, Herts, adjacent to
the Cashisbury estate OF the earl, by
chat nobleman, when he was COM
young man. From the time
Heath his career was marked by open
letance Of all the proprietes of his posi-
ion and all ecclesiastical law. Not only
lid he ride to hounds in scarlet, but he has
been known to come home from meet just
n time to attend to funeral, dismounting
rom hunter and hitching it to the church
vard fence, and to place himself at the head
# the procession while the clerk was
making vigorous efforts to throw the sur
,lice over his scarletclad shoulders to
humble through the service at 2:I0 gait,
md then after throwing down his book and |
Tipping his surplice from his arms. to leave |
he mourners at the grave, to walk OFF |
for his dog, and remounting his |
unter to ride off, apparently glad the irk.
ONE job was ever. On one occasion when !
n ordination was held in his church. he |
bowed the bishop and his congregation |
marked discourtesy by keeping them all |
rating, and then by marching out of the |
hurch the moment he had got through the |
reliminary service. 1t is also asserted |
hat he offered to read the full church SER
ice against time for wager of tl00 with |
ny clergyman. of the Established Church, |
nd that his domestic relations would not |
ear scrutiny. He was much disliked by |
is parishioners, and frequent efforts were
lade to dislodge him, but against the in
uence of his noble cousin the protests of |
le parishioners, and the authority of the
ishop were alike Observation-Disclosures
eLe1r0pA.