The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-03-12

at once proceeded to recruit adherents to
league which gathered subscriptions to sup
ply Mr.. Phewle with gorgeous clothing and
his altar with lights and flowers. In a very
short time they had collected $500, which
sum was entrusted to Mr.. Leatherbridge.
That worthy undertook to buy the rituals
tic paraphernalia, and did SO, purchasing the
goods from wholesale houses at trade price
and pocketing as his commission the,
difference between that and the retail price,
He was keen man, who never despised
410O pound note when he could earn it in
good cause.
SO st. Junkets Church. being equipped
and furnished afresh, entered into a new
phase of its history. The first time that the
Rev. T. Phewle officiated in scarlet CHI asu-
BILE, and performed genufexions at the altar,
blessing the people with three fingers and
SO forth, he was admired by a crowded con-
gregatiOn; and, indeed, his church never
ceased to be full from that day. But, of
course, there were secessions. Mrs. Mauler
withdrew with her household. Other ladies
not only withdrew but sent to the vicar
eliminating notes; and the wrath of these
orthodox parishioners eventually found a
mouthpiece in the person of the second
church warden, elected by the congregation
"a certain foxy-headed solicitor named jim
BILE. This gentleman had no very strong
views ON Ritual one way or the other; but in
the strife which was rending the parish he
saw the prospect of long and profitable liti-
cation, in which he might be engaged on the
side of the minority. The better to secure
his employment in legal capacity, he has
tened to resign his church wardenship after
lodging vigorous protest in the hands of
the beadle in the vestry. ''Never mind"
said Mr.. Leatherbridge, rubbing his hands
HE resigns because he knows we should
have voted him al tho aar1x,
meeting. Well, I'll get my neighbor Rounce,
the tailor, elected as second church warden,
and he'll do just as I tell him. By the by,
Tom, hope you are beginning to work the
confessional sensibly?'' The Rev. Thomas
had lately set up confessional in his YES
try,
regular in their attendance he remarked,
rather YEARLY. ~ find that these ladies talk
much, and would engross all my time if I
allowed them"
| "Consciences loaded with sins, eh?'' said
| the bootmaker, stroking his chin. 'Well,
| Tom, hope you understand that penitents,
anxious to make atonement, can't do better
than make gifts to the church."
Il had never looked upon itin that light
said Thomas. "Why, the church gives
comfort, dissolution and so forth; aren't
these goods to be paid for?" asked Mr..
Leatherbridge, who had become sound
theologian since he had accepted the func-
ton of church warden. Then he went on
to say that, in his eyes, the touchstone of
repentance was payment in cash; that wo-
men who wanted to be washed of their sins
without paying for the soap were humbugs,
and much more to the same effect. The
Rev. Thomas listened meekly, after his
wont, and said that he would do his best to-
wards carrying out his uncle's views.
Money began from that time To r,o11r inf
his hands pretty fast. Mrs. de Mure and
Miss Mincer made splendid peace offerings
but in doing so each spoke soft words of
which the Rev. Thomas could not but per-
ceive the sense. He saw that the devotion
which the widow and the spinster were
showing him would not lopg be continued
unless he asked one of the pair to become
his wife, and that when once he had done
this he would make an implacable enemy of
the other. In the midst of these perplexities
(which gave his mind kind return towards
the idea of celibacy), a sudden trouble unex-
pectedly beset him in the shape of a sum-
mons to attend upon his bishop.
"What am to do about this?" said he,
showing the episcopal letter to his uncle.
'Well, I'd tell my lord to mind his bust
ness" answered Mr.. Leatherbridge, after
perusing the document attentively.
'sBut can't refuse to call upon him.
"Ah, no, don't refuse; but when YOU 90
don't give in. Take your stand upon the
law"
"The worst is that I don't know the
law"
''No more does anybody: and that's the
reason why the bishop won't care to tackle
you if he sees you firm. On second thought,
you might appear to make a concession or
two. Suppose you promised to give up five
out of the seven candles.
81 will give up five Candles" answered
the plant Thomas, and he sat down to write
tolerably civil letter to his bishop.
On his side, Mr.. Leatherbridge went to
consult a lawyer, who owed him bill for
boots, and got the assurance that the pro-
ceedings at st. Junket's were such as no
court would condemn. "Mr. Phewle may
snap his fingers at the bishop" opined this
luminary.
ITO BE Continued