New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-24
PLATES OR BAGSf
CHAPTER /.

Rev. Reginald Brown, curd'c vi p 49,, It;Gh
bitter enemies The Rev. John Smith was lilsl
Church and the Rev. Reginald Brown was 10"
Church. The existence OF TINS difference OF opiiic
ion is, however, hardly suihcehI eA rib lion
their enmity, in many cases me iilSh hulon io
calmly lies down by the Low Church llihp ana we
have seen the High Churcinan preach lot nis
brother of Low degree, atiIc" II! t' nu i'ncon,.
sombrc Geneva gown, whilst 1t Is not al all lllcon
mon 10 see "a sound Low Church brother, at'lred III
a Moabitsh garment chcciiuIly assisting Ill iiisn
Tnt Their cnmitv arose thus. Hlsford and BIS
ford we're small towns about twenty miles apart;
supporting between them one newspaper 1niieo
The llillsford Gazette and BlllSl0rd Nhrohicr,
q iournoI of course widely read III both towns ana
the surrounding ncghborhood. ~.
Being a worldly-wse man, the editor was whal l
his Steiner brother Of the Eatol'"hl ""Het"
wouId have tvlcd wavcrcr. lie had no wish Ia
see Il rival newspaper started IN Ihc n.carSle , y,
either political party, SO he calmly preserved Il
strict neutrality between the two: Ills paper was
omen fo all opinions and hostile TO none llls
leaders were models Of cvcn-handcd justice ana II
to-day he had in tic discharge OF his cdltorI uule
TO blame Mr.. Gladstone, tomorrow nc mlgh' hn!
something which required altering III the conduct
of Lord Salisbury. But he was not very lohu vi
finding out the weak points In an argument VT II
policv or dwelling on the dark side of slalcslnans
character There is enough evil, ne lised 70 IT,
mark, around us which we cannot fail to observe:
let us therefore try TO find out the go9d whlcn 30
often escapes notice H. is rcnarkable PROOF oil
the skill with which he concealed his real opinions
both political and religious that each party cliiicu
him for their own. -. all -, h,,1o
ON which combatantS differing from each other III
their views political ecclesiastical, could meet
in battle array and freely laud their own opinions
whilst abusing those of other peop!e Many Wcic
the fights and long we're the letters deep an' sptlc
the arguments which, week after week, were 10 !"
found in thr columns devoted TO the use OF core
srondcnts in the said journal. This happy int
.lrtialty Of the editor was highly satisfactory 10
an opposing sections. Did \. abuse rs actions
a, public man or t his BoNi ot in "P rc cas was lie
spcnt the intervening week III conposllg power
ful reply which would utterly demo~h ~ know
ng that his article would ma an cInaNS iea"S
welcome in the columns OF The journal =,
For some months war had been raging III uit
paper touching certain ecclesiastical matters ol
great nomcnt IN winch Tie hcE a. Hi1S' AN" ',,c
Rev. l.. Brown had taken prominent an" "Pp"S"'
parts. This Of course, considering their views was
ONLY natural. MIR Smith. for instance. had VIII
ten manV letters Of portcutous length, irllrd WIN
copous extracts from authors. ancient ana mourrh'
living and dead. in support of the statement that
collecting the aims in church IN round laeS, III
stead of in fiat plates contrary L. all the trad-
tons and customs Of the Church IN all ages; II WAS
n custom not only purely modern IN itself
but distinctly Poplsh in It's tendencies 10 Which,,
of course, Mr.. Brown replied in letters equally
lengthy and numerous. supported 10y arguments
equally powerful and convincing. in order 10 prove
that the usc Of plates had come down from the time
Of the Phariscca. who sought. by the lnglc oi IN"
coins on the plates, to attract their nelghblrs ears
to the fact that they were giving something. II
haply they might also attract their eyes To the d.
cOVcrv Of what that something was.
Did Mr.. Brown seek 10 prove mat PACK gown
was not sanctioned by the canons Of the English
Church and ask IN EGe OF fqpH w" %Ga' rr ycp
with the equally pertinent question. where
was the sanction for that purely papi,ticql gar
uen called c9ssock% IT, hcTGtSrr; Mr. br ,E,,
Mr. Smiths true place was in the ranks Of dissent,
Mr. Smith WIS equally confident tia; one dag Mr
Brown would be found IN the Church OF Rome, 10
which indeed if no were an honest man. he would
long since have retired.
There also "A very pretty quarrel ~ 70 the
legality of a ccrgymans going a-ishng In gray
tweed suit Mr. Brown contcndcd and proved Ia
hi> own satisfaction AT least, that II was most
unorthodoN and unprofc--lonal habit whilst Mr..
Smith. with equal contentmcnt. affirmed and
proved that il was one most convenient In Itself
and sanctioned by the highest authorities.
40 wonder therefore they were bitter enemies
Dangerous man, that Brown Mr.. smith nh
eui~c They tell ne some Of the innovations he
i making his rcctor-ycy weak man-introducc
are totally and purely paPislcal
Dear me. Brown would say, that Mr. Smith
has no idea Of dcccncy and order 40 business in
the Church AZ all. Why that last letter Of his
WAS utterly subycrsivc of all good Church tr1di-
ton.
II is very evident that each Of the combatanis
considered the other most unprnciplcd, or, M any
rate. wrong principlcd, individual We may adj.
however, that in spite of their principles they
were both Aard-worklne conscientious parish
priests. and extremely popular with their rrNPcc-
warfare might have continued. or how much
worse enemies they might have Become. had they
continued to remain such close ncshbOrs; but a
sudden end came to the fight.
II was not brought about 10y truce nor by the
signing Of terms of peace, bat by the flight of
of the opposing warriors Mr.. Smith retired, not
ONLY from the contest, but also from the ncighbor
hood 80. gentle reader this was not from cow
ardicc or the apprehension of approaching defeat.
as YOU will from this extract, published on the
field Of battle.
I'VE regret 10 say that our worthy Rector the
Rev j. Smith. il compelled, owing 10 failing
health 20 resign the post lac has 40 long and ably
filled We understand hc Is about - settle down
for "A short time i'm some quiet seaside place before
entering upon another and less arduOus sphere of
work, We wish him we'll. and can assure him ne
will carry with him the respect and esteem Of oil
who know him.