The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-01-22
sMoK1Na iN cIauRc1s.
The Weed Used During Divame Service
Even Among the Pilgrims.

The Weed Used During Divine Service
Even Among the Pilgrims.
At one period of its history smoking
was so common that it was actually
practiced in church.
Previous to the visit Of James to tho
University Of Cambridge, in 1915, the
vice chancellor issued notice to the
students, which enjoined that Noe grad.
uate, scholler, or student Of this Univer-
site presume to take tobacco in Saint
Marie's Church. upon payne Of finall
expellinge the Uniyersitie.
The Rev. DR.. Parr. when perpetual
curate of Hatton, Warwickshire, which
living he held from 1888 to 1890, regularly
smoked in the vestry while the congre-
cation were singing long hymns, chosen
/ for the purpose, Immediately before the
sermon. The doctor was wont to ex.
claim: my people like long hymns, but
prefer long pipe"
The Rev. Robert Hall. of Leicester, the
well known Baptist minister, regularly in.
dulged in smoking during the intervals
of divine worship.
Sir Walter Scott, in his "Heart OF
Midlothian" refers to one Duncan, of
Knockdunder, an important parsonage,
who smoked during the whole of the SER
mon, from an iron pipe, tobacco borrowed
from other worshipers. We are told that
"at the end of the discourse he knocked
the ashes out Of his pipe, replaced it in
his sporan, returned the tobacco pouch
TO its owner, and joined in the prayer
with dacancv and akfontinu
The Puritan Fathers were greatly ad.
dicted to smoking; indeed, the practice
became SO common that even these
straitlaced observers of times and seasons
actually smoked in church. This GUS
tom soon caused very considerable an
noyance, as the religious exercises wers
greatly disturbed by the clinking of flints
and steels to light their pipes and the
clouds Of smoke in church. Hence,
in the year 1859, the colony passed this
law: at is enacted that any person or
persons that shall be found smoking Of
tobacco ON the Lords Day, going to or
coming from the meetings, within two
miles of meeting house, shall pay 10
pence for every such default. Under
this law several persons were actually
fined; but the punishment failed to
secure the carrying out of the arbitrary
second portion of the enactment.
The custom Of smoking during the
church service was not confined to the
laity and minor clergy, for it is recorded
that an archbishop of York was once re-
proved by the vicar of st. Marys, Not
tingham, for attempting to smoke in the
church vestry.
The Rev. John Disney, Of Swinderley.
in Lincolnshire, writing on the 18th Of
December, 1878, to James Granger, says:
4The affair happened in st. Mary's
Church, Nottingham, when Archbishop
Blackburn was there on q visitation.
The archbishop had ordered some of the
apparitors or other attendants to bring
him pipes and tobacco and some liquor,
into the vestry for his refreshment, after
the fatigue of confirmation. And this
coming to Mr.. Disney's ears, he forbade
their being brought thither; and with
becoming spirit, demonstrated with the
archbishop upon the improperly of his
conduct, at the same time telling his
grace that his vestry should not bs con.
verted into smoking room. ALI tho
Year Round.