The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-03
PRAYERS IN THE COMMONS.
Attendance on the Ceremony Ha.
Immediate Reward.
:. p. O'Connor, in Harpe

L. L. OConnor, In Harper.
The House of Commons is uniuue among
the legislatures of the world I'm having no
complete accommodation for its members.
There are altogether go members of the
which only S06 are on the floor. The Speak
er takes the chair at 8 o'clock, except on
Wednesdays, and unless the House has
agreed to what are called morning sit
tings,'' which begin at 2 O'Clock. Three
o'clock is sufficiently late in the afternoon,
judging by the example of other legis-
latures; but 1t is too early for the men OF
business, the practicing lawyers, and the
men of fashion, who still form so large a
factor in the membership of Parliament.
It is rarely, therefore, that there are more
than a few members in attendance at that
may be that this is the hour of devotion.
Each sitting of the House is begun by the
solemn reading Of prayers by the Speakers
chaplain-at present the well-known Arch
deacon Farrar. Those who attend prayers
reap an immediate and earthly reward. On
the large table that stands in front of the
Speakers chair there is a box which con-
tains a number of cards with the word
Prayers printed upon them.
The member who has attended prayers
writes his name on this card, and thereafter
places it in the small slot which is at the
back of each seat in the House; and for
tina particular evening that seat is his.
He may leave the seat for hours. but he is
entitled to it whenever he returns. and can
eXpel any person who may have taken it
classes Of persons in the House who have
any settled rights with regard TO seats. The
front bench on the right hand side of the
Speakers chair is called the Treasury
bench, and on this sit the various members
of the existing administration The bench
Immediately opposite is called the front OPP
position bench, and on this sit the members
of the previous administration
There are, il will be thus easily under
stood. two peculiaritieS under these cir
cumStanceS about the attendance at
prayers. First, the gentlemen usually pres
ent are not always those most distinguished
for their picty. The caUstic editor of Truth
has taken, in recent years, TO laying the
foundation stones of nonconformiSt places
OF worship, but nobody would be less likely
to set up a claim for special piety than Mr..
Labouchere. Nevertheless, every night of
attention to- the miniStrations of the chap
lain. The secret reason is that the first
seat on the front bench below the gangway
I will explain the term later on-iS a
place peculiarly well suited for the guerrilla
that is ever on the watch for the moment
istration; and Mr.. Labouchere, as the chief
of the guerrillaS, is especially fond OF this
seat. and has occupied it for years. This
ircumbency, though Sanctified by so many
years of usage, has still TO be won by
regular attendance at every evenings
prayers; the rule is infexible-except in
the cases already mentioned-that a seat
can be held only for one night, and that then
it shall be won by attendance at prayers.
The second popularity is that the men who
are most in want of the assistance of
prayers. as having the heaviest response
bility upon their shoulderS-the members
of the administration and the leaders of
During prayer-time the front benches are
always a yawning desert. unknown by the
form of q single member of the administra-
ton, great or small.