New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-11
AN EPISCOPAL SCANDAL.

1t had been an eloquent sermon: the Bishol
had been at his best. That was the general feel
ing At the informal meeting which was hel(
N the Deans parlor the morning after. this
feeling was strongly expressed.
eff" said Mr.. Dean, words make mer
temperate then surely the words which we were
privileged TO hear proceeding from the pulpit II
our beloved cathedral yesterday afternoon mus
have carried conviction to many an erring soul
So said all of them. Canon Gorse. in particu
lar felt bound to say that he had heard many
temperance sermons In his time. but never one
which had impressed him more strongly thar
the one which the Bishop had delivered yester-
day to the clerical and lay workers In the cause
Of total abstinence. When the Canon made
this outspoken declaration, every parson in the
room-and every man Of them had preached
temperance sermons in his time. so they ought
to have been good judges-exclaimed. Hear
heart
Perhaps the enthusiasm rendered greater
By the fact that. until quite lately, the Bishop
had scarcely been q stalwart Always on the
side Of teInperance-oh, yes certainly that-but
on the question. the vital question. or total
abstinence his views had scarcely been so pro
not need rs some Of his admirers. both clerical
and lay would have wished. Indeed. 1t was
unc erstood that the Bishop himself favored a
cool glass of wine at times. In fact, 1t was re-
norted that he was even esteemed cOnnoisseur
in he matter Of certain Spanish wines which are
nowadays esteemed old-fashioned. That this
ST ould have been so was. In degree. unfortu-
mite: because how could teetotalism, a pro-
paganda, assume those dimensions which were
In very way desirable in diocese. the bishop Of
viii III, as 1t was well known, himself looked
with a by no means unloving eye on the wine
when It is red? When, therefore. 1t was an
nounced that. IL only for examples sake. the
Rishop would henceforth shun the spirit which Is
mans universal curse. 1t was felt, and rightly
felt that a victory had been won. That victory
had so TO speak, been consummated by the
Bishops sermon in the cathedral yesterday, IN
which he declared himself teetotaler on the
side Of the teetotalers, and willing, nay anxious
to stand in their forefront and to lead the van.
zone thing" observed Canon Gorse. seems
p.air-that Is, that now shall be on safe
ground in refusing to renew the lease of The
Rose and Crown" For that. thank goodness.
Again the reverend Canon seemed but 10 give
voice to the opinion of all who heard him. rms
question Of The Rose and Crown had beeh
as & thorn in the side Of the cathedral chapter
The Rose and Crown was an inn which actu-
aiIv faced the door by means or which the
choir and officiating clergy were wont to gain
admittance to the sacred edifce. Sad tales were
told Of it, Of how e or s seu do fTom The
Rose and Crown to the choirmen While they
had actually been engaged in practlce ana
other dreadful stories. The lease OF the inn was
running out. The landlord-one George Bouiter-
desired its renewal. The house and the ground
upon which 1t stood were the property or the
cathedral chapter. Mr. Boulter had already
been privately notified that, In all probabliity'
his lease would not be renewed. 1t was the
desire Of the chapter that the house sn n De
factor which might upon this point breed dis-
sension had hitherto been the Bishop But now.
as the Bishop himself had signed the pledge. IL
at hat & (IOrSe
the scandal Of a. number Of clergymen owning
public house would be put an end TO.
The Canon had scarcely uttered his remark
when the Hbary door opened. and servant,
entering. advanced to Mr.. Dean
Mr. Boulter. sir, says he wishes to see you
most particular"
Mr. Bouter,' exclaimed the Dean. The man
himself, the landlord of The Rose and Crown.
The Dean reflected lie rubbed his nose VAIN can
wish to say TO me? However ! will see him
Tell him So" The servant vanished. The Dean
turned to the assembled clergymen. 1T is, per-
\ haps lust as we'll that should see the man at
once, and let him know clearly what our position
Exactly" said Canon Gorse. Let him under
stand that plainly 1t will not only be fair TO
ourselves but it will also be fair to the man.
Mr. Boulter was portly person; his counte-
nance was ruddy; In manner he was affable.
lie was, all over. Mine Host Of the Inn; type
Of Boniface which. II we may believe the
chronic,ers, used to abound. but which, under the
present advance Of the teetOral forces, L. we Will
say fortunately, becoming extinct. He rever-
enced a gentleman but above all things he rev.
erenced the cloth. His motto as boy had been
Church and Crown; but in these latter days
he had begun to fear that both Church and
Crown were on the side OF the enemy
"Mr Boulter" observed the Dean. as he
entered the room in which that gentleman was
waiting II am pressed for time. Indeed, have
a meeting in the library. ] must therefore
ask YOU TO tell me in as few words as possible
what Il Is you wish to say
Mr. Boulter turned the brm or MS nat ROUND
and round In his hands.
ct Is about the lease, Mr. Dean.
Il thought so. 1 may as well be brief with
you. and clear. You may take my word for 1t
that the lease will not be renewed and that. in
short, The Rose and Crown will cease to be
an inn
II think not Mr.. Dean"
You think not. Mr.. Boulterl May ask what
There was something IN the tone in which Mr.
Boulter said that he thought not which the
Dean did not undesstand die, He stared Are a at Mr.
actually smiled
II think that The Rose and Crown Will
tinue to be an inn. That is what meant. Mr..
Dean"
The Dean shrugged his shoulders.
IF you choose to persist IN thinking so, in
spite of my assurance TO the contrary. that Is
your affair, not mine"
The Dean turned to go. as II the interview We're
already at an end. Mr.. Bouter coughed behind
his hand.
II should like to have one word with you before
you Co." The Dean faced around. Then am
to tell my tale?"
your tale? What tale?"
About the Bishop. Mr.. Dean"
About the BishopT The Dean looked the
innkeeper up and down. vague suspicion
crossed his mind. Already. at this hour of the
morning. could the man be drunk? There
nothing in the fellows bearing TO denote any
thing Of the kind. And. indeed. It was matter Of
common notoriety that. personally. the landlord
Of The Rose and Crown was an abstemious
man. But none the less there was at that par
ticular moment something about Mr.. Boulter's
manner which the Dean was at loss TO under
stand What do you mean by your tale about
the Bishop, sir?"
For a moment or two Mr. Bouter continued
to turn his hat round and round in his hands
as II he found some difficulty in choosing the
exact words in which to frame what he wished
to say.
II understand" he began at last. that yester-
day the Bishop preached a sermon upon tenn
perance."
'You understand quite rightly. 1t would have
done you good. Mr.. Boulter. to have heard that
lad done q VOi do