The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-11
Court Gossip Of Interesting
Epents on THO Continents

register burst out laughing. Louise en-
deavored vainly to preserve her gravity.
They settled down at Fiesole, and were
very happy for time, but Enrico soon
discovered that Louise was "a perfect
child" In the hands OF tradespeopie ana
that she knew nothing of Housekeeping.
What else did he expect? And then the
baby was born. And soon after family
Jars and violent quarrels and reconcilia-
lions. and more quarrels and reconcilla-
tions-and then final quarrel and no
reconciliation.
There Is no moral to the story, except
the very old and moss-grown one that
middle-aged woman ought not to marry
young man, especially when he suffers
from the artistic temperament
A novel ecclesiastical ceremony was
witnessed recently in the parish of
Brompton-Kent. England. where the
parishioners kept the festival by holding
mass meeting and passing vote of
censure of their bishop. forwarding copies
Of their proceedings To the primate and
the Prime Minister. The vote OF censure,
passed by "A very large majority of those
present. reproached the Bishop of
Rochester for his gross and scandalous
injustice of the past three years toward
the vicar. and for his neglect of the
parishioners and his ignoring their APP
peals, thereby causing the church to be
deserted and to become unfit for public
worship"
Prior to this meeting of his flock the
vicar. Rev. III. j. Martin, held n service
in the parish church. at which he laid
his case against the Bishop before his
hearers. 1t amounts briefly to this: In
1907 Mr.. Martin came to Holy Trinity,
Brompton, having previously held two
curacies elsewhere. Within the first year
of his incumbency he began to receive
libelous post cards from a lady. These
post cards were also sent to the Bishop.
Acting on his lordships advice, the vicar
prosecuted the woman, who. on being
committed to trial, withdrew the imputa-
tons and apologized. Whereupon, acting
upon the Bishops advice. Mr. Martin
withdrew his charges. The Bishop sent
congratulations, and all seemed well. But
the husband of the woman then saw Mt
to bring an action for divorce, In which
Err. Martin was cited as correspondent
This suit was dismissed with costs. More
congratulations from the Bishop. DEANS
and other friends.
This occurred in June, 1909. In October
Of the same year Mr.. Martin heard from
the Bishop, expressing fear that very
shortly certain proceedings would have
| to be taken against him CMartinD This
Iintimation was followed by a visit from
the Bishop, who urged Mr.. Martin to
resign in order to obviate the necessity
OF taking these proceedings. This MI
Martin very property refused to do, as
| 1t would amount to an admission on his
part that he was guilty. In july 1910,
the Bishop informed him that he intend
| ed to institute proceedings against him
under the clergy discipline act. but in
| December following, in answer to the ap-
plication from Mr.. Martins solicitor. said
| that the evidence placed before him did
| not justify such proceedings.
| During all this period the Bishop prac-
| tically has boycotted Mr.. Martin. No
| confirmation has been held in his church
| for seven years, and last year he had
to take his daughter into the neighbor-
ing diocese to be confirmed. The con-
gregation has dwindled almost 10 moth
| ing in consequence of the Bishops atti-
tude. The Church Pastoral Aid Society
has withdrawn its grants, which. with
| the absence of Pew rents, has left the
vicar in a disastrous financial position.
The church has fallen into state of dis
repair and the Bishop makes no reply
TO appeals made TO him, both by the
vicar and by practitioners. All of this,
prima facie, ample justification of the
demand of the parishioners that the
Bishop should formulate his charges or
make reparation to the vicar and the
parish.
| The present state of things is a scan
dial. and, whatever there may be against
Mr. Martin, it is not evident how the
Bishop can rid himself of the imputation
| of having himself brought the scandal
to its present dimensions.