[THE CRICKETER CURATE.]
"We don't care much about the preaching
but what we want in the Curate
is a good break to the off."
Cricket is the nicest, best and most gentlemanly exercise in Great Britain. How general is the love of cricket is shown by the story of some parishioners who, when asked by their Vicar what sort of a Curate they would like, said:—"We don't care much about the preaching, but what we want in the Curate is a good break to the off."
[THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN.]
I think you are quite right in commencing with a religious service a ceremony such as I am about to perform. These institutions are established for the welfare of the inhabitants, and we begin with a religious service in order to impress on those who are going to use the Hall hereafter that, whatever is done inside the Hall should be done in a way which is really a Christian way. It will not affect in any way the feelings of those who attend for amusement or instruction, except to prompt a religious feeling which we all wish to have some time or other in our lives. I was very pleased to be able to come to-day and perform the opening ceremony. A little pressure was put on me because at my time of life you don't recover from any extra exertion.
I do like this term of Brotherhood. Those who have arrived at my time of life know what it is to have and to value a really sympathising brother. I am referring to my own dear brother, who has recently left us. Throughout our lives we did not have a single word of difference or a thought of difference, and the word "Brother" will draw me out at any time. It is the idea of universal feeling that everybody is trying his or her best in this world in whatever he or she may be trying to do—it is the feeling of Brotherhood which helps us to get that feeling.