“Here, old fellow,” said I to this free-born Briton, who had one of those good open faces such as you see so often in Devonshire, “take this, and go and drink my health;” and I turned away to the ticket office, reconciled with mankind.[8]
[8] I know a clergyman who has just been obliged to give up an excellent living, for having refused to comply with the request of the squire of the neighbourhood, that he should adorn himself with that certificate of stupidity, that decoration of reformed drunkards, the Blue Ribbon.
The clergyman is a simpleton. To get or keep a good living, I would not hesitate to put a piece of blue ribbon in my buttonhole: it is so easy to put it in one’s pocket, while one takes a glass of grog or generous Bordeaux.
XVIII.
New Salvation Agencies — Priestess Rubbers — Asinus asinam fricat.
Whitaker’s Almanack for 1884 announces sixteen new religious sects or associations certified to the Registrar-General.
To my great regret, I notice the disappearance of the Rational Christians. This leaves a net gain of fifteen associations: a very respectable figure, it must be admitted. Here are the names of the sixteen new sects or associations in question:—
Children’s Special Service Association;
Christian Soldiers;
Church Army;
Church of England (unattached);
Free Salvation Army;
Gospel Army Mission;
Gospel Band;
Israel, New and Latter House of Jews;
King’s Own Army;
Latter-Day Saints;
Members of the Church of England;
Methodist Army;
Mission Army;
Pilgrim Band;
Positivists;
Young Women’s Christian Association.
Do not be surprised, if before long you see, figuring on the list of new religious sects, the Materialists and the Atheists or Bradlaughites. I say religious sects, for in this country, even the Atheist raises his unbelief to the dignity of a religion, and builds, or rather gets built—which is more intelligent—a little conventicle of his own.