Cambridge PapersBall, W. W. Rouse (Walter William Rouse)
History
Cambridge Papers
Ball, W. W. Rouse (Walter William Rouse)
Trinity College (University of Cambridge); University of Cambridge -- History
In the third week the improvement continued, and three fellows in
addition to the master and the deans complied with the rule, but this
was the high water-mark of attendance, and after all it did not come
to much. The Society expressed its gratification at this, which it was
pleased to treat as the result of its efforts, and at the same time
issued the following notice:
A prize for general regularity, and good behaviour when in Chapel,
has been instituted by the Society, who are as anxious to reward
merit as they are to punish immorality. But whilst they thus wish
to instil into the minds of the Fellows those Religious feelings
which, owing to a bad education, they may possibly be without, the
Society most distinctly declare that they shall not be guided merely
by an outward show of religion. It is not, therefore, enough to go
merely eight times a week to Chapel, and when there to utter the
responses so loud as to attract attention, or otherwise disturb the
prayers of Undergraduates. Such conduct will at all times be
severely punished.... For convenience of those members of Trinity
College now residing in London, six copies of this publication are
sent weekly to each of the University Clubs there.
In the fourth week, apart from the indefatigable Perry and the two
deans, no one came up to the prescribed standard. On this result the
Society remarked:
The Society regret much that during the last week great laxity has
prevailed among the Fellows in general with regard to their
attendance in Chapel. This is the more to be lamented, as they had
been for the two previous weeks so much more regular than usual.
This irregularity cannot proceed from ill health, for they have been
constantly to Hall, although they are not compelled to go there more
than five times in each week. The Society, however, still hopes that
in the ensuing week they will be able to make a more favourable
report both of their attendance in Chapel, as also of their good
conduct when there. As was before stated, any Fellow who shall,
owing to any wine-party, or other sufficient reason, be prevented
from attending, will be excused on sending a note previously to the
Secretary of the Society, and his absence will be counted as
presence. [The last seven words were a quotation from a note by
Carus.] It is agreed by the Master and Seniors that all
Undergraduates do go eight times at least each week! Why then do
they not set us a better example?
These publications were widely disseminated and led to the production
of a number of epigrams and lampoons which were scattered broadcast
in the University. The Society appended to this sheet a note that its
members had "_no connexion whatever_ with _any_ of those abusive and
profane publications which have been so industriously circulated
during the last two weeks."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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