Mr. Punch's History of Modern England, Vol. 3 (of 4).—1874-1892Graves, Charles L. (Charles Larcom)
History
Mr. Punch's History of Modern England, Vol. 3 (of 4).—1874-1892
Graves, Charles L. (Charles Larcom)
Great Britain -- History -- Victoria, 1837-1901 -- Humor
In 1886 _Punch_ vociferously applauded Dean Bradley, Stanley's
successor, for "his admirable answer to the three fanatical
Protestant-defence Secretaries, who would have forcibly ejected from
Westminster Abbey some Roman Catholics who were saying their private
prayers around the 'strong quadrilateral barrier of bronze,' which, as
stated by Canon Duckworth, protects the tomb of Edward the Confessor
from profane hands." He improves the occasion by some general remarks
aimed at Protestant visitors to Roman Catholic churches on the
Continent:--
_Mr. Punch_ heartily wishes that the conduct of English Protestants
visiting the Catholic Churches abroad were anything like as
inoffensive, and as appropriate to the sacred precincts, as was that
of the poor benighted Romanists in Westminster Abbey, who, thinking
that the best use to which a church could be put was to say prayers in
it, knelt and prayed accordingly.
After rebuking the insolent caddishness of ill-bred British tourists
which not only offended the congregation proper, but scandalized their
decent compatriots, _Punch_ continues:--
If Dean _Punch_ saw a hundred 'Arrys, Romans or Rum 'uns of any sort,
praying in Westminster Abbey would he interfere? No, bless 'em,
certainly not. But if he saw one of them sneaking out a pencil to
scribble his name on a monument, or attempting to nick a bit out of a
shrine, or off a tomb, he'd be down upon him then and there, and have
him up before the nearest police-magistrate charged with "maliciously
damaging," and fined heavily for the offence, no matter what his
excellent motive might have been for such wanton destruction. And
this is what the Dean and Chapter would do, too; for whether it be a
fanatic on one side or the other, law and order must not be set aside
in favour of such a rule as "_Omne ignotum pro Fanatico_."
The doctrine is excellent if the language is jocular. But _Punch's_
plea for tolerance is seriously impaired by the virulent hostility with
which he had for years assailed the Salvation Army and its founder. It
is true that he had always discouraged and discountenanced emotional
religion. The visit of Moody and Sankey in 1875 had drawn from him a
set of acid verses on "Missionaries in Motley." After describing their
methods, he continues:--
Their intent is sincere--let us trust, in all charity--
But Religion they cloak in the garb of Vulgarity,
And, under a visor of seeming profanity,
As comic evangelists, preach Christianity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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