The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada WestArmstrong, John
Religion
The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada West
Armstrong, John
Mortimer, George, 1784-1844
To what, then, some will still ask, must these procedures connected with
the schools be attributed? I feel, I confess, somewhat at a loss to
determine. I hope, however, that they have arisen merely from a
well-meant, though certainly an ill-timed, zeal—a zeal, likewise, which
has a direct tendency, though not previously estimated, to promote
disunion among us, and a diminution of loving Christian feelings. But
whatever may have been the cause of these procedures, I do hope, that the
serious evils which are beginning as a consequence to break forth, will
not only be checked, but entirely subside; and that all parties,
superintendents, teachers, and parents, will each in their respective
stations be ready to show that they are not among the last to bring about
so desirable an issue.
And now, with very sincere affection, believe me, my much-endeared
Parishioners,
Your faithful Friend and Minister,
GEORGE MORTIMER.
* * * * *
The following simple narrative, related by his attached and faithful
servant Fanny, also beautifully displays the very kind and earnest,
though very decided, character of the excellent pastor of Madeley.
“Some of the beer shops at the Iron Bridge used to be kept open very
late at night, and master was determined to put a stop to their being
open later than ten o’clock. He used to go to them, and turn out all
the men that were drinking in them after that time. This enraged
some of these men so much, that they declared they would kill master;
for they said, ‘they were determined that no parson should interfere
with them.’ Some of master’s friends heard of this, and told him,
and tried to persuade him not to go to the Iron Bridge the next
night; and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas did not wish him to go; and we all
begged him to stay at home that night; but he told us he was not at
all afraid of the men, and when I said that they would be sure to do
him some harm, he said, ‘Why, Fanny, they have no power over me to
hurt me; the Almighty is above them.’ So master went to the public
house, and saw the very men that had threatened to kill him, and he
talked to them for a long time, and told them that they ought to have
been at home with their families, and that he hoped he should never
see them there again. He spoke so kindly, that they all listened to
him, and never offered to hurt him; and when he had done talking to
them, they told him, that they had fully determined to make an attack
upon him that night, but that _then_ they felt as if they had no
power to hurt him. So master shook hands with them all, and then
they all took off their hats and wished him ‘safe home,’ and ‘long
life to him.’ And they were never there again after ten o’clock; and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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