Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1882 — WILBERFORCES TACT. [ARTICLE]

WILBERFORCES TACT.

A new church was about to be opened by the Bishop, and a number of the neighboring clergy were invited to be present at the ceremony. Arrangements had been made for the clergy to walk into the church in procession in surplices, the Bishop last. The procession was formed, all was ready, when the reotor came to the Bishop, saying : “AH will be spoiled ; two clergy are come in black gowns; they declare they will wear them in the procession. They are come for the purpose of openly showing their evangelical principles.” The Bishop replied : “All will be well; they will go in surplices.” The rector assured the Bishop that this was impossible, and that any remonstrance he might make would only cause a disturbance. The Bishop, after again reassuring the rector, said to the clergy, who were formed two and two: “Gentlemen, are you ready? ” and, receiving & reply in the affirmative, he stepped along the rank, and accosted the first black-gowned clergyman with, “ Good morning, Mr. ; will you have the kindness to read the first lesson for us this morning ? ” Then, passing to the second, he made the request that he would read the second lesson. The two fled to find surplices, and the pro cession went into churoh with the two clergy clad as the others. A writer on physiognomy would to know “if large ears denote a miserly disposition, why it is that a mule * so apt to squander his hind legs ?”