with details of this clerical arrangement, let it suffice to say that the
new clergyman entered upon his duties with a great show of energy, and
effected very considerable changes, all of which appeared to meet with the
appreciation of a majority of persons interested in the church. It was said
that, mutatis mutandi, there were better preaching, better singing, and greater comforts in consequence of these changes Certainly the religious ordinances were better attended, the worshippers were more numerous and
regular, and the new pastor became suddenly popular. He even had
the honour of preaching before Royalty,, and our townspeople were quite jubilant. But, mirabile dictus! our clerical hero, after some months of
petting and other kind attentions, us a "dear, good man! was discovered to
be one who had suffered the legal penalty of a grave misdemeanor. The
fact and the thought of it were alike horrible to those who had been taking
him by the hand, and but little consultation, we presume, was required
to arrive at the conviction that a man whose antecedents were thus
unfavourable to his morality had better withdraw from the sacred
avocations of the pulpit.
We are not among those who, because a man had once transgressed and paid the full penalty of the offence, would brand for ever as a felon; nor would we object to his assuming a new name is avoid recognition, as long is we could be sure that his after conduct was such as to justify a belief in his sincere repentance, and such also as would place him above suspicion. But if, as in the present instance, the conduct - supposing all that is rumoured be true is not of a character to warrant so favourable a construction, then we say the sooner the public is disabused of its misplaced confidence the better. Personally, we have to regret that much of the odium attached to this scandal of the church has been thoughtlessly thrown upon a gentleman whose ireproachable character ought to be a sufficient warranty of his inmocence in the matter. That a clergyman so esteemed and so careful as Mr Tilson-Marsh is known to be should be suspected of a dereliction of duty in handing over of souls to a stranger without taking some steps to enquire into the status of he man is barely conceivable, Yet, so it is, and without waiting for any communication with that gentleman on the subject, we are almost tempted to become his apologist, and to rebut the insinuation of improper conduct on his part.
In conclusion, we shall probably, not be far wrong in describing the present situation to a two great precipancy in taking into our confidence a stranger whose credentials we never asked for, and whose walk in life we never waited to see developed.
Article No.2. (from the Gazette of June 11th.)
"How often slender is the peg on which there hangs a tale. and taking up the poet's strain we may say now often slender is the mind that -
