The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 387: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

) Rt me ~s) i2 THE et ee a es MYSTERI“£S. “Yes—that he has, aunt,” repuen the young woman, In a joyous under-tone: Having expatiated in this manner at great length “and I think he’ll | Mr. Sneaksby sate down; and while Mr. Paxwax succeed altogether soon if he goes on in the same | began to make a collection in a silver plate on one way he has begun.” side of the chapel, Mr. Crick performed the same 1 “Heaven be thanked!’ murmured Mrs. Piggle-! duty on the other. ' berry, clasping her hands and turning up the whites of her eyes as if she were going into a fit. At this moment the vestry-door was thrown open ; and the leaders of the New Lights came forth into | gold. Half-crowns, shillings, sixpences, and pence rattled quickly into the plates ; and here and there some good old gentleman or pious elderly lady dropped in The organ played a tune the whole time that Salem Chapel, which was densely crowded from | this process was going on; and the sextoness sate floor to roof. The Rev. Mr. Sneaksby and the Rev. | | ison her back against the closed doors of the chapel, Mr. Snag, each in his black gown, walked first : the | to prevent any one from sneaking out in order to rer Mr. Gotobed Tumpkins, was immediately behind them ;—and Messrs. Paxwax and Crick brought up the rear. A subdued murmur of ap- plause greeted their entrance—the nature of the oc- casion permitting such an expression of feeling on the part of the congregation, inasmuch as the meeting was rather for business purposes than of a religions complexion. Indeed, it was a “Special Assemblage of the Elect,” convened “to take into holy and pious consideration the state of the funds connected with Salem Chapel and other matters deeply important i to the progress of the good cause.” The Rev. Unthank Snag ascended the reading | | desk, while the Rev. Nathaniel Sneaksby slowly and demurely hoisted himself up into the pulpit: Messrs. Tumpkins, Paxwax, and Crick took their places in the Elders’ Pew. Mr. Paxwax gave out a hymn, with a request that it might be sung to the tune of the Old Hundreth: but the congregation manifested a complete inde- pendence and a remarkable freedom of opinion in this respect—chaunting the hymn to all possible tunes, real or imaginary. However, the discordant harmony, if we may be allowed so antithetical an expression, passed off to the satisfaction of all pre- sent; and at tlie conclusion of the melody, Mr. Snag invoked a blessing upon the proceedings. The Rev. Mr. Nathaniel Sneaksby then rose in the pulpit and commenced his address. He said that the chosen had been summoned for the purpose of considering the state of the funds specially belonging tothe Chapel. Those funds were in a very unsatisfactory condition, and must be aug- mented. The voluntary contributions during the past year had only amounted to 2000/.: the rent ‘absorbed 250/.—repairs 150/.—lighting, washing surplices, or- ganist, sextoness, and petty cash, 3000. Then there were 300/. expended in vestry refreshments and in “love-feasts ;” and thus 10002. were accounted. for at once. The other 1000/7. had furnished a bare maintenance for himself (Mr. Sneaksby) and his re- vered coadjutor Mr. Snag. (Marks of deep sym- pathy.) Now it was absolutely necessary that he (Mr. Sneaksby) should have a suitable dwelling near the Chapel. Salem would not prosper without it: the welfare of the New Lights was at stake! Heaven knew that he could content himself with a garret to dwell in and a crust to eat: but the honour, eredit, and respectability of the sect itself were com- promised. A thousand pounds would build a couple of neat houses in the vicinage of the Chapel: one at 6002. for himself—the other at 4002. for his as- sistant, that chosen vessel Unthank Snag. (Marks of deeper sympathy.) Now this sum of 1000J. must be raised for the purposes named. All money was the Lord’s ; and some was now needed for the Lord’s work, Let the congregation, then, put their hands into their pockets and pull out the Lord’s money! —_—- avoid the contribution of his mite to the fund, At iength the collection was over ; and the money Was counted out in the Elders’ Pew. Then Mr Gotobed Tumpkins wrote down the amount on a slip of paper, which was handed up to the Rey. Nathaniel Sneaksby. “ Christian friends—brothers and sisters,” exclaimed this pious man, starting up in the pulpit and evidently labouring under great excitement: “I am ashamed of you! Yes—deeply though it afflicts me thus to speak, [ama man of ah t the truth must be told. ‘Therefore do I repeat that [ am ashamed of you! The collection amounts to a paltry 2004, Blessed Salem, which is crowded in every point, hoids two thousand persons; and two thousand per- sons have subscribed two hundred pounds! JT am ashamed of you! This will notdo. Sextoness, keep the door! ‘The Lord’s money is in your pockets, Christian brethren and sisters; and you must pull it out. ‘The Lord wants his money—and it must be forthcoming. Brother Fakwax Broker Crick— take round the plates again.” A dead silence Followe ed this harangue: but it was soon broken by the rattling of more coin in the silver plates, as the deputed collectors passed from pew to pew. Superstition has its emulation as well as its influence ;—and, instead of the whole congregation being indignant at the address which had just issued from. the pulpit, each individual now felt his honour compromised and his faith tested. The feeling with each was therefore to outvie the rest in munificence : and those who had previously given copper now con- tributed silver—while they who had given gold in the first instance, now presented Bank-notes. Meanwhile the organ played a lugubrious tune— the sextoness leant firmly against the closed folding- doors—and the Rev. Mr. Nathaniel Sneaksby sate bolt uprig ght, with a severe and even menacing counte- nance, in the pulpit; while Mr. Snag appeared to be putting up a silent prayer to heaven to open the hearts—or, in another word, the purses—of the con- gregation. ‘The second collection was completed—the money was counted—and the sum total was handed up to Mr. Sneaksby, as before, on a slip of paper. Intense was the anxiety with which the assembled New Lights now contemplated their revered pastor. The organ had ceased—and a pin might have been heard to drop in the chapel. “ Christian friends—hrethers and sisters,” said the pious gentleman, rising with sanctimonious solemnity and without excitement ; “I am cheered—I am re- freshed in spirit—I am inspired to gladness, by this change in the aspect of affairs. [I am no longer ashamed of you. To all do I waft the kiss of peace! The subscriptions now amount to 490/. ‘The Lord’s money has to some extent come out of your pockets I ask 10 more on the present occasion. With this ee) C@nmniclooolkKkS. (C(O)