The Chaplain and the Socialist.

Evening Star, Issue 6802, 6 January 1886, Page 2

The Chaplain and the Socialist.

John Williams, the Social Democrat, who was sentenced to a month's imprisonment by a London Magistrate for obstructing a footpath in the cause of free speech, has given to the ' Pall Mall Gazette' an account of his experiences in Holloway Prison. In the following chapter he tells how the chaplain preached to him on social democracy:— " I need not go over all the days I spent at Holloway, for one day was much like another. On the morning of the second day I should tell you that I was detained from exercise to see the chaplain, who called upon me, * What are you ?' said he, ' and what's your name ?' I told him. He said ' Oh, you're Williams, are you ? I've been reading about you, and wishing you'd be sent here.' 'Oh,' I replied, 'it's very kind of you as a Christian minister.' ' You're in for obstructing the street—what are you?' 'A laborer,' I replied, 'and a speaker for the Social Democratic Federation.' ' Why don't you attend to your business instead of meddling with such a society ? You must be mad or a lunatic or out of your senses.' 'I am perfectly sane,' I replied. • Social democracy,' he said ; 'well, you're going headlong to perdition. How long are you here for?' 'A month.' ' Well, I wish it had been two.' ' You're very kind, sir.' ' Well, now, what is democracy ?' 'I am not here to debate the question, sir, and I decline to answer.' However, he repeated the question, and as he seemed so curious I determined to give him the root of the matter, and to satisfy him. ' One thing it teaches, sir, is the right of people to govern themselves.' 'The right of people to govern themselves,'Jie replied; 'there are far too many voices already in the government of the land; their power should be taken away, not increased. Can you read?' ' Yes,' ' Then take that tract off there and read a sentence.' 'I don't wish to read, sir.' 'I want to see if you can read.' I read him a paragraph to please him. He then said 'Do you ever go to a place of worship?' 'I sometimes go and hear them preach.' 'Whom have you heard?' 'Stopford Brooke, Dr Parker, and Stewart Headlam, and any who are worth listening to.' 'Do you ever read your Bible ?' ' Yes, I do.' 'Do you believe m the soul ?' 'lt doesn't trouble me just now, sir.' He then called the warder in and said, ' Warder, I am going to visit this prisoner three tinies a week. I see: I can learn something from him.' 'Oh, you're past learning, sir, I qau see.' ' Warder, put him down for me to visit.' I never saw him aga'in till the day I left the gaol, when he advised me ' t'6 turn over a new leaf arid give up social democracy.!"