When Bishop Goe was a Curate.

Evening Star, Issue 7385, 3 December 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

When Bishop Goe was a Curate.

The following incident was related by the Bishop of Melbourne. \Ye give it ip lordship’s own words, $8 pearly ag possible A good many of my parishioners, at thp time to which I refer, were bargees," 'who were notorious for their dirty, intemperate, and improvident habits. One day a bargee called at the parsonage, ant| told me thai Jim the Slogger wanted me to call and “ sprinkle his kid,” by which he meant to baptise the baby. At the timp appointed I called at Jim’s bouse, or hut rather; andifas admitted. It consisted of one rooip, and jiad one door and one small window.' hfo sooner was I fairly inside than Jigi locked the door and put the key in his pocket. Then the following dialogue was carried bn between ns:— “ Be yon the parson come to sprinkle mv kidl”' ' Y “ I am the clergyman of the parish, and I have come to baptise your child.” Yer can’t: sprinkle that kid till you and me have had a fight, parson.” “I did not come to fight; 1 come to baptise your baby.” “ I says what I means, and I means what I says; yer don’t go out of' this place, and yer don’t sprinkle the kid, till you and me have a tussle.” Well, gentlemen, I looked at the door and the window, and saw there was no course before me but to give in to Jim’s request. When at college I had, with most of the other students, practised the noble art of self-defence. 1 had put on the gloves, and was not entirely ignorant of the Cornish fling. "All right, Jim,” 1 answered, " we’ll sec who is the'best man.” The battle was not very long nor severe. Watching my opportunity, 1 gave Jim a smart' blow on the ear, and down he went like a log. After a time he sat up and muttered "Yes, he's the fellow for me; he’s the right sort of parson, knows a thing or two. Lawb what a whack ; that was; right on the ear-hole, tqo. It’s stinging y6t, parson,” said he, looking np; for he had been sitting on the floor ; " youVe the parson for me ;,you Shall sprinkle l my kid Sow. " Molly, get abasin and some water;’* lolly, who had been looking steadily all the time; got what was wanted, and this child Was baptised. • Next- Sunday I saw si : man at church whom 1 did not recognise. 1 found it wus my pugilistic friend, Jimthd Slogger, who had washed his face the first time for many a long daiy. He ‘seeded greatly Interested in the service. Next Sunday about a dozen .more bargees came with Jim, all with .clean faces, and all‘Very’ attentive. Strange as It- may seem, this encounter with Jim was the 1 beginning of a better and purer life for him and his wife; and for his fellow-bargees too. It Vas fa’ot the first time that carnal weapons have dond spiritual work. • <•