ATHLETIC CLERICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20355, 12 March 1928, Page 13

ATHLETIC CLERICS.

THE CHURCH MILITANT. PARSONS WITH A PUNCH. Parsons are human, and many of thorn have been known to render good accounts of themselves with •*'nature’s weapons.” At rare intervals we hear of clergymen being assaulted, but not often, aa even among the most degraded ot men it is tacitly understood that priests of all denominations arc immune from personal violence. When such attacks have’ been made upon gentlemen of the cloth, the offenders have mostly been men who were under the influence of drink. This was the case of a short time back, when a Roman Catholic priest, 52 years of age, who bad picked up a scientific knowledge of the art of self defence during the South African and Great Wars, successfully de fended himself from the violent assaults >i a couple of half-drunken men at Ross, Hereford. The late Cardinal Manning was, in his youth, a particularly clever boxer and a good allround athlete, notwithstanding his frail, loan frame and thin, ascetic face. He could hold his own fvith the gloves in very good company, and when he grew demonstrative in the pulpit he had a knack of throwing his body backwards and putting up his hands in quite correct pugilistic attitude, thus showing his familiarity with the sport, A REAL “FIGHTING PARSON.” One of the-Dukes of Norfolk, who lived in the early part of last century, had on athletic chaplain who was particularly good with his fists when occasion demanded their use as weapons of offence or defence. He was useful to the duke during elections by the manner in which he handled ' hecklers ’’ at meetings. During a trial in which the reverend gentleman was a witness. Mr JJanncoy, a noted barrister oi that period, asked him in a joking manner whether ho was not known in those parts as “ {mining parson?” “I believe I am, sir,” replied the boxing-loving divine, “ but if you will step out of court I will give it under my own band.” This nonplussed the man of law, who called for no further evidence from the quick-witted chaplain. THE REV. ARTHUR MURSELL. Another clever boxer was the Rev. Arthur Murscll, a prominent Nonconformist minister. He was once playing in a cricket match in Scotland, and being bowled by the first ball sent down to him, ho came in for a lot of vulgar chaff from the miners, who formed the main portion of the partisans of the home team. Iho *■ leader of the opposition ” was a big, foul-mouthed follow, whose cheap wit, at the expense of the reverend cricketer, was applauded by the other “ barraokeis. Calmly divesting himself of his pads and gloves in the dressing tent, Mr Mmsell walked up to the offensive rough and invited him to a bout of fisticuffs. The challenged individual was somewhat taken aback, but as his reputation as a hooter was at stake he took off his coat, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and weaved in to demolish his flannelled opponent. But in this instance things were not as they seemed to be. as inside live minutes tbe miner had both eyes closed and was m Other ways so badly punished that he was forced to give in, damaged in bony ami in reputation, PERSON, EDITOR. AND BOXER, TOO! The Rev. Sir Dudley Bata had a big reputation as a boxer. Laving been put through the mill by ‘‘Gentleman John Jackson, the foremost instructor in the art of defence of hie time. He was frequently engaged in fistic warfare, as he had a sharp tongue and quick temper. Lady Bate was accustomed to these scenes, and when her husband jumped out of their conveyance to indulge in a fight she would take the reins and look on, giving her pugilistic husband advice, as a second would do. ~ , A , One day Sir Dudley caught a Tartar, in the person of his coachman, who, replying to a complaint in a manner displeasing to his master, was promptly told to step down from his box. to the side of the road, and there take the thrashing he deserved. As far as the first portion of the order was concerned, “ coachee obliged and. to tbc surprise of hie master, rattled his fists about the reverend gentleman’s “ nob,” visited his ” bread-basket, and put one of his “ lamps in mourning. Sir Dudley was a true sportsman, and, stopping at the time when the fighting ■\vns going against biin, be bade Ins coachman to mount hia box again and drive him home, where, after attending to his cuts and bruises, he sent for Ins pugilistic wielder of the whip, enjoined on him to keep silence on the recent encounter, and promptly raised his wages. THE REV. HULTON SAMS. One of the tragedies of the Great War was the killing of the Rev. Hnlton Sams, who, joining up as a private, soon got his commission, and received his death wound when carrying water to a disabled “ Tommy ” in “ no-man's land.” Mr Holton Sams was at one time curate of St. Paul’s Church, Mosley, and was one of the best members of the boxin.r section of the Birmingham Athletic Club. He was a familiar figure at boxing shows, whether only of club practice nature or when gloves were smiting in real earnest in contest or competition. He loved to don them with the -best man in the room, and was u keen judge of the sport. A saucy tram car conductor, who returned a rude reply to a civil question outside a depot, refused to receive a rebuke in the proper spirit, and was quickly put in his right place by the curate, and made to apologise. Instead of being reported and possibly losing his job, this fellow got a well-deserved hiding. Tins athletic parson, who was equally at home in a Rugger scrum, on the cricket field, and in the boxing ring, went to Balcaldine, Queensland, after leaving Birmingham, and never let up on his practice .with the mittens “ down under.”