Fifty of the Protestant Ballads and " The Anti-Ritualistic Directorium, " of Martin F. Tupper ... New; and reprinted |
 |
 |
|
ANOTHER SURPLICE-FEE. |
|
|
 | Fifty of the Protestant Ballads |  |
35
ANOTHER SURPLICE-FEE.
I grant you, friend, if unendow'd
You toil among the dying crowd,
Unbeneficed, unpaid,
It were a good and righteous thing
To take the freewill offering,
Without a thought of trade.
You toil among the dying crowd,
Unbeneficed, unpaid,
It were a good and righteous thing
To take the freewill offering,
Without a thought of trade.
But hearken; where a parish priest
For shepherding his flock at least
Is paid, and kept, and clad,
To claim a surplus surplice-fee
For every time he bends his knee,
It really is too bad!
For shepherding his flock at least
Is paid, and kept, and clad,
To claim a surplus surplice-fee
For every time he bends his knee,
It really is too bad!
I know a rector, rich and mean,
Who, call'd to close a dying scene,
With Eucharist and prayer,
Claim'd, out of Poverty's hard gains,
A full five shillings for his pains
In being summon'd there!
Who, call'd to close a dying scene,
With Eucharist and prayer,
Claim'd, out of Poverty's hard gains,
A full five shillings for his pains
In being summon'd there!
Nobly denied, the rector's threat
Forced the poor folks some help to get;
Straight to the squire they went;
And—let his reverence rue the day
He tried (to those who would not pay)
To sell—the Sacrament!
Forced the poor folks some help to get;
Straight to the squire they went;
And—let his reverence rue the day
He tried (to those who would not pay)
To sell—the Sacrament!
36
Again: a pauper went and died
Out of the parish,—just outside,—
In Hospital, indeed:
Her minister made no small stir
For two-pounds-two for burying her
With ex-parochial greed!
Out of the parish,—just outside,—
In Hospital, indeed:
Her minister made no small stir
For two-pounds-two for burying her
With ex-parochial greed!
Yet more; a couple come to wed,
With two halfcrowns in hand, instead
Of greedy custom's three;
Our parson sends the lovers back,
And they, poor frugal souls, alack!
Have done without the fee!
With two halfcrowns in hand, instead
Of greedy custom's three;
Our parson sends the lovers back,
And they, poor frugal souls, alack!
Have done without the fee!
What outrages on right and sense!—
Religion, morals, spurn'd for pence;
And that, when every one,
Bishops, and priests, and deacons too,
Are nobly paid for all they do,
And—much they leave undone!
Religion, morals, spurn'd for pence;
And that, when every one,
Bishops, and priests, and deacons too,
Are nobly paid for all they do,
And—much they leave undone!
| Fifty of the Protestant Ballads | |