the life of charlotte bronte-1-第5节
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ted by Wesley and Whitfield； and at such times the little church proved much too small to hold the throng that poured in from distant villages； or lonely moorland hamlets； and frequently they were obliged to meet in the open air； indeed； there was not room enough in the church even for the communicants。 Mr。 Whitfield was once preaching in Haworth； and made use of some such expression； as that he hoped there was no need to say much to this congregation； as they had sat under so pious and godly a minister for so many years； 〃whereupon Mr。 Grimshaw stood up in his place； and said with a loud voice； 'Oh； sir！ for God's sake do not speak so。 I pray you do not flatter them。 I fear the greater part of them are going to hell with their eyes open。'〃 But if they were so bound； it was not for want of exertion on Mr。 Grimshaw's part to prevent them。 He used to preach twenty or thirty times a week in private houses。 If he perceived any one inattentive to his prayers； he would stop and rebuke the offender； and not go on till he saw every one on their knees。 He was very earnest in enforcing the strict observance of Sunday； and would not even allow his parishioners to walk in the fields between services。 He sometimes gave out a very long Psalm （tradition says the 119th）； and while it was being sung； he left the reading…desk； and taking a horsewhip went into the public… houses； and flogged the loiterers into church。 They were swift who could escape the lash of the parson by sneaking out the back way。 He had strong health and an active body； and rode far and wide over the hills； 〃awakening〃 those who had previously had no sense of religion。 To save time； and be no charge to the families at whose houses he held his prayer…meetings； he carried his provisions with him； all the food he took in the day on such occasions consisting simply of a piece of bread and butter； or dry bread and a raw onion。
The horse…races were justly objectionable to Mr。 Grimshaw； they attracted numbers of profligate people to Haworth； and brought a match to the combustible materials of the place； only too ready to blaze out into wickedness。 The story is； that he tried all means of persuasion； and even intimidation； to have the races discontinued； but in vain。 At length； in despair； he prayed with such fervour of earnestness that the rain came down in torrents； and deluged the ground； so that there was no footing for man or beast； even if the multitude had been willing to stand such a flood let down from above。 And so Haworth races were stopped； and have never been resumed to this day。 Even now the memory of this good man is held in reverence； and his faithful ministrations and real virtues are one of the boasts of the parish。
But after his time； I fear there was a falling back into the wild rough heathen ways； from which he had pulled them up； as it were； by the passionate force of his individual character。 He had built a chapel for the Wesleyan Methodists； and not very long after the Baptists established themselves in a place of worship。 Indeed； as Dr。 Whitaker says； the people of this district are 〃strong religionists；〃 only； fifty years ago； their religion did not work down into their lives。 Half that length of time back； the code of morals seemed to be formed upon that of their Norse ancestors。 Revenge was handed down from father to son as an hereditary duty； and a great capability for drinking without the head being affected was considered as one of the manly virtues。 The games of foot…ball on Sundays； with the challenges to the neighbouring parishes； were resumed； bringing in an influx of riotous strangers to fill the public…houses； and make the more sober…minded inhabitants long for good Mr。 Grimshaw's stout arm； and ready horsewhip。 The old custom of 〃arvills〃 was as prevalent as ever。 The sexton； standing at the foot of the open grave； announced that the 〃arvill〃 would be held at the Black Bull； or whatever public… house might be fixed upon by the friends of the dead； and thither the mourners and their acquaintances repaired。 The origin of the custom had been the necessity of furnishing some refreshment for those who came from a distance； to pay the last mark of respect to a friend。 In the life of Oliver Heywood there are two quotations； which show what sort of food was provided for 〃arvills〃 in quiet Nonconformist connections in the seventeenth century； the first （from Thoresby） tells of 〃cold possets； stewed prunes； cake； and cheese；〃 as being the arvill after Oliver Heywood's funeral。 The second gives； as rather shabby； according to the notion of the times （1673）； 〃nothing but a bit of cake； draught of wine； piece of rosemary； and pair of gloves。〃
But the arvills at Haworth were often far more jovial doings。 Among the poor； the mourners were only expected to provide a kind of spiced roll for each person； and the expense of the liquors rum； or ale； or a mixture of both called 〃dog's nose〃was generally defrayed by each guest placing some money on a plate； set in the middle of the table。 Richer people would order a dinner for their friends。 At the funeral of Mr。 Charnock （the next successor but one to Mr。 Grimshaw in the incumbency）； above eighty people were bid to the arvill； and the price of the feast was 4s。 6d。 per head； all of which was defrayed by the friends of the deceased。 As few 〃shirked their liquor；〃 there were very frequently 〃up…and…down fights〃 before the close of the day； sometimes with the horrid additions of 〃pawsing〃 and 〃gouging；〃 and biting。
Although I have dwelt on the exceptional traits in the characteristics of these stalwart West…Ridingers； such as they were in the first quarter of this century； if not a few years later； I have little doubt that in the every…day life of the people so independent； wilful； and full of grim humour； there would be much found even at present that would shock those accustomed only to the local manners of the south； and； in return； I suspect the shrewd； sagacious； energetic Yorkshireman would hold such 〃foreigners〃 in no small contempt。
I have said； it is most probable that where Haworth Church now stands； there was once an ancient 〃field…kirk；〃 or oratory。 It occupied the third or lowest class of ecclesiastical structures； according to the Saxon law； and had no right of sepulture； or administration of sacraments。 It was so called because it was built without enclosure； and open to the adjoining fields or moors。 The founder； according to the laws of Edgar； was bound； without subtracting from his tithes； to maintain the ministering priest out of the remaining nine parts of his income。 After the Reformation； the right of choosing their clergyman； at any of those chapels of ease which had formerly been field…kirks； was vested in the freeholders and trustees； subject to the approval of the vicar of the parish。 But owing to some negligence； this right has been lost to the freeholders and trustees at Haworth； ever since the days of Archbishop Sharp； and the power of choosing a minister has lapsed into the hands of the Vicar of Bradford。 So runs the account； according to one authority。
Mr。 Bronte says；〃This living has for its patrons the Vicar of Bradford and certain trustees。 My predecessor took the living with the consent of the Vicar of Bradford； but in opposition to the trustees； in consequence of which he was so opposed that； after only three weeks' possession； he was compelled to resign。〃 A Yorkshire gentleman； who has kindly sent me some additional information on this subject since the second edition of my work was published； write； thus：…
〃The sole right of presentation to the incumbency of Haworth is vested in the Vicar of Bradford。 He only can present。 The funds； however； from which the clergyman's stipend mainly proceeds； are vested in the hands of trustees； who have the power to withhold them； if a nominee is sent of whom they disapprove。 On the decease of Mr。 Charnock； the Vicar first tendered the preferment to Mr。 Bronte； and he went over to his expected cure。 He was told that towards himself they had no personal objection； but as a nominee of the Vicar he would not be received。 He therefore retired； with the declaration that if he could not come with the approval of the parish； his ministry could not be useful。 Upon this the attempt was made to introduce Mr。 Redhead。
〃When Mr。 Redhead was repelled； a fresh difficulty arose。 Some one must first move towards a settlement； but a spirit being evoked which could not be allayed； action became perplexing。 The matter had to be referred to some independent arbitrator； and my father was the gentleman to whom each party turned its eye。 A meeting was convened； and the business settled by the Vicar's conceding the choice to the trustees； and the acceptance of the Vicar's presentation。 That choice forthwith fell on Mr。 Bronte； whose promptness and prudence had won their hearts。〃
In conversing on the character of the inhabitants of the West Riding with Dr。 Scoresby； who had been for some time Vicar of Bradford； he alluded to certain riotous transactions which had taken place at Haworth on the presentation of the living to Mr。 Redhead； and said that there had been so much in the particulars indicative of the c
