Miscellany.
THE PARLIAMENTRY OATH
A Drama of the period.
Scene—The House of Commons. {Enter a Member to be sioorri) Sir Erskine May: You want to be sworn ? Member: Please.
Sir Erskine May: Perhaps some of fhene gentlemen would like to ask you a few questions first. Sir Stafford Northcote : I ehould. Come, Mr Member, don't you bolievo that the earth is square? Member: I have certainly ssv.d so. Sir Stafford: Well, we all believe it's round ; and m your belief and ours differ, we object to you. You may go awny. Member: But I have been duly elected. What have my views on the shape of the earth to do with my capacity as a legistor? Majority : Everything! We refuse to have you sworn. (Vote — Majority against Member, who is ejected by force.) Sir Erskine May:—Hore is another member wants to be sworn. Anybody any objection to him ? Lord Randolph Churchill : I have. He is not a moral man. He winks at pretty girls in Regent street. Conservatives : 0, shocking ! Member: Really. I can't ace that an occasional wink disqualifies me. Conservatives : 0, it does ! We are all such very moral men you know. We never wink. (Vote—as before. Exit Member, ejected by force.) Sir Erskine May : Here is a third member he is a strong Conservative and a church goer. Conservatives : 0, swear him at once. Sir Erskine May : I think it my duty to inform the House that the member has been twice co-respondent in a divorce case. Conservatives: Ah, but he goes) to church. Sir Erskine May: Me is also in the habit of having delirium tremens. Conservatives : But ho is a Christian. Sir Erskine May: He lias committed bigamy, attempted arson, murdered his father, and plays cards on i\ Sunday. Conservatives : But ho ia not An Atheist or a Republican. Let him be sworn. (Vote — Majority in favor of Member, toho takes his seat.) Ourselves : It doesn't seem to matter how big a reprobate an M.P. is, and thore is no objection to his breaking every law of God, as long as he professes Christianity.
The man who lives a sober, cleanly life, but doesn't share the genera! religious views of the Honse of Commons, must bo kicked out. Tag.—Something about Pharisees and whited sepulchres.— Referee
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AMBPA18810729.2.13
Bibliographic details
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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 526, 29 July 1881, Page 3
Word count
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380Miscellany. Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 526, 29 July 1881, Page 3
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