A Reverend Turfite.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 268, 29 December 1874, Page 6

A Reverend Turfite.

A novel scandal has attracted considerable attention during the month. It seems that the owner of Apology, the horse that won the St. Leger, is a Church of England clergyman, the Eev. J. W. King, Vicar of Ashby-de-la-Lautidc. This fact having come to the knowledge of his Diocesan, the Bishop of Lincoln, the latter wrote to Mr King asking him to give up his connection'with the turf. The sole answer Mr King vouchsafed was to refer the Bishop to his solicitor. The Bishop shortly afterwards seeing in the papers that Mr King was still interesting himself in racing matters, addressed another letter to him, written in a most gentlemanly and Christian spirit, reminding Mr King of

the vows he had taken at his ordination, and expressing his (the Bishop's) unwillingness to resort to legal measures. The Bishopcoucluded as follows“ I now entreat you once more, solemnly and affectionately, »ih the name Of our blessed Lord, who is not only our Saviour but our Judge, and in thje. name of the souls for which He died, either, to relinquish your pastoral cures, or else to relinquish » course which seems to me to be altogether at variance with the sacred obligations by which you Are bound as a clergyman of the Church of England.” About the time that this letter was sent to him, Mr King met with, an accident by which, the bpne of one of bis thighs broken—a serious injury to a man 82 years old. In consequence of this his reply yras not sent for some time afterwards.' In it Mr King stated that for fifty years he had bred horses, and sometimes had them in training for the turf, and that he could not think, that endeavours to improve the breed of horses ,in the country were a scandal in the Church. ■ He concluded by saying that legal proceedings would be powerless against him, and that if he resigned his livings* it would not be from any consciousness of wrong, or fear of legal consequences, “ but simply,” to use his own words, “ because I desire to live this remainder of my days in peace and charity with all men, and to save your, Lordship the annoyance, and the Church the scandal, of futile proceedings being taken against one who has retired for some time from parochial ministrations, and is.lying on the bed of sickness at this, moment.” Mr King’s admirers allege on his behalf that although he tan horses, he never betted a sixpence on them. Still he countenanced betting in others, for it is related that on it being represented to him, before the St., Leger, that Apology showed: signs of laineness, and that he had better have her scratched, he replied The mare must run, if she goes on three legs ; all Lincolnshire is on her.” The concluding letter of the series—the Bishop’s reply to Mr King’s reply-—was published on the 23rd. In it the Bishop expresses his gratitude to Mr King for the intention ' announced in his letter, ■“ to sacrifice private interest to public principle, and for the sake of peace,” and he concludes by wishing Mr King the enjoyment of “ that comfort which arises from the consciousness of such a sacrifice;” and “that consolation from above which is bestowed on the lovers of truth and charity in the time of sickness and sorrow, and at the hour of death.” Mr King has since resigned his livings. ,