The; Vicar and the Toast.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 7, 3 October 1907, Page 5

The; Vicar and the Toast.

All extraordinary speech of the Rev. H. TJrliiiß Smith, vicar of Presbu'ry, near Cheltenham, 'England,'brought' to abrupt conclusion' 1, the afterdinner proceedings at;.'the annual clith feast of . the Loyal Presbury Lodge of Oddfellows. For tlio last sixteen years Mr; ' Smith has presided, and always proposed from the chair the toast of "The Church and King," and in that order, but as it displeased some a hint was convoyod to him to give the loyal toast its usual place, viz., lirst. Mr. Smith characterised the suggestion as an insult to the Church, and said that the people who advocated the change were advocating revolution. Ho was absolutely loyal to thp King, but leave out the Church lie would not. Tlio law, of! tlio land had always been composed of two estates, of 'Church aiid 'King, and the suggested change was very significant. He could r.ot possibly put up .with it. He should pay for his dinner, and leave the room, and withdraw from the once loyal lodge, and he supposed-his follow trustees "would do the S'.ime. With a "Good afternoon" Mr. Smith walked from the room, and left'the members 'dumbfounded. Whcii they recovered tlicy drank the health of the [King.