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Chap. XIIIJ The Parish Clerk. 171
testimonialised. Black gloves were frequently seen during service on clerical hands, and not unfrequently were worn by barristers in Court. I remember that Serjeant Mereweather, Q.C., a Counsel much employed in Railway Bills, wore them.
The Clerk was a very important personage in most churches. He, too, in town churches, wore a black gown, and it was his duty everywhere, in town and country alike, to lead the Responses and to give out the Hymns when any were sung. Up till about 1850 Tate and Brady Psalms were in general use, with perhaps a small local collection of Hymns. There was only one Hymnal at all common in the Church of England then. It was generally known as the " Mitre Hymn-Book," from the fact of a mitre being stamped on the cover, but " Mitre " was no part of the title, which was : " Psalms and Hymns adapted to the Services of the Church of England." The editor was the Rev. W. J. Hall, a well-known London Clergyman, one of Her Majesty's Chaplains, and from its being dedicated to the Bishop of London (Blomfield) it was largely used. It was used for many years in East-Bourne Parish Church. Clerks and Clergy when they gave out a hymn always did so in these words: " Let us sing to the Praise and Glory of God Hymn-----."
Previously to the introduction of the " Mitre " book into East-Bourne there was in circulation a smaller collection of only a few dozen hymns, compiled by my grandfather, and bearing on the title-page words to the effect that it was for use in " East Bourn " (sic) Church.
There was once a curate at the old Church, whose name was Blank. Mr. and Mrs. Blank were much liked by the parishioners, and often came back to stay in East-Bourne after taking up their residence in Suffolk. Sometime after their departure many years ago Mrs. Blank and one of her daughters came to East-Bourne and this is what happened. They drove in a cab from the Shoreditch station of the G.E.R. to London Bridge ; and inquiring of cabby the fare, he said it was 7s. 6dL (N.B.—Distance 1^ miles). When she arrived at East-Bourne Mrs. Blank said to her hostess, " Our cabby |
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