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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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la proportion tf > his respect for such men , and his veneration for their virtue and usefulness , was his disgust at such persons as the defendants , on whom the court that day wouId decide . That cjtay a clergyman of this oon nty , the pei pettial -cu rate of the parish of Ansiey , and holding , another
fcenefice , attended by James Gerrard , the tythingman of'the parish , would be found to have been associating' at nig-fct , ini toe depth of winter , with tUe eight other 4 e - fendanls , ignorant and misguided men , and endeavouring , by riots and noises and proceedings , violating order , liberty and public peace , to interrupt the religious , and
tolerated worship of a small congregation of . Dissenters in a dwelling-house , assembled according to their consciences oiily to worship their , God . the witnesses would detail the facts . Of the giii jt of the defendants ,: he had not the smallest doubt . As to their verdict , he felt a confidence amounting to certainty ; and although that
verdict must pain his heart , as it must convict a clergyman of such an offence , and ! of an offence which would likely deprive him . of his livings , and his means of repeating such misconduct 5 yet he should be consoled by the reflection , that thereby the church would be vindicated from
reproach ; - ' -the spirit of persecution would be restrained ; — -the loyatattacboaent of the Dissenters would be perpetuated ; —and persons worshiping God in the remote
hamlet and straw-roofed cottage , would be taught to feel the nisei ves equally secure with their fellow-worshipers iu the city and the metropolis ; in the most capacious meeting-house of their brethren , or in the noblest and most venerable cathedral of the Established Ctiurch . He then p roceeded
to call the witnesses for the prosecution . Edward Da vies , Esq . deputy registrar to the . Bishop of Salisbury , produced a certificate that the dwelling-house of James Butt , in the parish of Anstey , was intended to be used as a . place of religioiis worship by an assembly or congregation of
Protestants . , , " . Rev . Wm . Hopkins is a Dissenting minister residing at Tisburj ?^; officiating there over a Dissenting' congregation ; Anstey is the adjoining parish ; the perpetual curate of Anstey also resides at Tisbury y was requested to attend and preach at Anstey ^ the house of James Butt was certified for
the purpose ; went there for the first time in November , 1816 ; repeated his visits several times ; was' interrupted during the service by external noises } wrote a letter remonstrating to defendant , James Gerrard , the tythingman , and principal farmer , ex * plaining his principles and motives ; went again , and for the last time , on December 31 , 1816 , in a chaise cart : arrived about half-past five , commenced the service at six the night was cloudy , showery and
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cpld , and the roads muddy 5 a consii ^ raj > le number of persons collected about the lioiise , about seventy or eighty ; when the s ^ vice began , a tremendous noise was made with horns , bells , and discordant instruments ^ he attempted to proceed , but could not be heard ; requested some friends to go out
and remonstrate ; they returned ; the noises were increased ; the females were alarmed ; they feared the mob would break in ; his efforts to continue were unsuccessful . ; and he was obliged to stop in the middle 6 { the service , and to discontinue it ; went away ; ascended the carriage : a temporary silence
as he got ixy : 7 but then he was followed by the mob , amidst such noises and execrations , for half a mile , unti 1 he reached tb . e boundary of Anstev parish ; from fear he had never repeated his attendance at Anstey ; he had received a letter from defendant Gerrard , maintaining the right of the people to make noises , and to enjoy their , sports ?
Samuel Alford is a farmer atTisbury ; acquainted with Butt ' s house at Anstey ; attended there on December Sl 1816 ; Rev . Wni . Hopkins attended there as the officiating minister ; Divine Service was in
the evening , which was cloudy and showery ; saw a number of persons assembled together before Butt ' s house , making a great noise with cow-horns , and large sheep bells , and various other noisy instruments , and that the noise was excessive
anijtremendous ; Wm . Sheppard , high , constable , of the hundred , and other respectable persons , attended the place of religious worship and were present with him ; went into the house , and the noise having fora short time ceased , religious worship began , when the noise became very great ; he , with Sheppard and Codmbes , went out to the door , wjhere he
saw a mob of seventy or eighty persons , shouting hideously blowing cow-Lorns , and shaking sheep-bells , hajlooing and whistling with whistles , about nine yards from the door ; that a great noise , riot , and disturbance was occasioned , and the noise might be heard at a considerable distance , and the continuance of religious worship
was prevented , and the peace of the village was interrupted ; saw amongst the mob , defendants , the perpetual curate of the parish of Anstey , who lived two miles off , at Tisbury , and James Gerrard , a farmer and tythingman ; the clergyman
encouraged the mob ; saw him wave his hand , and distinctly heard him three times bawl out to them , " Play up , play up , play up ;" James Gerrard used similar languag-e , and was very active in the disturbance ^ Gerrard exclaimed to Wm . Sheppard , a Go
along in , and hear your preacher ; returned to the place of worship ; Mr . Hopkins was making great exertions that his sermon might be heard , but the noise was too great , and . the people too much alarmed , and ho could not proceed ; when Mi . Hopkins left
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m 6 I&eHMMjl !^ Q * *?* &a ¥ 1 > yrif Assizes ?
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1818, page 216, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2474/page/64/
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