wnich are entitie< lo ineit sui^^.^, 



CLERGYMEN WHO HUNT. 



The recent death of tite- Rev. John 

 Dene, an enthusiastic North Devon 

 sportsman, who had some lively recollec- 

 tions of the famous " Parson " Jack Rus- 

 sell, is a reminder that the majority of 

 hunting countries still have their keen 

 sporting parsons. At present, however, 

 there is only one clerical M.F.H. This 

 is the Rev. Edgar JNIilne, who has hunted 

 the Cattistock country with great success 

 for many seasons. A bold rider and a fine 

 judge of hounds, there is no more popular 

 Master than ]\tr. JNIilno, who contrives 

 to remain on the best of terms with fol- 

 lowers and farmers alike. 



Good stories 'told of hunting parsons 

 are without number. One is of a North 

 Country clergyman who was called upon 

 to perform a marriage ceremony on a 

 hunting morning. Just as the young 

 couple arrived the parson heard hounds 

 in full cry not far away. " Come again 

 to-morrow ! " he excitedly shouted to the 

 bewildered pair, and, jumping into the 

 saddle, was soon striking for a foreniost 

 place in the hunt. 



" Parson " Russell's wonderful exploits 

 with hounds are still talked of in the 

 West Countiy. Even when he had 

 reached the veteran stage he rode extra- 

 ordinary distances to meet the hounds. 

 He led the field in a, fine run with the 

 Devon and Somerset pack when he was 

 within three months of his eighty-sixth 

 birthday ! 



