94 A KENTISH PARISH 



hard to suppose that pilgrims could have tailed off and 

 dropped so fast, in an age when few cared to carry 

 austerity to excess, and when the staff, the scrip, and 

 the scallop-shell were passports to charity everywhere. 



The Established Church is in the ascendant with us, 

 although rather in virtue of its prestige than anything 

 else. The population has never been tossed on those 

 waves of revival that have ruffled the souls of Highland 

 parishes in Scotland ; and all that Dissent can do is 

 to hold on, without actually expiring of inanition. 

 The irregular pastor, who is supported by the volun- 

 tary contributions of his flock, must have lean times of 

 it, to judge by the beggarly show on the benches in 

 his tabernacle. The shoemaker who delivers soul- 

 stirring philippics of a Sunday, and who seldom lets 

 slip an opportunity of denouncing the Muggletonian 

 divine, is far better off. For he lives by the labour of 

 his hands on the week-days, and preaches in an upper 

 loft that is lent him and lighted for him by a seriously- 

 inclined corn-factor ; so that any money collected at 

 the doors is clear profit for congregational purposes. 

 Now and then, and especially in market times or about 

 the hop-picking, one or two wandering missionaries, 

 whose earnestness rather outruns their discretion, will 

 set up an al fresco. Ebenezer on the green before the 

 church. But waiving the question of good taste 

 since the shrill treble of their hymns clashes with the 

 tones of the organ they generally have a listless 

 congregation, or rather a slender gathering of spectators, 

 with hands buried in their trouser pockets. 



