THE MEMBERS. 95 



words is forthcoming. Cliristie was not a keen follower of the houmls, if we 

 may judge from the reference to him in Rawson's poem. 



Whilst Christie- and Findlay, on top of a gate, 



The return df the hare most jiaticntly wait. 



Christie's portrait will l)e Ibund in the copy of the picture ])rescntcd 

 to C. Rawson. 



Ah ! there's bland Christie with his winning smile, 



In Christendom you'll find few better faces — 

 Hut. by the holy Moses ! that profile 



Smacks of sliam spectacles and shagreen cases. 



At the dinner given to C. Rawson, Christie was Vice-Chairman, and had 

 the honour of being selected to make the presentation of the jiicture to 

 C. Rawson. His speech is given in the account of this interesting event, 

 included in the notice of the Master, C. Rawson. 



Xlbe IRev. M. JBauistcr. 



'' Very reverent sport, truly, and done in the testimony of .a c;ood conscience." 



LtK'i''s J.itl>02t>'s Lost, act 17', scene 2. 



The chaplain of the Liverpool Workhouse was the first and only 

 chaplain ever appointed to the R.R.B. .As previously e.\|)lained, C. Raw- 

 son, being then a young man, felt the serious responsibilily of having so 

 many young men under his charge in the field, and at the annual dinners of 

 the club ; he felt that he would like to have the support of a chaplain. 

 Mr. Ranister, l)eing of an active and kindly disi)osition, readily assented 

 to fill the post, whicii he retained for about eight seasons, often going out 

 witii the pack. Mr. Ranister figured in the great meet at Beeston, 

 cele'orated in song — 



The great Ching-a-ring, too, is in a good place, 

 Our chaplain has run till he's black in the face. 



He severed his official connection with the R.R.B. in 1852, but till the da) 



of his death always had a fiiendly interest in the Hunt, antl occasionally 



turned up at a meet to see the hounds throw off. On resigning, he sent the 



following characteristic letter to tlie secretary : — 



December 23rd, 1S52. 



My dear Mr. Secretary, — Having resigned the chaplaincy of the workhouse, 

 and of Her Majesty's forces, I have yet hitherto deferred that keenest trial 

 of my resignation — the severance of my professional connexion with the Royal 

 Rock Beagles. But as I am so shortly to take up my abode at a long distance 

 from the Hundred of Wirral, I feel that respect for the Hunt, as well as for my 

 own character, obliges me to surrender honours gained rather by favour than 

 merit. 



I will thank you, Mr. Secretary, to inform the Hunt how much satisfaction 

 I shall have in remembering friendships formed on a gatepost and cemented in 

 a ditch, and which, proof against thorns and '* Fenders," will ever be gutta- 

 percha'd on my memory's soul. 



