Our chronological trek through the “passive resistance” campaign against elements of the Education Act of continues. We’re now up to in our coverage.
I start to see less coverage in the papers at this point, but this could be from a number of reasons. It might just be a sampling bias of some sort in which newspapers I searched. It might be that at this point the movement has become less newsworthy, as the campaign settled into a regular rhythm. It might also be that the campaign was waning in enthusiasm and wasn’t making as much noise. Or it could have something to do with the calendar and when the rates were assessed, collected, and opportunities to resist arose.
The Bath Chronicle of covered a passive resistance meeting held at the Widcombe Baptist Chapel. Excerpts:
The chairman remarked that there was no need to be alarmed by the cry that
Passive Resisters are likely to lose their vote. If it came to the worst,
however, most of them would be willing to lose their vote rather than lose the
freedom and equality their forefathers had obtained. He referred to a
statement of Dr. Clifford’s
that “Passive Resistance may not be a good policy, but principle is what we
are struggling for, and possibly that may be after all the best policy.”
The Rev. Tolfree Parr, one of
the missioners to the National Free Church Council, said he thought the Bath
Citizens’ League was adopting a good policy in carrying the flaming torch from
church to church, and training the people in their own churches in the Passive
Resistance principles. He was rejoiced to find in the churchy and aristocratic
city of Bath such a thing as a Passive Resistance League. This branch league
was part of an ever-growing army which would fight this battle to the end.
There had been 6,000 summonses already. He ventured the opinion there would be
60,000 soon, as the number of passive resisters would increase by thousands
when the populous towns in the North of England would have to adopt the Act.
The Archbishop had expressed the opinion some time ago that six months after
the passing of the Act there would be no passive resistance. His letter this
week did not look as if he held that opinion now. The speaker believed passive
resistance was not going out, but that it was just coming in, and the courts
would be yet more crowded with passive resisters all over the land and the
magistrates will grow tired of the business. They could afford to ignore the
sneer that they were cheap martyrs. What a splendid thing it would be to send
Dr. Clifford to prison, for he
would then have a fortnight’s rest which he could not get now.
An establishment church bishop addressed the Truro Diocesan Conference, which was covered in The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser of . He denounced the passive resistance movement as being based on lies about the church and its schools, and with alarm said:
It broke the law, in more than half Wales is boasted that it would refuse to
the schools of the Church that supply which the law required at its hands, and
there were parts of England, like Cambridge, that seemed likely to follow the
same lawlessness.
18 passive resisters had their goods seized and auctioned off in Market Harborough district on . The Northampton Mercury reported that this auction was a little unusual. Instead of just hauling the seized goods to a central location and auctioning them off there, the auctioneer went around to various resisters’ homes to hold many individual auctions:
The sale of the goods of 18 passive resisters distrained upon in Market
Harborough district were sold by auction at the New Hall on
, the auctioneer being Mr.
Towson, of Long Eaton. There were three or four hundred persons present, and
beyond some good-humoured banter nothing of moment occurred. The goods were
all knocked down to Mr. Newcombe. The auctioneer was then driven to Foxton,
where a timepiece of Mr. George Kirby’s was sold. The next call was at
Laughton, at which place a four-wheeled carriage, of which Mr. C.J. Smith had
been dispossessed, was disposed of, and purchased by an employé of Mr. Smith.
The next journey was to Fleckney, where a considerable crowd assembled near
the house of Mr. Iliffe, the collector. The auctioneer, who was posted inside
Mr. Iliffe’s yard, was greeted with much jeering. The din was so great that he
was scarcely audible. The lots were disposed of in dumb show, the purchaser
being Mr. R. Gardiner, of Saddington. The auctioneer, on being driven away,
had several lumbs of turf aimed at him, but only one seemed to hit the mark.
Deputy Chief Constable Leach, Sergeant Burton, and five constables were
present.
Up to 6,496 summonses had been
issued against passive resisters, and 235 sales of effects had taken place. In
all or nearly all instances the goods were bought by friends or by supporters
of the National Resistance Committee and restored in due course to their
original owners. Exception must be made in the case of a bassinette for which
the owner declared there was no further use at home.
The dictum of Mr. Justice Lindley has
had no effect whatever on the movement.
“Passive resistance” is not unknown in France. At Besançon an ordinary
barndoor chicken owned by a “passive resister” has fetched the remarkable
price of £7. A sympathiser with the Clerical party, who had refused to pay his
taxes as a protest against the operation of the Religious Congregations Act,
was distrained on, and the fowl was put up to auction. The man’s friends bid
merrily for it until the sum required was raised, when the bird was returned
to its owner.
Fifteen watches were among the goods listed to be sold at Chester on
to pay portions of rates which
had been refused by passive resisters. The assistant overseer announced that
the Excise authorities had at the last moment warned them that jewellery
could not be sold without a special license, hence the sale could not take
place. Great uproar ensued, vigorous protest being made against an adjournment
and further consequent expense. The assistant overseer assured the excited
crowd that further expense would not be entailed. The resisters then held a
conference, and eventually it was announced that the auctioneer would sell
the articles with the exception of the jewellery. The
Rev. Cairns Mitchell advised
the resisters not to treat privately for jewellery, and warned the auctioneer
that a public sale would be insisted on. Then, amid good-humored chaff, eight
lots were disposed of, the jewellery being held over. A public meeting was
subsequently addressed by G. Leech, of March. A letter from
Dr. Clifford was read, and a
copy of the Education Act was torn into small pieces.
On Mr. Margetts
conducted a sale of goods belonging to a large number of passive resisters,
including several ministers, at Willesden-green. Several hundred people
attended the sale, and the hall was crowded. Before the sale commenced those
present joined in singing “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” and much cheering
greeted the auctioneer’s announcement that no commission on the sale and no
fees for valuation would be charged. The proceedings passed off quietly, and
though there were 130 lots offered, the sale was quickly concluded, most of
the goods being knocked down at the first bid. Among the lots were four
volumes of the “Life of Spurgeon,” and three Bibles.
The Portsmouth Evening News printed an enthusiastic report of the local passive resistance league in its issue:
The New President of the Local League.
An Appeal to Associate Members.
(By an Inside Contributor.)
The members of the Passive Resistance League in Portsmouth are greatly pleased
with their new President, the
Rev. W. Miles, Pastor of
Buckland Congregational Church. He is not only a strong Passive Resister, but
a powerful and eloquent speaker, and he is the minister of one of the most
influential churches the borough. The officers of the League now represent the
Baptists, Bible Christians, Congregationalists, Primitive Methodists, and
Wesleyans, for the Treasurer is a Wesleyan layman and a
T.C. and
J.P.; and
the energetic financial secretary is also a Wesleyan. When Mr. Lloyd George,
M.P., visits
Portsmouth on , the members of the League will
endeavour to secure him for a public luncheon and afternoon conference. But it
is doubtful at present whether Mr. George’s engagements will render this
possible. But whether it be or not, they will hail his advent to Portsmouth
with delight, for no man in the House of Commons opposed the Education Bill
more brilliantly or effectively than the
Hon. member for Carnarvon.
And he is rendering splendid service for our cause in the country; last week
he was at Aberdeen, and after a powerful address, Principal Salmond, in moving
a vote of thanks, acknowledged that Mr. George had entirely won the sympathy
of the Scotch people for their English brethren in the “magnificent stand they
were making for their rights.”
The extraordinary growth of public opinion favour of the Passive Resistance
movement is little short of marvellous. Everywhere Nonconformists who at first
were in doubt are gradually coming over. Reflection is producing conviction,
and the working the Education Act is inspiring thousands either with alarm or
disgust. Evangelicals in the Established Church are now beginning see that
Protestantism in the Church England is doomed if the priests, who have
captured the day schools, are able to retain them.
The hearty thanks of all Passive Resistors are due Mr. Alderman J.J. Norton,
of Poole, for his victory over Sir Richard Glyn, who, as Chairman the Bench,
ordered Mr. Norton into the dock. Twice the sturdy Alderman refused to go into
the dock, and twice the case was adjourned in consequence, and on the third
occasion the Magistrate wisely gave up the fight, and Mr. Norton was the
victor. It is now pointed out that it is not only indecent to order a Passive
Resister into the dock, but obviously illegal. The dock is the place for
persons accused in criminal proceedings of public offences. The Passive
Resister is in no sense of the law or fact to be classed among criminals. He
need not to the Court at all unless he likes, and if he does he can take his
hat and walk out at any time he chooses, and for a Magistrate to treat him a
criminal under arrest is unjustifiable. Thanks to Mr. Alderman Norton this is
now made clear.
The West Ham appeal case, of which have heard so much, is down for an early
hearing. This is a test case which is to determine the point whether the
Overseers of that Borough have the legal power to insist on full payment of
the rate, or whether they must accept part payment, and levy a distress for
only the balance of the account. Overseers all over the country are waiting
the issue of this appeal, and this fact goes far to account for the falling
off of summonses and distraints. After Christmas the gorge of many a disgusted
Overseer will rise, as he is perforce compelled to take up this hateful work
of prosecution.
Let me close my notes this week with an appeal to the Associate Members of the
Passive Resistance League. They will, of course, like other people pay the
District rate without demur, but they should by no means pay the Poor Rate
without a strong pretest. This protest can written and handed in with the
money. But, better still, the Associate Members can refuse to pay till they
are summoned. They can go into Court, and there pay under protest before the
Magistrate. But the “Full Members” look to them to make some protest, and to
make it strong as they can. Meanwhile, let the Full Members be of good
courage. The flowing tide is with them. The opinion of the country is veering
round in their favour. To the Passive Resisters of Edinburgh in
John Bright wrote: “I trust your great and
growing combination will bring you a speedy success, but I am not sure that
this can secured unless your inhabitants are resolved to resist the payment of
the tax, whether levied by itself or as part of some other tax. There is no
power greater than that of Passive Resistance.” The truth of John Bright’s
words is being proved anew.
