Tens of thousands of British nonconformists have been refusing to pay at least a portion of their rates because of their opposition to the provisions of the Education Act of that allow for taxpayer funding of sectarian religious education. In our survey of a sample of newspaper coverage of the movement, we’re now up to .
The Burnley Gazette covered the summonses of passive resisters to the County Magistrates at Keighley Green. The headline called it “A New Point in Passive Resistance” but it was just the usual summonses, speeches, and distraint orders.
The same paper reported:
Todmorden Passive Resister.
The Rev. W.L. Stevenson, pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Chapel, Lydgate, Todmorden, was on , released from prison, where he had ben detained since , for not paying his educational portion of the poor rate.
Mr. Stevenson had withheld 1s. 9d. and the costs increased it to 4s. 3d. The Bench ordered him to undergo three days’ imprisonment in default.
However, the warrant was not executed until , and Mr. Stevnson was released at , so that he had only 14 to 15 hours in gaol.
On a welcome home meeting was held in Wellington-road School, and Mr. Stevenson recited his experiences.
