having leaked out, a stormy scene ensued at London Bridge.
“At the London Bridge meeting on May 10, the subject was brought up, and in substance referred to in the following terms. A brother rose and said: ‘It is rumoured that there was a postscript to this second letter, bearing on Kennington’s rebuking Dr. Cronin. I wish to ask, Does any one here know anything about it?’ There was a long pause and no reply. Another said, ‘I heard the letter was sent to a Wimbledon brother’. Instantly Mr. X.[1] said, ‘I have received no letter with such a postscript from Mr. Darby, and if Mr. Y. had, I should have heard of it’. The first brother looking direct to Mr. Z. said: ‘Mr. Z., do you know anything of such a postscript?’
“Mr. Z.—‘Well, yes, there was a postscript.’
“ ‘Would you kindly read it?’
“ ‘I have not got it with me.’
“ ‘Can you give the substance of it?’
“ ‘No, I cannot.’
“ ‘Why was it not printed?’
“ ‘Because it contained a misstatement as to a fact, and because it did not satisfy a brother’s conscience.’ Amid much sensation it was said, ‘We ought to have it: it might satisfy our consciences.’
“ ‘Did it express Mr. Darby’s satisfaction at what Kennington had done?’
“ ‘No, it did not.’
“ ‘If we had this postscript, would it help us in this matter in any way?’
“ ‘No, it would not. I assure you, upon my word, it would not.’”
The incident affords a highly instructive illustration of the length to which men will go in the interests of the Church. Things still moved slowly at Kennington. Considering
- ↑ The book from which this quotation is taken (Epitome of the Ramsgate Sorrow, p. 8) gives the real initials, which were readily identifiable at the time. I prefer to give no clue to the identity of the persons involved.
