The Progress of Morals: Day 7
Number of sermons read: 9 (under the "ten items
per day" regime, ordering something that turns out to be irrelevant can
certainly put a crimp in your style)
Date range: 1850-1867
Authors of interest: In addition to yet another appearance by Hugh
M'Neile, today saw the arrival of Samuel
Wilberforce, best remembered by Victorianists for a famous debate
and by fans of Rumpole of the
Bailey for inspiring Samuel "Soapy Sam" Ballard's
nickname.
Running themes: Ritualism; "Papal Aggression"; dangers of
auricular confession.
Points of interest: Certain anniversaries were clearly "hot
spots" for anti-Catholic preaching--for example, the
internationally-observed Tercentenary of the Reformation (dates varied
according to country), Nov. 5 (Gunpowder Plot), Nov. 17 (Queen Elizabeth's
accession). Today was also the first time I came across a clergyman
explaining that the sermon he was delivering in 1859 had first been delivered
in 1850. (He got in trouble, apparently, because he forgot to edit the
sermon adequately--a general remark about Romanizing priests in the pulpit was
taken as referring to the church's previous incumbent...)