Whether it has really been justified by the circumstances of the ease or not quite alor of indignation has been aroused by the treat ment of a Cambridgeshire farmer in being sent to prison "by the Consistory Court for refusing to repair the chancel of a parish charch, Some years ago, Mr. J. H. Stevens bought seventeen acres of and and the terms of purchase carried with them the obligation of repairing the local church. Six years ago, Mr. Stevens was informed that the chancel was in'need of attention, but he consistently re-fassed to take any action. Finally, the Consistory Court gave judgment that he must carry out his responsibilities and, when he failed to do so, the matter was carried to the High Court and a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Lord, Chancellor. Mr, Stevens was accordingly imprisoned in Bedford Gaol. Shortly afterwards, he announced that he was prepared to pay and. the Consistory Court met in Ely: Cathedral to consider the new position, Mr. Stevens's countel_announced that not only was Mr. Stevens pre-to pay and deposit a sum of £250 in evidence of good faith, but he was entirely penitent. The application for his release was granted and counsel immediately went to Bedford Gaol with the glad news. So the episode presomably ends. There is little doubt that Mr. Stevens entered into the bargain with his eyes open and therefore has only himself to blame, but it comes as something. of a shock to many of us to realize that "such things as Consistory Courts can still sit in Cathedrals and consider whether or not to hanover their victim to the "secular arm.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.