well known in London philanthropic circles
and all over the land, especially in connection with the anti-Slavery and
Bible Societies; and at his house men of all religious parties were
welcome. At that time, Clarkson, the great anti-Slavery advocate, had
come to Playford Hall, near Woodbridge, there to spend in quiet the
remainder of his days. In all East Anglian leading towns Nonconformity
was very respectable, and its leading men were men of influence and
usefulness in their respective localities. It was even so at Bury St.
Edmund's in Mr. Dewhurst's time. His son, whom I met with in South
Australia holding a position in the Educational Department, told me how
Rowland Hill came to the town to preach for his father. As there were no
railways the great preacher came in his own carriage, and naturally was
very anxious as to the welfare of his horses. Mr. Dewhurst told him that
he need have no anxiety on that score, as he had a horsedealer a member
of his church, who would look after them. "What!" said Rowland Hill, in
amazement, "a horsedealer a member of a Christian Church; whoever heard
of such a thing?" From which I gather that Rowland Hill knew more of
London horsedealers than East Anglian ones. I can well remember that
many of the old Nonconformist pulpits were filled by men such as Ray of
Bury St. Edmund's, Creak of Yarmouth, Elvin of Bury (Baptist), Notcutt of
Ipswich, and Sloper of Beccles, a friend of Mrs. Siddons. A great power
in Beccles and its neighbourhood was the Rev. George Wright, the father
of the celebrated scholar, Dr. Aldis Wright, of Cambridge, who still
lives to adorn and enlighten the present age. Some of the old
Nonconformist chapels were grotesque specimens of rustic architecture.
This was especially so at Halesworth, which had a meeting-house--as it
was then called--with gigantic pillars under the galleries. It was there
the Rev. John Dennant preached--the grandfather of the popular Sir John
Robinson, of _The Daily News_, a dear old man much given to writing
poetry, of which, alas! posterity takes no heed. The charm of the old
Nonconformist places was the great square pews, lined with green baize,
where on a hot Sunday afternoon many a hearer was rewarded with--I can
speak from experience--a delightful snooze. The great exception was at
Norwich, where there was a fine modern Baptist Chapel, known as "the
fashionable watering-place," where, in 1837, the late William Brock had
just co