Memoirs of a Social Atom (Volume 2)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1903 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER LXII MORE SCRAPINGS NEWCASTLE, since the present scribbler knew it, has been the scene of many exciting public meetings in the Town Hall. One of the earliest he recollects was called to consider a subject on which there was great division of opinion. The meeting was divided too. Sir John Fife occupied the chair. The gallant knight, after vainly endeavouring to obtain a hearing for the speakers, stepped down from his seat, strutted across the platform, and exclaimed at the top of his voice, as if he had been dispersing his regiment of volunteers, I dissolve you as a disorderly meeting. During the agitation for the disestablishment of the Irish Church, a ticket meeting was called by the Church party. A great gun was there from Dublin--the Rev. Tresham Gregg. There had been other meetings in the neighbourhood, called in the same way, at which the resolutions adopted were represented to embody the opinions of the inhabitants. As soon as the proceedings in the Town Hall had been opened, the late Dr. Rutherford ascended the platform, and demanded an assurance from the promoters that no attempt would be made to pass off that meeting as a meeting of the inhabitants of Newcastle. Immense hubbub and excitement followed. Dr. Rutherford, however, was encouraged to persist by a small but determined section of the audience. The result was that the meeting was dissolved. As the gathering dispersed, a reverend gentleman was seen on the stairs holding out a ticket to the crowd, and exclaiming in a voice broken with anger and emotion, They have come here with a lie in their right hand to disturb the proceedings. From that time to this, ticket meetings have never been popular in Newcastle. o meetings in the Town Hall have ever been so crammed or so enthusiastic as...