[Sidenote: To thy orisons.]
It is one of the peculiarities of the House of Commons that the men who
are most in want of spiritual assistance and providential guidance,
never seek the assistance of prayer. However terrible the crisis,
however crowded every other inch of space in the House of Commons may
be, though the ungodliest member may be in his place listening to the
rich resonance of Archdeacon Farrar's voice, the Treasury Bench is
always empty. To an outsider the explanation may be here revealed; which
is, that if you attend prayers you are entitled to a seat for the
remainder of the evening, whereas if you are absent, you are liable at
any moment to be turned out by your more pious brother. But Ministers
are exempt from this general law, for their places are fixed for them on
the Treasury Bench, whatever may happen, and, accordingly, they
invariably--I had almost said religiously--keep away from prayers. Lest
I should appear to do injustice, I may say that the leaders of the
Opposition are just as ungodly, and for precisely the same reason; their
seats also are secured to them by standing order; and, accordingly, they
also never enter the House until its devotions for the day are over.
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