Their great pride was
entirely to fill the church of Mr St Lys, who not daunted by
their demonstration, and seizing the offered opportunity,
suppressed the sermon with which he had supplied himself and
preached to them an extemporary discourse on "Fear God and
honour the King." In the dissenting chapels thanksgivings were
publicly offered that bail had been accepted for Walter
Gerard. After the evening service, which the Unions again
attended, they formed in the High Street and lined it with
their ranks and banners. Every half hour a procession arrived
from some neighbouring town with its music and streaming
flags. Each was received by Warner or some other member of
the managing committee, who assigned to them their appointed
position, which they took up without confusion, nor was the
general order for a moment disturbed. Sometimes a large party
arrived without music or banners, but singing psalms and
headed by their minister; sometimes the children walked
together, the women following, then the men each with a ribbon
of the same colour in his hat: all hurried, yet spontaneous
and certain, indications how mankind under the influence of
high and earnest feelings recur instantly to ceremony and
form; how when the imagination is excited it appeals to the
imagination, and requires for its expression something beyond
the routine of daily life.
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