One hundred years ago
WHEN the Census Bill was being dis- cussed on Tuesday night, Baron Dims- dale proposed to ask for the religious profession of each person, as well as their age, sex, profession or occupation, pointing out that Ireland was to give us this valuable piece of statistical informa- tion, and that, as he proposed to ex- empt from penalty any one who de- clined to state his religious profession, he did not see that there was any hardship in getting a useful piece of information from those willing to give it. Mr Atkinson (M.P. for Boston), as a Nonconformist (he declined to call him- self a Dissenter), seconded Baron Dimsdale's amendment, saying that he did not understand the objection to having either your religious or political opinions "ticketed." He wished espe- cially to know the number of Protes- tants and Roman Catholics, though he cared less about the Protestant subdivi- sions. But Mr. Picton of course ob- jected. He had no idea how he should describe himself, and he subsequently said that he should have to put himself
down as a member of the Church of England — which Lord Cranborne de- scribed as a truly Irish return.
The Spectator, 26 July 1890
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