His next parish appointment was on 7 March 1812 as a licensed curate to serve two churches, both named St. Mary's, in neighbouring villages, Hinxhill and Brook, situated in Kent.
[23] Representatives of this view include the eighteenth century preachers John Wesley, Augustus Montagu Toplady, James Granger, and Humphry Primatt.
[24] At the time when Broome was a youth and then a student at university, there was a moral groundswell that was opposed to bull-baiting and that resulted in an unsuccessful attempt by William Johnstone Pulteney on 18 April 1800 to pass legislation through England's Parliament to ban the practice.
[26] Erskine in his speech on behalf of the Bill combined the vocabulary of animal rights and trusteeship with a theological appeal to biblical passages opposing cruelty.
[29] Another piece of evidence concerns a notice that appeared in various newspapers and that was signed under the pseudonym "Clerus": An Individual who feels for the sufferings of the Brute Species, and laments, in common with every benevolent mind, the wanton cruelties which are so frequently committed with impunity on this unoffending part of God's Creation, earnestly appeals to the Public in their behalf.
He suggests the formation of a Society by whose united exertions some check may, if possible, be applied to an evil, the toleration of which is equally repugnant to the dictates of humanity and to the spirit and precepts of the Christian religion.
Persons whose sentiments accord with those of the Writer, on this subject, and who are willing to promote the object he recommends, are requested to address a few lines (free of postage), to "Clerus", 25, Ivy-lane, Paternoster-row.
"[30]Kathryn Shevelow has noted that "Clerus" (Latin word clergy; so too "Clericus") was most likely Arthur Broome and that as people began submitting correspondence to periodicals expressing alarm about cruelty toward animals that there emerged a consensus on the need for such like-minded persons to collaborate.
[31] The creation of voluntary groups that agitated for legal and social reform through the patronage of aristocrats, clergy and parliamentarians was not unusual in Broome's day, particularly in the case of the abolitionist or anti-slavery movement.
The maltreatment of cattle at the Smithfield Market prompted Elizabeth Heyrick in 1823 to publish anonymously a stinging rebuke to those acting cruelly as well as to what she perceived was an apparent lack of punitive action taken against the perpetrators.
It was at Broome's invitation that a number of social reformers gathered on 16 June 1824 at Old Slaughter's Coffee House, London to create a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Among the others who were present as founding members were Sir James Mackintosh MP, Richard Martin, William Wilberforce, Basil Montagu, John Ashley Warre, Rev.
[42] At the inaugural meeting Broome indicated that "every method should be resorted to for the purpose of directing the public attention to the subject; that tracts and sermons should be published, to effect a change in the moral feelings of those who had the control of animals.
[45] The first annual anti-cruelty sermon that was preached on behalf of the Society was delivered by Rev Dr James Rudge (1785–1852) in March 1827 at the Whitechapel Church.
[46] The Rev Thomas Greenwood delivered a sermon on behalf of the Society on 26 September 1829 at the Church of St. Mary Somerset in Upper Thames Street, London based on the theme of being merciful.
During 1825, Broome prepared for the first annual meeting of the Society which was held at the Crown and Anchor Tavern on 29 June 1825 and the public notice specifically included appropriate accommodation for the presence of women members.
[49] At this meeting Richard Martin contradicted the impression held in public circles that he had founded the Society: "I have nothing at all to do with it," he said "it is quite a child of Mr Broome's and he has acted the part of a good father to it.
"[50] Broome also sought that year to develop an anti-vivisection position and requested written advice from several medical practitioners concerning the efficacy of surgical or laboratory experiments on animals and received letters that did not support vivisection.
When the debts exceeded the Society's revenue he was held liable in April 1826 and was sentenced in a hearing at the King's Bench to serve time in the debtors' prison.
"[60] In January 1834 Broome was distressed to the point where one evening he was found inebriated and rolling in mud in York Street, Westminster by a police officer.