The story of Richard Martin

Front matter

THE STORY

OF

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

Preface

THIS work consists of three Parts : a Biographical Sketch, an Autobiographical Fragment, and sundry Letters and Papers. The first part explains how the second came into being, and endeavours to delineate the character of its author ; the second explains and justifies itself; the third lights up and supplements the first from various sources.

The book will, I trust, endear yet more the name of Richard Martin to those by whom in life he was loved and revered, while introducing and commending it to many to whom he was personally unknown. It will not surprise me to learn that occasionally the old man's memory has strayed into inaccuracy of detail ; for who, across so wide a stretch of years, can ensure inerrancy of recollection ? Such lapses, if pointed out, will receive

6 PREFACE

attention in any future edition that may be called for.

Grateful acknowledgement is due and is hereby tendered to all who have assisted in making the work what it is.

Go, little book, and win for my sainted friend in many hearts the seat of love he was so deft at carving for himself in life.

J. D.

BOGNOR,

August, 1906.

Contents

TAGE

PREFACE 5

Part I To My Friend 18

How I made Richard Martin's Acquaintance — The Origin of the Reminiscences — Sensitiveness to Past and Present — The Reminiscences interrupted — Their Interest and Value — Visit to Australasia — An Australian Landscape — Differences in Ministerial Training — A Lover of Books — Note on Hugh P. Hughes's Life — Interest in Methodism — The Punishment of Sin — Political Opinions — Courtliness and Refinement — Testimony of the Rev. E. S. Waterhouse — Sympathy with Young Men — Death of Rev. Arthur Moorhouse — Letter to Rev. Arthur Martin — Mr. George Wain's Testimony — The Gift of Humour — Tribute of the Rev. W. A. Labrum — Modesty and Generosity — Happy Trust in God — Anticipation of the End — Last Illness and Death — Funeral Service — Words of the Rev. W. J. Marris — Mr. Martin's Family — Letter from Rev. W. T. Coppin — Letter from Chief Justice Way 19

8 CONTENTS

Part II What I Remember

AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL FRAGMENT

PAGE

FOREWORD 74

Date and Place of Birth — Scenery of Neighbourhood — John Hessell's Description — First Domestic Tragedy — An Impressive Picture — The Old Map — A Child's First Thought of God— A Mother's Talk—The Hole in the Roof— William Moister— Sir Bartle Frere — First Book — Schools and Schoolmasters — Rev. C. H. Bateman — Buffon's Natural History — Todd's Students' Manual — Mr. Bateman's Method — 'Shall' and * Will ' — Comical Result of Wrong Punctuation . . 77

"Congregational Church at Sedbergh — The Maid and the Fire — Rev. William Vint — The Messrs. Dover — Sunday School Influences — The Calvinistic Flatterer — A Sudden Awakening — Richard Gilchrist — Conviction and Tears — Sabbath Evening Bells — A Memorable Service — Decision for Christ — First Class- Meeting — Choice of the Methodist Church . . 95

The Kendal Circuit — First Attempt at Public Speaking — Methodism and Good Works — A Gracious Revival — Many Crying for God — Help of a Horse — Rev. William Sedgwick — Idle College — Value of Rudimental Work in Education — Attention and Retention — Mrs. Wesley's Iterations — Calvinistic Discussion — Friendly Correspondence with Mr. Sedgwick . . 109

CONTENTS

PAGE

London Missionary Society's Publications — Worship of Juggernaut — Mission in Siberia — Nothing Lost — Incident of Rev. Richard Knill — A Student's Sermon — Mission to Fiji Islands — West Coast of Africa — Rev. Thomas Birch Freeman's Letters — Visit of Rev. W . Moister — Melville Cox's Devotion — Reasons for Confidence in Missions . . • , . , 118

Rev. James Dunbar's Counsel — Accepted as a Candidate — District Synod at Whitehaven — An Angel Unawares — Rev. Richard Hodgson's Friendliness — Examination in London — Lodged with Dr. Beecham — Articles and Sermon by Rev. William Arthur — July Committee at City Road — The Fall of the Hats — Rev. Joseph Sutcliffe and his Writings — A Fortunate Question from Dr. Alder — George Findlay and James Wallace — James Hargreaves and William Shaw — Studious Preparation — Engaged as a Teacher — The President's Summons 126

Two Vacancies at Diss — Rev. Benjamin Frankland — Conversation Concerning Methodism — Culture and Friendliness of Rev. John Reynolds — Sententious Counsel — Mrs. Jay — The Fisons — Reform Movement in Diss — The Baptists — Dr. A. Cox — Students Anxious for a Debate — A Comical Story of Immersion — The Cold Warming Pan — Synod at Norwich — The Cozens Family— Rev. Corbett Cooke — Value of the Synods in Methodism — Smoking as a Medicine — General Impressions of Norfolk 134 io CONTENTS

PAGE

The Rev. W. Rennison — Many Martins — The Stolen Wig — ' In a Measure ' — The Circuit Horse — Dr. Waller as a Boy — The Drunken Listener — Village of Marton — A Village Oddity — Marskeand Mrs. Rogers — Daughter of Samuel Bradburn — Settlers arid Convicts — Impromptu Lines — A Long-sought Book — Lofthouse and its Notable Character — Coughing under the Sermon — Rev. William Toase — Guisborough and the Ord Family — Skelton and Stanghow — The Squire and the Clergyman — Ayton and its School — Text for a Slippery Night — Paxton Hood— Brotton and the Brothers Jackson — Bilsdale — Mrs. Chapman and Miss Hogart — Svvainby and the Greenhills — Old Matthew — James Nelson — Stokesley — The Braithwaites — John Slater Pratt — Henry Burton and Thomas Featherstone — * The Peripatetic ' — The Mees Family — William Mewburn — The Interrupted Lesson — Sick Visitation — Preacher and Circuit Stewards — Farewell on Roseberry Topping — Vision of the Cross 143

A Jamaica Missionary— Striking Incident— Burke and Hare— Stonehaven— Peterhead— Captain Martin and Lady Franklin— Rev. James Chalmers— Rev. Henry J. Pope— James Turner— North of Scotland Mission —Visitation of Cholera— A Rich Poor Widow- Rev. Robert Haworth— ' A' my Thoughts are Sin '— Daughters of a Bishop— Clergy in Peterhead— Mr. Rorison's Sermon— Inverurie — The Davidsons— Rev. John Miller and Dr. Bruce— A Quaker Eccentric- Quaker and Parish Minister— Rev. James Masson— Rev. John Hutcheon— Rev. John Drake's Second Sight— Mr. David Wilson— The Dying Boy— Rev.

CONTENTS ii

PAGE

George Steward — Calvinism in Scotland — ' Fire and Brimstone ' — Rev. Dr. Scott — Methodism in Sweden — Dr. Kidd and Dr. Adam Clarke — Eternal Sonship — George Knight and John Howie — A Watchnight Service — A Beautiful Death — ' Not taken by Surprise . . . • 169

FROM ABERDEEN TO SHOTLEY BRIDGE

1851-1854.

A Wide Circuit — John Bissell and Thomas Pearson — Rev. Thomas M'Cullagh's Incidents — 'A Native of Newcastle' — Annfield Plain — An Inapt Response — Lanchester — Its Clergyman and his Curate — Rev. Wesley Farrar — Dr. Martineau in the Congregation — ' An Old-fashioned Name' — Clergyman's Wife as Class-leader — Blanchland — Ramshaw — 'A Quiet Week' — An Ardent Brother — A Missionary Meeting Incident — Consett — Rev. Mr. Gledstone — The Interruption . 193

Part III

Bishop Hendrix to Joseph Dawson : At the Bristol Conference, 1877 — Visit to Madeley — Prayer in Fletcher's Study — Farewell at Sutton — Knowledge of Scripture and Wesley's Hymns. Bishop Hendrix to Richard Martin : Reference to Madeley Visit — Autograph Letters. Bishop Hendrix to Richard Martin : Three Weeks in Savannah — Wesley's Home and Haunts — A Notable Hymn — Rigg's Livi?ig Wesley — Wesley's Persecutor — Queen Victoria — Fascination of Wesley's Pocket Journal. Bishop Hendrix to Richard Martin : English Friends and Acquaintances — The Benediction at Sutton — Eternal

12 CONTENTS

PAGE

Life— The Cole Lectures— Methodism in Texas— Busy Life of a Bishop. Bishop Hendrix to Richard Martin : Coronation Sermon — The Religion of the Incarnation — Thanks for Books — Souvenir of Madeley — Fletcher and Joseph Benson — Collection of Autographs — Susanna Wesley's Wanted. Bishop Hendrix to Richard Martin: Gift of Cole Lectures — Robinson's Thoughts on the Incarnation — The Personality of the Holy Spirit — Birth and Publication of it and other Lectures. Bishop Hendrix to Richard Martin : Lower Gheam House — Visit to Russia hindered — Korean Mission — Skilled Labour for the Master — Planning Table Talk of Jesus — Freshening Studies — Federation Policy — Church Increase — Size of American Methodism forbids Organic Union — Bishop Hoss — Evening with Dr. Moule — Communion of Saints — Methodism in Chester. Richard Martin to Bishop Hendrix : Feeble Health — Thanks for Nashville Quarterly — Article on Liddou — Characteristics of Liddon — His Work on Divinity of Christ — Parties and Conflicts — Methodist Position Intermediate — Anglican Attitude towards Wesley — Utterance of Bishop Wilberforce — Absorption of Methodism — Swallowing a Stag — Twofold Attack on Methodism — Calvinism weakened — Sacerdotalism still rages — Lord Halifax's Argument — Experimental Religion demonstrates Unity — True Catholicity — Afternoon at Madeley — Dr. Fitchett's Address — British and Australian Methodism — Watchfulness and Unity desirable 205

VARIOUS LETTERS

Rev. Valentine W. Pearson's Tribute : Introduction to Richard Martin — ' Sons of a Clergyman ' — Miltonic Reverence with Nonconformist Independence — Hospitality — Goodness to Young People — Quiet Humour — Power in Prayer — Essentially a Mystic — Lovingly remembered. Letter from Thomas Watson : Sheffield East Circuit — Interest in Young

CONTENTS 13

PAGE

Men — An Ideal Minister — Mrs. Martin highly esteemed. Testimony of a Yorkshire Friend : Stokesley Circuit — Words on Leaving for Aberdeen — Conversion of a Family of Brothers — A Beautiful Spirit. Letter of Rev. W. G. Mitchell: Born at Gate Farm— Father and Mother — Service at Cautley — Mr. Martin's Conversion— Appointment to Diss — Catching the Leeds Coach — Squire Brooks at Cautley 233

PAPERS BY RICHARD MARTIN

Methodism and Culture : Original Work of Methodism — Limitations of its Agent — Lack of Books and Methods — Influence of Itinerancy — Pulpit Efficiency difficult — Case of John Newton — Scholars among Early Preachers — Established Church Helpers — Wesley and Scholarship — Universities closed to Nonconformists — Abolition of Tests — Professor Sedgwick's Brave Speech— Universities and Methodist Students — Farrar's Dictionaries — Training in England and America — Peter Cartwright — His reply to the Parson — A Roman Catholic Opinion — Edward Eggleston's Books — Achievements in Educational Work — Method of Treating Opposition — Our Colleges and Schools — A National System of Education needed . , . 243

Progress in Methodist Legislation : Methodism's Intermediate Position — Not Incapable of Improvement — Principle of Wesley — Where we can follow him — Polemical Strife in all Churches — Debates in Houses of Convocation — Lord Chatham on Church of England — John Angell James onthe Congregational Pastorate — These Citations Fair Criticism — Lady and Dr. Johnson — Our Discipline a System of Checks — In the Beginning Paternal — Possibly undue Pastoral Domination — Hasty Legislation Undesirable — Dr. W. B. Pope and Lay Representation — Young and Old must move Unitedly — Divine Life Greater than Good Government — Some Settled Convictions — No New i 4 CONTENTS

PAGE

Testament Church Polity— Best System needs Good Men — Church Order of the Future unknown — Not to be Troubled About — Bishop Hedding's Comfort — Dr. Rigg on Church Organizations recommended . 251

Divine Goodness and Human Praise : God's Regard for Man in His Works— Moral Reason for Division of Time — Teaching of Nature and Time — God the Sovereign Lord — Man's Dependence — Human Co-operation — Law of Labour — Effect of Moral Evil — Labour a Curse, but Salutary — An Obligation, a Necessity, and a Boon — Sin the Cause of Death — Mortality a Merciful Law — Compensations of Death — Distribution of Peoples — No Land a Monopoly of Wealth — Restrictions on Commerce unlawful — Goodness demands Praise — Gratitude a Duty — Hebrew Festivals of Praise — National Commemorations healthy — Man's Indebtedness to God — Praise for Harvest — The Gift of Christ — Danger of Forgetting God — Peril of Secularism — God expects our Praise — Thanksgiving in Words and Acts — A Religion that costs Nothing worth Nothing — The Two Tests — Suffering and Giving — Gift of Self the Highest Offering 260

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

The Rev. Richard Martin , Frontispiece Portraits of the Rev. James Bickford, Sir John Coltman, and the Rev. John Watsford 28

Mr. Martin's Residence, Launceston, Tasmania 31

Chief Justice Way, Adelaide .... 69 The Farmhouse in which Mr. Martin was born 76

Kilthorpe Bridge, Sedbergh .... 79 St. Andrew's Church, Sedbergh ... 87 The Market Place, Sedbergh .... 108 A Scene in the Blue Mountains, New South

Wales ^2

Lower Cheam House, Sutton . . , .222

*5

Part I A Biographical Sketch To My Friend

Upon thy grave I strew these flowers,

Frail blooms and broken sprays, In memory of the fruitful hours

We shared on friendship's ways. Our wounded hearts would count it ill

Were thy bright ways forgot ; But here their charm will haunt us still

When thou, thyself, art not.

J. D.

M

Y acquaintance with the Rev. Richard Martin began at York in the year 1865. I had been accepted as a candidate for the ministry at the May District Synod, held in that city, and at the ensuing Conference returned to act as supply for two Sundays for the Rev. Thomas Kent, then Superintendent of the York circuit.

I remained about a fortnight with some dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. Moon, long since dead, and during my stay happened to attend the week-evening service at Wesley Chapel. Mr. Martin was the preacher, and after the service he invited me to his home, took me into his study, and heartened me in the work to which I had given myself with words of counsel and good cheer. At the Synod he had been one of the three appointed to hear my trial sermon, and therefore we had some slight knowledge of each other ; but the kindly interest manifested in my welfare was beyond anything that our brief acquaintance might have led me to anticipate. It was, however, thoroughly characteristic of a nature which delighted in the smaller offices of kindness as well as in its larger outflows.

Nearly forty years elapsed before I saw him again, nor in the interval had there been any communication between us. Our next meeting was at Ashtead, in Surrey, about two years ago, when he drove from Sutton one afternoon to call upon me, and we had a long conversation about bygone days. He was changed in appearance, as doubtless was also the stripling he had encouraged so many years before. His hair had whitened, his step was less elastic, his shoulders were slightly bowed ; but age had stolen none of the freshness from his mind nor the benignity from his spirit. He had not really grown old ; he never did. In this he cheated the pilfering hand of Time. There was the same kindly greeting, the same gracious bearing, the same eagerness to grasp one's hand in brotherly fellowship. Such natures do not change, save to gather, like the bee, more honied sweetness from the passing hours.

The acquaintance thus renewed grew closer as the weeks went by. I visited him several times at Lower Cheam House, where he resided with his son, and a certain mental and moral kinship drew us nearer together.

One Sunday I preached at Sutton at the church he attended, and naturally spent the day with my friend. During the afternoon, as he, his son, Mr. Charles Prest and myself sat together, he treated us to such interesting episodes from his past history in the Halifax and Penrith circuits, that the hours passed unheeded by, and we were all surprised when tea was announced. Both Mr. Prest and myself urged the desirability of giving permanent record to such experiences, but to this it was difficult to win his consent. He delighted to talk of the bygone, and his power to recall past incidents was really marvellous, but to sit down and put these incidents into writing would be a toil from which he not unnaturally shrank, and indeed to which his physical strength was not equal. There was a diffidence also, and a depreciation of his own power to interest, not easy to overcome. A great point was gained, however, for before leaving that day, I had arranged to attend once a week, and take down what his health at the moment might allow him to dictate.

These Wednesday morning sittings were continued for some weeks, and became to both of us seasons of great enjoyment. Planted comfortably in his chair, my friend would let his mind roam pleasantly over the fields of other days, and as he talked, I would put down in a shorthand of my own the words that fell from his lips. What I indited was written out in full on my return home, and subjected to revision at our next meeting. There was a clear understanding between us that what the narrator was responsible for was simply the facts and details ; but that the language in which they might be clothed was to be left to my own judgement. In this respect my endeavour has been to give clearness and effect to the narrative, while retaining as much as possible of the idiosyncrasies of my friend's phraseology. The hand may be at times the hand of Esau, but the voice is always the voice of Jacob.

Let it not be imagined that our dictation and scribbling was allowed to harden into a task. Often and again it was broken in upon by jest and sally, unlooked-for interjections, sudden excursions into lands other than those our feet had set themselves to travel. At times, mind and body were too tired to begin, at others they began bravely, but in brief season wearied ; and the morning would be given to chatting of the present or the future without any effort to draw from the well of the past.

Seldom have I seen a man of his years so en rapport with the present, so keenly responsive to the promptings of his immediate environment. The past called to him attractively, but, unlike many old people, he never became so absorbed in its voice as to be deaf to the summons of the present. While recalling with delight the sparkle of the waves that had sped by, he watched with as keen attention the light and colour that play upon the waters now. I think of him as one of the youngest old men it has been my privilege to meet.

In the month of April, 1905, there came an unexpected break. I had preached Sunday-school sermons in Lancashire, and on the return journey caught a chill, the result of which was an illness that culminated in a serious operation. Weary months of weakness and pain ensued, and though neither of us dreamed that the interrupted story was fated never to be resumed, yet so it proved. Before I could act as Boswell to my friend again, he had heard the Master's call, and stepped on to receive his reward.

The reader will thus perceive that the recollections presented to him in What I Remember are a fragment, a broken column, a half-told tale. Only four out of the sixteen circuits in which Richard Martin laboured are traversed. Was it worth while to print a record so prematurely terminated ? A very natural question, but one, I imagine, to which every reader, after its perusal, will be disposed to answer emphatically — yes.

I felt convinced that what was written was of too interesting a nature to be allowed to drop into oblivion, and I doubt not that many will share with me the regret that out of a mine so rich more could not be drawn. The work is an illustration of how fascinating the ordinary circuit life, unglorified by official glamour, and which notoriety has never dragged from the shade, may be rendered. Had Richard Martin lived to complete what he so well begun, a book of no common merit would have been the result, an autobiography that multitudes in his own Church and beyond its bounds would have delighted to read. What we are told of Sedbergh and Diss, of Stokesley and Aberdeen and Shotley Bridge, makes us feel sad that in the ordination of Providence he was not permitted to go on to tell us of Penrith, and Sheffield, and Grimsby, and York, and London, and Chester, and Huddersfield, and Manchester, and Halifax, and Tunbridge Wells, and Guernsey, as well as of lands beyond the seas. I have heard him recount experiences of Penrith, Halifax, Manchester, and Australia, equal in interest to any recorded here ; and doubtless it would have been the same with all the places in which it was his lot to dwell, for he was a keen observer of men and things, ever in vital touch with his surroundings, and endowed with a memory that seldom lost its grip on what was worth retaining.

It is no part of my intention to complete what he left unfinished. For that no materials are available, nor would the story, save as it fell from his own lips, fused with his own spirit, be of more than ordinary interest. All I have been able to do, then, in continuation of his narrative, is to append a few facts, and to light them up with testimonies from such of his friends as have favoured me with their impressions and recollections, among which is specially to be noted the kindly appreciation of Bishop Hendrix, of the Methodist Episcopal Church South of America.

In addition to what he remembered, the reader will find samples of what and how he thought in the two papers appended to his reminiscences — Methodism and Culture, and Progress in Methodist Legislation.

Mr. Martin became a supernumerary in 1888, after a residence of two years in Guernsey. His wife, the only daughter of Cuthbert Bainbridge, Esq., of Wolsingham, had died some seven years previously, at

REV. JAMES BICKFORD.

REV. JOHN WATSFORD.

Tunbridge Wells, and both Mr. Martin and his eldest daughter being in somewhat enfeebled health, a voyage to Australia was recommended. They sailed for Adelaide in March, 1889, and remained there six months, afterwards passing on to Brisbane and Sandhurst, and thence to Tasmania, where a house was taken in the city of Launceston, and a stay made of about a year and a half. On removing from Launceston Mr. Martin went to Sydney, remaining in that neighbourhood for eighteen months or two years ; but making sundry journeys in the meanwhile, and preaching whenever occasion offered. He also made many warm friends, among whom were Chief Justice Way, the Rev. James Bickford, the Rev. John Watsford, the Rev. Joseph Dram, the Rev. William Jeffries, the Rev. James Nance of Launceston, Sir John Coltman, and others.

The following is the only record I have been able to find of the many journeys made during this residence of five years in Australia —

1 August 2nd. — We started from Adelaide at 7.30 a.m. for a short visit to some of the agricultural areas in the north. Reached Hallett Road Station at noon. Here we determined to break our journey. After we left Buna, or Koringa, as it is now called, the country presented the best aspect of any I have seen in the colony. A range of hills to the right of the railway line gives to the landscape a better appearance than you find on the flat plains. This range reaches its highest elevation, so far as one can perceive, behind the township of Hallett, which is 970 feet above the sea-level. Here the hills are very pretty, and fairly wooded, for this part of the colony. After lunch at one of the hotels we strolled out to look at the country. The wheat crops in the early stages of growth look very hopeful. What they call " paddocks " (for the English term, " field," is not in use here) look large to the eye of an English observer. If I were to guess, I should say they are about 300 acres. They were newly rolled with wooden rollers, and the broad acres were in stripes the width of the rollers. These stripes are made by the rollers bending the blades of grass in contrary directions on the outgoing and

X c y

r.

y y return journey, causing different shades of green which makes the effect on a wide plain very pleasing.

'The greatest enjoyment I had here was in the neat little church which belongs to the Bible Christian body, a branch of the Methodist Church. I had agreed to take the week-evening service. The congregation was good ; in style and appearance rustic, simple, devout, and quite equal in most respects to our English village congregations. The religious destitution of the people, scattered sparsely over these wide, bright Australias, would be deplorable but for the effort and enterprise of the Churches. S. J. M., a young evangelist, is placed in charge, and keeps up services here and at some other outposts. Without the typical garb which the clergy in the old country, Catholic and Protestant, patronize, this young brother directs all his efforts for selfculture to the inner man. On inquiry I found that effort in the way of self-education was not overlooked. He reads Butler and authors of that class in the prescribed course for beginners, and is able to summarize and discuss them. His hope is to enter one of the collegiate institutions next year and work his way to full ministerial status. These facts describe the course taken by many young men here in the various Churches. This plan, as a rule, will not provide men of the most profound and varied scholarship as the University courses of England and Scotland may be expected to do, but — what they often fail to secure — men who can preach. Tried as public speakers before their course of training and probation begins, they have fair chances of success. If earnest men, they may and do avoid the aversion and disappointment of young ministers who have never tried to preach before their advent in the pulpit during or after a college course. Not a few of these unfortunates are either uncalled, or crippled by manuscripts when they ought to preach with ease.

'On leaving this wilderness settlement, and reviewing the position and spirit of the little Church, my thoughts wandered back to other times. The first Christians were few and humble and obscure. In the ages of persecution and under many conditions in the retreats to which the adherents of New Testament Christianity have often been driven, God and angels have been witnesses of a worship like this when the ecclesiastical spirit did not cramp and chill the spiritual and the devotional of a Christianity in its simplest forms.'

It is impossible to peruse what Richard Martin has left behind without being impressed by the width and keenness of his mental life. It is not claimed that he was a man of profound thought or exuberant imagination ; he was neither a ripe scholar nor an original thinker ; but he certainly possessed more than usual quickness of observation and powers of reflection. He was from the first a lover of good books, and the mental discipline which he describes himself as having undergone in his youth enabled him to master and to hold available afterwards the volumes to which he gave his attention. He not only read, but remembered ; and he read in age with almost as much avidity as in youth. With many men — and, alas! with many ministers — the contents of the mind crystallize in middle age, and the set form is never henceforth broken. Not so with this man. To the newest books and the newest thought he was always ready to accord a hearing. They might not win approval and acceptance, but they could always reckon on patient attention. Abiding by the orthodoxy in which he had been trained, he was ready to yield tolerant and fair consideration to views that chanced to differ from his own.

A note on the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes' Life, which I find among his papers, is a sample of the manner in which he would go through a book. Here it is : —

' They say he was High Church. He was not in the sense intended. Many High Churchmen and he were alike in their profound sympathy with suffering humanity, their conception of the obligations of the Churches, and in their aims as well as the prosecution of their work. He did not accept their doctrines, which were the heresies of earlier ages, and especially of mediaeval Catholicism. He was a convinced Protestant, and who in recent years more firmly opposed

* An unfriendly critic might find on these pages what would appear to justify a charge of seeming inconsistency. The same remark would apply equally to John Wesley. But in each case alike the critic must take into his estimate the progress of enlightenment in the two men. The regulating principle in each life is not apparent to many critics. It underlies the surface of things, and when candidly considered reconciles seeming contradictions. A quotation from Emerson on p. 542 describes the position exactly. " A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall." '