Full text of "Life of Bishop Wilson, of Calcutta"

THE LIBRARY

THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

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I! I Ml (t I' W I I, SO \.

C AL( IT TA,

BT TUB

REV. JOHN N XiUtrDN. D.D..
*■•■•• > PAKna :" "MinKr Kxaiio** ;" - ura or

X rkwwtor »m4 ttamt*; t

- i: W Y O U K :

Crnrnl D(olr«T.in! Ep.»rop.iI ibuno.111 ^rt)ool flnion
anO Cbuub ilooh :iorirtp,

t 4 B U U iJ A U W A Y .

Entered, acconling In Act of Cont^rr**, lo the rc*r IMI^
By the Gineual Protimtaxt Eri«rorAL i>i-!<DAT ScaoOL UsiM

AND ClIL-KCU UOOK SoCirTT,

In the Clerk's Ofllce of the DlMrlcl Court of the fnltcd SlMlm telto
Southern District of New York.

William Dkxyse,

8tkkf.0ttper and electbottpkb,

1S3 William Utreet, y. y.

PUBLISH i:i)

ni not oil TiiK

^fftrings of Ibt .^unb.iii $£l|ool

omm:: .

CAWBRIDGE.

M AS S A< II t S i; 1 I S.

550571

THK UT. iiKv. (;uK(j()i:v T. iu:i)i:i.i.. d.d..

It *•• mjr prlTilrgf, <luriii|; my Smitnary enurme, lo Ix? ■ frcquriit
altcndanl upon jnur minittmUniu In »w Yurk, anil my 0rsl aii<l
only pariah hail rrrt-Ool. in lU rarly ilaya, mual 2<'nrri>u« a>alolaiir«
ttma jTMurk, In rrmmitiranre ■•/ whtrh II bear* lU namr. Tbeae
beU wccralf.! Lhr |>r<>|iru'ly ••(

DrDtrating ttis Uooh to Vou.

I tm«i that ihc lUM-iiy (hut taken may noi )><• ilUplpaalnf; to you,
•lace thr memory of HUIii>|i Wllaon mud Ur ilrar lu yuur brait.

That Qo4 may grant you a loof and houurcnl carver, like bU, la
IIm wrller't bumble prayer.

!•

'•Bishop Wilson's energy, his truly cvangrlical love of ioul*, hit
distinguished liberality, his missionary spirit, his fenrlessnesa in
speaking out whatever he thought ought to b« salJ, his slrapliclty
and transparence of character, his love for lloly Scripture and f<»r
prayer, his fervent personal piety— all these rightly won for him the
reverential alTecllon of all who were brought near him."

Church Jonrnal for April 4th, \960.

"Daniel "Wilson was a model, as a Christian Bishop— the most
admirable combination of evangeliral truth iin«l apostolic order of
whom we have ever read. He dearly loved the Gospel. Chrltt
was to him all In all. At elghty-slx, he was as full of zeal and lore
for the salvation of souls as in the early hour of holy devotion t'»
the mlnistr>' of reconciliation ; and withal he was so sound, so true,
so earnest a Churchman, in the very best sense of that much-abused
word, that he soemod the imbodlmciit of the principles of our gl.i-
rious Reformation, breathing the very spirit, as he held fast by the
Scriptural doctrines, of the Prayer-Book."

Southern EpUcopalian for May, 1640.

!• i: i: r \ ce.

A» a college Btudcnt, tlu- writor u»e<l to rei-ilo, on Mon-
day In^•^tin^;^, « vi ry iin.nul.lc lfi*un from Bishop Wil-
■un's Evuithee* vf ChruttanU^—n work n-frrrtil to in tiie
narrative which follows. Having fornie^l the iic.|Uiiint-
aocc of thiit go«»l mtu\ thus early in life, he uIwuvk rem!
with interml wlmte\ei Miut pul>liAheil, ironi lime to tiiiic,
O'UivruinK hii« nhun>iiuit iulN.rx in India ; luxi he regiiidit
it aa a hij;li |.ri\iieKe, iiidce.1. that lie in permitted,
through theM i>ii^'n«, tu do sonuthiiig t^^wtlrd^ jierpiluiit-
iug his meuiury.

The life ol lii^hop Wilion, liy hi^ Hon-in-luw and linst
chaplain, the Itev. Jiwioli Uutcman, is u treuiture-houiio of
facta, and thii> unpretendinK volume could hardly have
bwn pre|iare<l without it. But uhile the clerpy will never
ciuplttin ol that work Oh heinj; Uh, Iouk, theie aie thou-
RKuds of the laity who woijj-l mver tiud time t.i rea«l it.
We trust, therefore, that we are introtlurin^; the late
Binhop of Cakulta to many who might otherwiw; have
bt«n almost strangers to him.

Whatever fault* may U- found in regard to arningo-
ment or style, the writer is c«inlident that all must give
him cre<lit for the strictest honesty of purpose, and a sin-
cere desire to record nothing but the truth.

F»Ai»KroiiT, Kr., Xur., 1960.

Fbom Greenland's icy mountains,

From India's coral strand,
Where Afric's sunny fountains

Roll down their golden sand ;
From many an ancient river,

From many a palmy plain,
They call us to deliver

Their land from error's chain.

What though the spicy breezes

Blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle,
Though every prospect pleases.

And only man is vile :
In vain with lavish kindness

The gifts of God are strewn ;
The heathen in his blindness

Bows down to wood and stone.

Shall we, whose souls are lighted

With wisdom from on high-
Shall we to men benighted

The lamp of life deny 1
Salvation ! oh, Salvation !

The joyful sound proclaim.
Till each remotest nation

lias learned Messiah's name !

BiSBOF ILebeb.

OON r KN TS.

CllMTTM I.

^l„i-.| »n n ^ ^. Mi.i,rv.rMr..l Kncn-. « in bu-

< L.II.T 1.. u •■•i> -'I '"""pn"-
iit A irii.- |M.rtrn I, with nil

. ,„ rl un.lir the .Irura.lInK IiiHu

• l-rmr for ihc l.t.Ui»t«''-0«l'» g«clou* ileal-
,, . ^ jM-.ci- f..r Uu- »..ul "

CHAITKU 11.

Dlfflr«IU« In thr w.y of .MitrrlnK iho mlnlMry C..nMiIUII..n.

- M, . v.rui .l.r->Mi.ii Hi* fiitti.r r..n«-iilii (o hi* IfnvliiR
* "" ' - '.'r ITnll -l>iii.ni-

■ iijiMCc ">f U'lnjiiu-
- 1' ■....■* III.- nnnl

'. ir» -
' ■ . uii>r-
i^^\,i .>x.ofJ Marr.atfc =oUi..- »..-..wmI m Mr. >S .I-mu.'. ^
ehildrcD

CUAITEU lU.

DutiM •I Oif.H-Cunilr nf Worlon-AlleinpU to b<rn<nt Iho
^un...-r.r..ln,....-r,v..r...M..w..rW..r...^^^^^^^

r"'--?' • sir ■r^T' linn:;:

the t>»nUucnt-KlrBl I. swm* in th.- sch-wl of afflutlon

CHAFrEU IV.

Mr. Wll^m «ppe»r» In «noih.r p„lp,l-Min(tton-The last In-
rumtH-nl-.'n. pary .l.-liRhU-.l. a.nl Uu- -.Ih.r "VI';^'„ f "f, ,^.I
Th.. new VunrV Hr.t ..•rn...n-\ValliMB the I.-r. » K?'^" •>''";-
Worldly wl»aom-All diOicullicB hormouiwd - >o such

X CONTENTS.

thing as getting a comfortable game at cards :"-9ittine In lh«
pulpit-Efforts for additional ehurcli accommodation -1)H«-
cullies in the way-The first meeUng of the .y'»<^* -"^'^^f,
service begun-Improving health -Circular Icllor m rc(r«rd to
building new churches-The final adoption ol the plan prrv
posed-Application to the Church Commissioners—' I »■""'"* „
unto them that dream"-Fifleen Sunday-schools esimbluhed . . .»

CHAPTER V.

A storm brewing— The afternoon lectureship-A long and pain-
ful struggle brought to ii pcaci-abli> end - P.-rsuaslv.- mfliimrr
—The Cross taken iip-t^evere aftlution-Mrs. \\ Hson's i>tcli.
ness and death— "The same yesierday. and t.wlay, and for-
ever" — Resignation — Large Coiinrmati"n — I'repnrnlion for
first Communion -Prosperi'Us --ondition of the parish- Consc-
oration of the iliree new churches Freidpm fro n debt— Ap-
poipimeut of clergymen— The Lord's wort proapering tl

CHAPTER VI.

The private journal once more resumed— Mr. Wilson enter*
upon his fitly-third year— Honest confe>sions of n contrite
heart— Islington in an uproar— Cause of the disturbance The
praver of faith receives an answer of peace — \ voice from
India— Death of Bisliop Turner- Difliculty in finding a suc-
cessor—Mr. Wil.xon offers to go— His motives scruilnii.-d—
Consecration— I'reparations for leaving England — Set* sail for
Calcutta IW

CHAPTER YII.

Making good use of a sea voyage— Daily routine on ship-board
—Interesting letter to the Dean of Salisbury— The dark »nd
bright sides of the picture— Desire to glorify God-Aii unex-
pected visitor- Ten <lays well spent — Affecting farewell - More
diligent than before — Sickness breaks out— First sight of India
— Landing at Calcutta ... IIS

CHAPTER VIII.

The Bishop's installation— Kind address to the clergy— Jurisdic-
tion of the Bishop of Calcutta in 1S32 — A wise division of »o
vast a field — First i^ermon in the Cathedral — General inspec-
tion of schools and missionary societies— The civilities of life
— Bishop's Palace — "Enough for six months I"- Preparing to
live — Marriage of a daughter — Two years for acclimation —
Impossil>ility of pleasing everybody — Wisdom justified of her
children — Personal liahils — Modes of gaining inforinalion—
Friendly and confideiUial intercourse with the Governor-tJen-
eral — Attending to business on horseback — " Lord Willi;ini is
less of a Churchinan than I could desire" 120

COXTENT8.
« HAnKU IX

r4«B

i^^w — i»«|'n»iii a.iiiiiiiimrr.I — ■• If.NKl,

•^ ■ 199

CHAl'lKK X.

•n* • hlBilranrr !•• ihe 0<wp«l

ebtorr/ art lo Wurk j^

CHAITEK XI.

Tfc« w«nl trf MlUMo plarra for fiuMlr w..r«hlp-A fruiblo plan

fcf rrtn..lT r.,. -t,. r. 1 l!, .t.i f. ,: _. r. .,. ?. v i. „ . , , .,'ur..

' .Dll.

V •■'« :

ami

. ■ , r^ -...._ I'rc*.

bji. riau tj/u^ ...J r ^^

(HAI'IKH XII.

• HUhoji-i vlilutioo—

h<'a<l*— It'iprrul |iri>»-

I r... .. 1 . r Tutant

' fr.ini

llii-

.■.~iiii{ tlif

' >t<'riiiiieiit

.U'i Ixlovrtl

I J—- . ..^ .^,., ,,.>,■,. ,,fi,.«t — ck-crct

'-*"'**'-••• IflO

Xii CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIII. ^^,,

-Happy six months-Safe arrival at Cakuua •">

CHAPTER XIV.

At home but not idle-Chanees in the Governtnent an.l depart-
ure of'friln.l8-An affecting duly-Lor.l William relum.
home-Perplexins question. settU-l-Tlie Ulsh-.p reM.nu., hi.
v"sTtation-EntraiU'e gale to the i^yrian churehes-nn.- ic-
I^unt ol then'i-Servkfl-s at Quilon-Sets „ul f..r the ."l.r or-
Preaches at Allepie-Atlciiipis to beiu-flt the Syrian C hriM..n.
-The College at Cttayani-Bisliop WiUon waited up,.n by
the Syrian elergy-Uis :-.,nferenee» with then.-" Nev.-r .R.in
shall I behold such a sight"

CHAPTER XV.

Hurrying onward to Cochin— Intercourse with white ind black
Jews— V word ..f . xhortation, which was not very favdrabljr
received — Conflrmalion at Cochin— Visit to several >vnan
churches — (Jeiieral impressions concerning their npiriiuiil
state— Old Goa— St. Francis Xavicr— The City of (. hurche*-
Military ^tation at Beltfaum— Sixteen days spent in Bomba) —
Preparations for a long land journey IW

CHAITER XVI.

Poonah and Kirkee— New Year's blessing— Ready for marchlnn
—Horse and foot— The Sepoy guard— Order of prooe.xllng*—
Temperance lecture— Enters the territories of the Nizam— A
nice church, but one seldom used— 1 he effects ut plain preach-
ing under certain clrcuinstanees-Lay re;idiiig rec.miniended
— The Bishop of Madras sends a warning, which is uiiheedi-d
—Braving dangers • Standing up for the order of the Churclu. 211

CHAPTER XV U.

Jyepoor— Journey to Delhi— Mosques and palaces— Holy Week
at Meerut — Four thousand Christians— A well-spent week-
Confirmation— Visiting the sick — Sudden ilhu-ss — Himalaya
Mountains — Mussooree — Building a church — Deo grutlas —
Perilous journey — Arrival at Simlah— Four months' compara-
tive rest — Preparing a volume of sermons for the press t2i

CONTENTS. Xni

CHAITEU XVIII

PAaa
Af«iB on thr march TraiitKluii (Vom Mi»t lo hot— Tak(.« t>oaU
Bl !t'"'j>tir— V" »!("■ •-■->••— Th.- wn''-h-»n>ine of I.itliiire —

• ' • ■" .hiiilri convrrl —
1; rrlxiil at l>.lhl—

• f "■■ Ininot'

»r»,

- »«t-

-I' IfeT III 1.1V Aboll-

• -p Currif - raasa(r«< U>

«»

CHAITKK XLX.

Hont" vrk ..i,.-^ it...r.. y.,,..r,\ .. r f., II. .1 .■ —1,. _x

!• > of

>•'■ \n

*■■ llio

!•• -.1"

•if

lll!l SIX-

ll.

Ij-SrM ) e*r jjO

CHAITKK XX.

Amither rhanrv lo ihr clergy—" Tlie Traru fur Hip TliUfa"— SoU

•""■'■•"■•■" ^ •"•"■■'»'"'■-•■ ' '■• '■■"■•' •"■ r lo prayor

Malkin —
b ■I..,- Ju.lg.

»"■ ..; rouiKl'—

^ ■ of a new ('liu|ilulu —

'• ' ili<-»- 1 ..urw i>l lAfUt

l'>----'- . " K - »Jr«l-"My L4.r.l, U U

all }uura'°— Laying llic corovr-Moiio— 1 tif gTvU work Im.-|;uu.. 861

ciiArn-:K xxj.

A Mare<lonlan cry — Won<liTful awakvuing amonK the nalivv* —
I'udiiif; the sirklf into lli<- liurtcst The l;irli<i|i >;••(■» liiiiiMlf
tu tbare In tin- g\'irunin wi.rk— .■<«-veiil)-l»»o iiulnu villu|{f« iu
one iDltsloiiary circuit— Tin- bapiiniii'at AiiuikIu Hum— ■• Wo
renounn- lln-iii all'' 1 In- Uislii>|i K'k-b on liig way n-Joicirig—
A city set on a hill— «Julfl ri-Luke, which acc..m|)li»h»«l it«
liurpoM-— l.uioi march ln-(tun— Iwo churches coniK-cruled at
Cawnpore — The same duly pcrrormtMl lu other places—" Fainl,
jrel pursulog''— A loDg Jouruey safely ended 278

Xiv CONTENTS.

• CHAPTER XXn. ^^^^

A few troubles to disturb the smooth current of evenu- Oxford
theology again-The Plymouth Brethrt-n maWo a cn'Tt-
Efforts to bTin- back the wan.lering sheep \\ :.t.-h.nK the c-
thedral— All Calcutta mail after the wor(J-A sln.n »i» 'atlon
—Sunday at Sylhet— EUlinj? iu Iwais and on elephants - 1 hlrra
Poongee-Supreniaey of the Holy ^erlplure8 dt-fcn. led Unl
metropolitan visilation-Doings at Ma.lra»-Ca>t.- d.ffl.-uiii.ii
— Movin" onward— lihenia's tomb— Syrian churches- Ui»ap-
pointed hopes- At Bombay-Thanksgiving »erinon on reach-
ing home

CHAPTER XXIII.

On board ship— "Works of faith and love— Serious llln«>«»-Coo-
secration of church at Almorah— Preparing a lM>i.k for hU
diocese— Farewell to Simlah- Another si-vcre ultark The
Bishop returns to Calcutta— Dejiarture f«.r Kngland- num-
mary of thirteen years' labor- One- more at Uiingloii- \\ h«l
was aceomplishe'l during his visit — A last farewell — Arrival at

■ Calcutta—" I must go s<il1ly"— Consecration of the cathedral
— "Dying charge"�� A new visitati-m begun »8

CHAITER XXIV.

Keception at Bombay- Colombo-Overwork at Madras— IllneM
— Ordered to sea— New palace— Visitalimi n-uined— Thirty-
six days fully occupied— Consecration of a church in Borneo-
Sickness of Professor Street— The differene-s l>rlwci-n b<xm1
meu fading awa\ — Growing old — .\iii>th»r r.iilhful clinrtie-
Picture drawn by the Bishop of Victoria Arrival <>f n grand-
son—inauguration of the Kast India Kailwaj— lonsecralion
Of the Bishop of Labuan 80>

CHAPTER XXV.

Last charge to the clergy — Seventh visitation— Brave old man —
Failing strength- His resolution to die at his post- The In-
dian mutiny — Trying the effect of sea air- Last Ordination-
Confined to the bed — " I am talking in my sleep"' — All in peace
— Funeral solemnities — Brief epitome of his labors— Character
— His benefactions- Peculiarities 319

LIFK OF

BIS H () r W I I.SOX

(fl|np(fr first.

BIBTIl A.M» yxnaST XOK—l'UOVtH TKKATMKXT FOK A
PCXT INFAXT— AT SCHOOL, WnKX SEVKX YKAIW OLD—
PLACED IXDKR MK. IIACKXKT'b CARK — '• XOT W 0I£ TU
FLO<;i.IXii"— lOLEXEM, tl IIEI>— KXtJAOEH IX HIMXES8
— W'Mi; EAI!I.Y KEMIMtKEXCES— LETTEH TO A SCHOOL
Ct.MI'AXI<.X — KOITIXE OK KAULY EMI'LOYSIEXT — A
THl E ItlirrKAIT, WITH ALL 1T» LIGHTS AXD SHADES—
THE HEAKT IXDEIt THE DE«ilUniXO IXKLIEXC EH oK

BIX— "I'lCAY FOK THE FKELIXOS" OOD'b OUAC10U8

DEALIXUS.

HE general interest felt in liisliop
IIel)er ]<y all Christian })eo|)le, has
brought India close to the liearts
^^Ip of thousands. Tliose who followed
him in his high office might feel
a.-sured that there would be many
to watch their labors and to rejoice in their
success. But aside from any such adventi-

16 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

tioiis circumstances, the subject of this me-
moir was quite too remarkable a man to make
it necessary that his importance should be
increased by borrowing from the reputation
of others. Our readei-s cannot fail to be
interested in tracing his eventful career.

Daniel Wilson, the eldest son of Stephen
and Ann Collett (West) Wilson, was born m
Church Street, Spitaltields, London, July 2d,
1778. His father was a silk manufacturer—
a worthy and excellent man, and a devout
Christian. Mrs. Wilson had early in life
chosen " the good part," and \vas an exem-
plary wife and an afi'ectionate mother.

Daniel, being a feeble infant, wjis sent to
the country to be nursed, and to enjoy tlie
benefits of purer air. By proper attention,
he grew up to be a healthy, vigorous boy,
and no one who observed his firm step,
buoyant spirits, and intellectual countenance,
would have supposed him to be the same per-
son whose early days had been so unpromising.
At the age of seven, he was sent to a pre-
paratory school at Eltham, in Kent. lu his

LIFE OF nisniir wii.sox. 17

tenth year he was phiceil uiuler the eare of
the Kev. John Eyre, in lluekuey. This re-
spected elcr;.'yniau eked out the inadequate
salary drrivid InuM t\\v re^^'uhir (hities of his
otHce by teaehin^ a t-uiall seliool. lie soon
learned to appreeiute the character of Daniel
Wilson, anil haid : "There is no milk-and-
water in the 1m»v ; he will be soniethiii'^.
either very bad or very p)od."

One day, in a tit of idleiios and perversitv,
the lad not only refused to do his accustomed
work, but nei^leeted an additional ta>k which
had been set him as a punihhnient. Mr.
Eyre, passing through the room, saw he was
wasting his time, and remarked, with some
sharpness: "Daiiit-l, vou are not \V(trth ll«><r-
ging, or 1 V ould tiog you." This stirred the
boy's pride at once, and he was never accused
of idlene^s afterwards. Indeed, he i)ecame
6o persevering and pain^-taking, that on one
occasion, tinding himself unable to master
his appointed lesson, he declined going to
breakfast, saying, "No; if my head will

not work, my body shall not eat."
9*

18 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

Mr. Eyre soon became proud of his pupil,
and always spoke of him as posscjisiiij: an
intellect of the higliest order. Daniel Wil-
son loved his teacher, and in after yeare ho
used to ask his advice in cases of doubt and
difficulty. He remained at school until his
fourteenth year, when he was taken into the
warehouse of Mr. William WiUon, a near
relative by blood, and his maternal uncle by
marriage.

Daniel now found himself in a new world.
His uncle was an extensive silk manufacturer
and merchant — a strict and jubt man — ex-
pecting in others the industry and persever-
ance which he practised liimself, and holding
out the prospect of preferment to such as
deserved it. Daniel thus speaks of thid
period of his life : " My parents, for the tirst
years of their marriage, were a kind of loose
Church people, from the M-ant of piety in
their pai'ish ministers, attending regularly at
Mr. Romaine's, of Blackfriars Church, in the
morning of the Sunday, and at the Taber-
nacle, I suppose, in the evening. AVhen

LIFE OF BISHOI* Wn.BON. 19

their young family made the distance from
Blackfriare inconvenient, they attended at a
dissentiii«^ meetinf; Ikuisi' in tluir neiglihor-
hood in the morning, and at Spitaltields
Church in tlie evening. My schoohnaster,
however, being a clergyman — though not
strictly regular — I wtu^ accustomid t<» the
Church service duritig the four years of my
resitlence with him.

" When I Wfut to live with my unelc, be-
fore I was fourteen, an entire change took
place in these respects ; for he was a strict
and conscientious Churchman, attending tirst
Mr. Romaino, and al'tcr his death, Mr. Crow-
thcr, of Clirist Church, Newgate Street, Mr.
Cecil, Mr. Scott, and Mr. I>u6il Woodd. My
])rejudicc's, therefore (for I had no religion),
were then in favor of the Church of England,
and though the j>redilection was slight before
I went to college, it became, from the mo-
ment I entered the University, so deeply con-
6cientiou.-j, that I have never done any one
act inconsistent with the bonds of that com-
munion from that period."

20 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

The records of his first three years of
service are somewhat scanty. His daily
duties are described in the foHowin- U'ttcr to
a school companion (named Vardyi, witJi
whom, for a short time, he carried ou an
active correspondence.

•• February 16, 1797.

"My individual employment is not labori-
ous, but it is constant. Our usual h..urB of
work are from six o'clock in the morning till
eight o'clock in the evening, in the summer ;
and from seven o'clock in tlie morning till
eight in the evening, in winter, so that you
see I have but little time to myself. After
eight o'clock, in general, I am at liberty to
read or write alone, till supper-time, which
is at half-past eight o'clock or :i (juarter of
nine; and after this I sit reading with the
family till ten o'clock, wlu-n my uncle calls
them to prayers, and all go to bed. lint as
my leisure moments were by these regula-
tions exceedingly circumscribed, I have al-
ways been accustomed to spend a couple of
hours in my room before I retired to rest.

i.Ut "t lil-llul' WIL80N. 21

Tlien 1 used coMhlantly to ttiuly mv Latin
and Flench, bo that I am making considur-
ahle progrcivj in bo". Ii."

As it is onr itur|M.-i> to give a true jiortrait
of Daniel Wilsou, iinbimiscd l.y j.rejudit-o,
wo niubt allow him lo mention some ihin'^a
in regard to his early religious character, not
much to his credit. We can not, however,
fail to admire the straight forward honesty
which led him to acknowledge liis faults.

" As far back im I ean remember [he says]
my whole heart was given to sin. Kven
when a boy at tchool, when j.articular cir-
cumstances recur to my min<l, I am shocked
at the dreadful depravity of my nature a.s it
then discovered itiielf. I have indeed pro-
ceeded in a regular progression iVoni tlie less
sins of bad books, bad words, and bad <le-
sires, to the grosser atrocities of those em-
I'hatically known as 'the lu.sts of the flesh.'
I was constantly acting against a better
knowledge. I had received a religious edu-
cation, and had been accustomed to a re"-ular
attendance on public ordinances. I could

22 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

criticise a sermon, and talk aud dispute
about particular notions; hut I loved my
sins, and could not bear to part with them.
I never had gone so far as to deny any one
of the doctrines of the Gospel. I acknowl-
edged them to be true, but for want of that
necessary attendant, self-application, I could
hear whole sermons, but not a word belonged
to me ! I took a false idea of the Gospel,
and, from this distorted view, dogmatically
pronounced it out of my power to do
anything ; and so, hushing my conscience
with ' having done all I could,' I remained
very quietly the williug slave of sin and
Satan."

The atmosphere of the warehouse in which
Daniel Wilson passed his time was by no
means favorable for growth in gi-ace, or even
for much serious thought. All was bustle
and confusion daring the day, and at ni^ht,
when the restraint of the master's presence
was withdrawn, the young men indulged in
much vain discourse, and I am sorry to add
that our holy religion was spoken of .witli

LIFE OF BISHOP ^VIL80^^ 23

little reverence or respect. The spirit of the
age was skeptical, and it is hardly to be won-
dered at that a youth full of self-will, and
fond of self-indu]«reriee, should yield to sur-
rounding temptations, and be found at last
sitting with composure in the seat of the
Bcorner.

But the Holy Spirft did not cease to
strive with him, and he thus describes some
of God's gracious dealings with him : " One
evening (^March 'Jth, 1700), I was, as usual,
ensrased in wicko»l discourfec with the other
servants in the warciiou.<e, and religion hap-
pening (humanly si)eakiiig, 1 mean) to be
started, I was engaged very warmly in deny-
ing the responsibility of mankind, on the
supposition of absolute election, and the folly
of all human exertions where grace was held
to be irresistible. (I can scarcely proceed
for wonder that God should have u[)held me
in life at the moment I was cavilling and
blaspheming at His sovereignty and grace.)
"We have a young man in the warehouse
whose amusement for many years has been

24 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

entirely in conversing on tie subject of reli-
gion. He was saving that God had appoint-
ed the end — he had also appointed the means.
I then happened to say that I had none of
those feelings towards God which he reqtiired
and approved. 'Well, then,' said he-, 'pray
for the feelings.' 1 carried it otf witli a j«.ke,
but the words at the lirst made some inijircs-
sion on my mind, and thinking that I would
still say ' I had done all I could,' when I re-
tired at night I began to pray for the feelings.
It was not long before the Lord in some
measure answered my prayers, a!id I grew
very uneasy about my state.''

Young "Wilson immediately sought an in-
terview with his old tcaclK-r, Mr. Eyre, and
the letters which passed between tliein showed
how earnest the penitent mut^t liave been in
his inquiries after truth, and how faithful the
spiritual adviser whose counsels had been
asked. His parents were soon made ac-
quainted with his state of mind, and in reply
to a letter from his anxious mother, he writes
as follows :

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 25

April 7, 17%.

"I have reeeiveil your ktter, and wituld
answer in sinct-rity your solemn tiiiLiy, ll<'\v
is it between God and your soul i

"What shall I say f ll<'\v is it between
the great on»ni})otent God, the creator and
preserver t)t' my lite, in whom I live and
move and have my being, and the soul of
me, a worm of the earth, who exists only at
llis will { Awful thought I Ihit this is not
all. liow is it between a ju>t uiul holy God
— a God of intinite purity — and my soul full
of corruption and pride i I low tun I answer
such a (piery (

"But when 1 add to these considerations,
that while this God ha8 been blessing mo
with the blessings of His ]»rovidence, while
He has been continuing me in life, and pre-
serving me from every danger, I have been
transgressing against Ilim in the most aggra-
vated manner, against light and knowledge,
and even now daily transgress against Him ;
I say, when 1 think on this question in connec-
tion with these ideas, I know not what to reply.
3

26 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

"This I know and feel, that 1 have forfeit-
ed His favor ; that in me does not my help
lie ; that the curse of God is ui)on me, and
that it is because He is God, and not nian,
that it has not long ago been executed. This
also I am sensible of, that the curse may be
executed this night, that my breath is in my
nostrils, and that if I this night should be
cut off, I should sink — wlicro { Inti> that
tremendous place where the ' worm dieth not,
and the fire is not quenched.'

" But I have cried unto the Lord for mercy,
and do endeavor still to cry unto Him, from,
as it M-ere, the very mouth of iiell. And I
have some faint hopes that the Lord will be
merciful unto me and bless me. And this
pursuit I hope and trust I shall never relin-
quish till I am blessed with an answer of
peace.

" Oh ! my dear mamma, it is not the
pleasures of this life, nor the possession vf
its vain riches or honors which I seek after.
No ; but it is even the happiness of my im-
mortal soul, which must exist for ever and

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOX. 27

ever. Oh ! may the word Eternity never
enter my ears without imjtressing my heart."
At the time ot wliich we are speakin*;:, that
excellent man, the liev. Juhn Nt-wtun, was
rector of St. Mary Woolnoth, and Daniel
Wilson, who had often attended upon his
ministry, now derived much benefit from his
counsels and i»rayers. For months and
months, liowever, he cotitinued to have
doubts and misgivings, and to distrust his
own purposes of good ; but at last he was
enabled to throw himself unreservedly upun
the promises of God in Christ Jesus. Un
the first Sunday in October, 1797, he received
the Lord's Supper at the hands of Mr. ICyre,
drawing near in faith, and taking '' that holy
Sacrament to his comfort." In speaking of
this important step, in a letter to a young
friend, he remarks: "Never did I enjoy so
much the presence of my dear Redeemer, as
I have since that time ; and this, not so much
in great sensations of pleasure, as in broken-
ness of heart, and, I trust, in sincere desires
to be devoted to llis glory. Yefiterday and

28 LIFE OF BISIlOl* WILSON.

to-day have been, I think, the happiest (fays
I ever remember. The Lord sliines so upon
my soul, that I can not but love ///m, ami
desire no longer to live to myself, but to
Him. And to you I confess it (thouglj it
ought, perhaps, to be a cause for shame), that
I have felt great desires to go or do anything
to spread the name of Jesus, and that I liave
even wished, if it were the Lord's will, to go
as a missionary to heathen lands."

d'bapttr ^tcoui).

DrFVH I int.- IN TUK WAY oK ENTEHlNli THE MI.MSTHV
— <X>NSlI.TATInXS WITH SEVKItAl. t lEHOYMEX — IU8
FATUKK ItiXBEXTS TO IU8 LEAVlSii Hlt^lNKss — ENTEIW
8T, EUMIXUH HALL— Mlt. l-UATT — UKMKMllliAM EH 0^^
THE WOKTHT VKK-PKINCIPAL — UEsJftTAXlE OK TEMPT-
ATION — (oxrinMATios — LrrrEit to iua yuTHEU —

PAlWEd THE II.NAL KXAMIXATU>XA WITH HOXOK

I'UlZt E-HSAY — felXUlLAK lUlXUnEXCE— OUIUNATUiN
— BE103IE9 UK. CKIIL'h CCKATE — AllfM>AXT LAUoJW
— ABOVE THE IXKLIESCE OP PETTY JEALOIHT — AP-
POINTED TO A TITOKHHIP AT OXFOItli MAHKIAOE

(K)UK AOCorxT OF un. wiij»on'8 CHILUUEN.

LTlIorCilI Daiiifl Wils(.ii't>tliou«,'lits

rl were now turned towards the sacred

miiii>try, aiul triiiids with wlioiii lie

Vi;> y advised encouraired liiiii t<» prosecute

^^ his studies, there were dithculties in

the way not easy to be overcome.

His father wjis decidedly opposed to this

plan, having entertained sanguine liopes that

his son niij^ht become a successful man of

business ; and he had occasional ai>prehen-

sions himself that his desire to become a

3U LIFE OF BISHOP "WILSON.

clergyman might be only another evidence
of the pride of heart which was one of his
besetting sins.

Mr. Eyre and Mr. Xcwton were consulted,
and, after some time of anxious suspense, tlie
idea occurred to him that the Kev. Rowland
Hill might help him to discover the patli of
duty. The young man was kindly received
by the eccentric clergyman of Surrey Chapel,
who inquired minutely into his family rela-
tions, his motives, and wishes, and finally
expressed a hope that if the tiling was really
of tlie Lord, it might eventually prosper.
This interview with Mr. Hill was followed,
some months afterwards, by one with the
Rev. Richard Cecil (one of the excellent of
the earth) ; and at last all obstacles were
happily removed, and with a heart full of
thankfulness he makes this record in his pri-
vate journal :

" Oa I tlie wonders of the Lord's goodness !
My dear father let me go to Mr. Cecil's and
Mr. Goode's, and they, atter due examina-
tion, gave their opinion that I was called <>f

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSt>N. Si

God to tlie ministry. J/y fatha- consenUd
to vuj leaving hunlmss. In a few days I am
to go and enter my>elf at St. Edmnn.rs Ilall,
Oxford, and he at ^fr. Pratt's as a i»rivate
I'lipil till I am ready to reside in eolleffe.
My dear uncle has conducted himself with
tlie greatest kindness during the ^yll(.le mat-
ter, and has readily consented to tlie arran"-e-
ment made by my father. The Lord has led
me by a way that I knew not. To His o-reat
name be all the glory !"

In accordance with the i)lan thus proposed,
Daniel Wilson went uj) to Oxford, and enter-
ed himself at St. Edmund's Hall, on the Ist
of May ; and in the same month he writes
to Iiis mother from Doughty Street, liussell
Square, Avherc the Key. Josiah Pratt then
resided :

"Tlie desire you expressed to hear from
me as soon as I was comfortably settled liere
has not been forgotten. I am encircled wi:]i
mercies. In every point of view I find my-
self, as to outward circumstances, in the best
possible situation. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt are

32 , LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

extremely good-tempered and agreeable, and
very pious. My fellow-students (twoj, though
not serious, have been educated in a Mora-
vian coUeije, and are very civil, moral youths.
I have a most beautiful prospect from my
room over the fields, unobstructed by any
houses. So much as to outward blessings ;
but these are nothing compared with spirit
nal, though all should excite gratitude from
him who is unwortiiy of any.''

At the age of twenty, Daniel Wil?on began
in good earnest to prepare liimself for that
holy calling which he was so long to adorn
by his life and convei-sation. lie n<~»t only
applied himself with all diligence to study,
but improved every favorable opportunity of
doing good to his former companions, wlio
might have received injury from his evil
example in time past. The vice-principal of
St. Edmund's llall, at this i)eriod, was the
Tiev, Isaac Crouch, who exercised a most
beneficial influence over the young men in-
trusted to his care. Thirty -four years after-
wards, Daniel Wilson, writing to liim from

LIFE OF ni.'SHni' Wll son. « 33

the Indian Ocean, says : "I look back now
witli fond delight to my introduction to you
on April 3<>tli, 170S. I recall your friendly
advice, cautions, and instructions. I remem-
ber the (ircck Testament lectures (of which
I have my short-hand notes still), the delight-
ful dinner parties, the ISuMday-evenin*^ read-
ings, the various scenes where I used to see
your friendly countenance, and where I used
to pass such happy lioiu> with Mr. (ireig,
William Marsh, Cawood, and others. Many
and many a reflection, dropped by you in
conversation, now returns to my mind with
double force. Accept, then, once more, my
best acknowledgments. I have now in my
cabin your present of Van-der-IIooght's
Hebrew Bible, given me by you in 1801.
It has been my comj>anion ever since. Its
binding has become again as old as that
which you replaced by so splendid an exte-
rior, tliirty-two yeai*s back."

Our young collegian was thrown amongst
those, at Oxt\)rd, who were extravagant in
their habits, and who ran recklessly into

34 LITE OF BISHOP WILSON.

debt; but he so carefully husbanded the
hundred guineas a year which his fatlier
allowed him, that his expenses were kept
within his income, although a desire to pos-
sess some new or valuable book was a tempt-
ation hard to be resisted.

The Church very properly permits persons
to come to the Holy Communion before they
have received the apostolic rite of «'la\nng
on of hands," in case they are "■ roaily and
desirous to be confirmed." It was on tliia
condition that Daniel AVilson lia<l hreii ad-
mitted to the Lord's Supper. On the 7th of
June, 1799, he was confirmed by the Bishop
of Chester, the Bishop of Oxford (Dr. Small-
well) being then too ill to discharge the du-
ties of his office. Months passed away with
little worthy of record. After spending the
holidays in the bosom of his father's family,
we find him once more at the University,
entering upon his third and last year. A
letter to his mother, dated January 12th,
1801, discloses the state of his mind and
heart.

LITE OF BISHOP WILSON. 35

**Thc time I spent with you in town np-
j>ear8 to me now likr a dream that is passed
away. Thus it is tliat our life is hastening
along. One scene j)resents itsell", and tlien
vanishes; a second folh>w8, and disappears
in like manner. Now we are well ; anon
sickness seizes us. At this nionuMit, every-
thing? is prosperous and eonitortahle ; the
next, all is dark and niis<.'ruhle.

" From reflectinir iii)<>n these changes, how-
ever, we may learn two important lessons —
the one solemn, the other encouraging. It is
a solemn consideration that, amidst all the
fluctuations of life, we are still making rajtid
advances towards eternity. Every wave,
whether placid or turbulent, wafts us nearer
to that awful shore. Like a ship which c<ui-
tinues to make its way, whatever the passen-
gers on hoard may he doing, we are perj>etu-
ally hurrie<l forward, whatever may he our
employments.

" But as tliis is a solemn thought, so is it
encouraging to contrast the uncertainty of
all things here below with the unchangeable-

36 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

ness of our gracious and Almighty Lord.
This is our safety, that there is One wlio hath
said, 'Because I live, ye shall live also;' and
that there is an unfailing fountain of love
and mercy in Him to remedy all the evils
of time, and to crown us with ever^' bless-
ing.

"The more Satan cau liring us to look
upon the waves, the sooner we shall sink.
It is when faith is fastened upon a orucitied
Jesus, that peace dwells in the heart, and
holiness adorns the life atid conversation.
God gives us this 'precious faith,' that, lrx)k-
ing unto the great Captain of our salvation,
and receiving every supply from his fulness,
we may go on our way rejc>icing. The com-
mand is, ' Rejoice in the Lord always.' May
ihe Lord the Spirit produce in us continually,
and enable us to know more of the i)ower of
that kingdom which is righteousness and
peace and joy in the Holy Ghost."

Young Wilson had applied himself so
closely to study during his whole college
course, that the approach of the final exami-

LIFE OF lilSUop WILSON. 37

nation— an occasion of so much alarm to the
dissipated arid idle-gave him no particular
uneasiness. He pju^sed tlie tiying ordeal
with great credit t.. him^eli; and carried off
the prize for an Knglibh essav on Common
Sense. It is an interesting fact, that when
he descended the rostrum, amidst the ap-
plause of the audience, Tweginald IIeueu
arose to recite his 'poem of '♦ Palestine."

There is something ali'ecting in the j)icture
of these two young a.spirunts, thus l.rought
togetlur in the morning of life, who were
afterwards called to hear "the heat and bur-
den of the day" in the same far distant lield ;
sometliing, also, in th- scrolls they held,
characteristic of the men— the one, throwing
over India the charm of p.-)etry, piety, and a
loving spirit; the other, stamping upon it
the imprests of Scriptural supremacy and
evangelical truth ; something of adaptation,
also, in the divine orderin'.; of those conse-
crated spots wheie " they rest in their graves"
—the chancel of 6't. John's, Trichinopoly,
and the chancel of St. Paul's, Calcutta.
4

38 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

Daniel Wilson liimself referred in after
life to this meeting in the Oxford Theatre :

" Is it not a singular coincidence,'* he said,
"that Heber, my revered, able, and pious
predecessor, delivered his poem of ' Pales-
tine' on the very day that I delivered my
English prose essay on ' Common Sense ?' I
well remember, as I came down from the
rostrum, seeing Ileber, who sat immediately
behind, testifying his applause in the kindest
manner, though I never made his acquaint-
ance till July 2Uth, 1812, when Mr. Thornton
introduced him to me at St. John's Chapel,
Bedford Row, after hearing me preach from
Hebrews ii. 3.*

Mr. Wilson began his ministry under very
favorable auspices — as curate, or assistant, of
the Rev. Mr. Cecil, rector of Cobham, a
pleasant agricultural village in Surrey, and
Bisley, a retired hamlet three miles distant.
He makes the following entry in his jounial,
in regard to this most important step:

" I am now numbered amongst the dressers
o Batemau's Lile of Wilsoa, p. 51.

.v4»

UKE OF blSUOh WILSON. 39

of God's vineyard. I entered into holy or-
ders on the liUlh ."^tjtteniber, hy tlie imposi-
tion of hands of the Bibho}> of AVinchester.
Whilfet Mr. Cecil is absent, I sliall have two
Bermons ti» preueli weekly — one at Cobliain,
and one at l>ial«.'y. Ail difiieiilties having
been reniovcnl by the helj) of GihI, 1 atn now
liappily di^char^in^ n»y saered functions.
AVhat I had j)rej)ared, being coniinittcd to
memory, I wu^ eiiabhd to delivt-r freely.
Isor havf 1 to complain of any unkind recep-
tion ; on the contrary, I have to acknowledge,
with gratitude to (iod, that it Mas far beyond
iny expectations.

"In my tir>t bermi»n, I treated of the wili-
iugnesd of Christ to receive sinners coming
uuto him. ' Him tiiat cometii unto me I will
in no wise cast out.' In the second, I en-
deavored to explain thp peace which Chri^t
gave to His disciples — 'Peace 1 leave with
you.' Grant, Almighty God, that these
tilings, which by Thy grace have happily
begun, may by Thy power be brought to a
good result."

40 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

Towards the close of the year, the young
clergyman was left with the whole duty of
the parish upon him, which called forth all
his energies, and taxed his strength to the
utmost.

Besides preaching three times a week, he
was most faithful in visiting his people —
going into every mud hut, and obtaining
from Mr. Cecil himself (a man not accus-
tomed to deal in empty compliments) the
name of " The Apostle AYilson."

He began at first by writing his sermons
fully out, and committing them to memory;
but he soon adopted the plan of taking up
notes only into the pulpit.

His journal furnishes many little incidents
which serve to illustrate his character.

'• I clearly perceive that my preaching is
very bad," he remarJcs in one place. " Jt is
all ' vi et armis.' I make clamor and shout-
ing and noise my helpers — as if sound with-
out sense ever did any good. I must spare
no pains to correct these faults, now I know
them. I only giieve most deeply, that when

LIFK OF BISHOP WILSON. 41

Mr. Cecil in the kindest manner mentioned
them to me, I perceived a secret sensation
of anger, wlien I ought to have felt nothing
but gratitude."

Some persons are so mean-spirited as to
feel jealous wlienevcr anothei- is commended
for qualities which they are sensible of pos-)
sessing tliemselves in a smaller degree. Not
60 witli Mr. Wilson. On one occasion, when
he went up to Oxtbrd fur a s-hort time, his
place was supplied by his friend Marsh.
We find this record in his journal, upon his
return :

"Praises of all kinds were showered on
him, my jK'Ople were so stiuck witli his
countenance, his address, his seinidns, his
courtesy, that they lauded him to tiie skies —
God be praised I"

Havinjr labored two vears at Cobham,
some things occurred which changed his
plans fur the future. The following is his
own account of the first of these events :

"January 23, 18U3. I have wonderful
things to record. I have refused the curacy
4*

42 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

of Henley, which has beea offered to ine,
because, when I came here, I engaged to
stay with Mr. Cecil three yeai-s. This beii g
settled, lo! another matter, much more seri-
ous, occurs. Ml-. Crouch wishes to know
whether I should be willing to return to
Oxford, and, conjointly with himself, under-
take the office of Hitor at St. Edmund's Hall.
It is to be with this understanding, that the
lighter part of the duty falls upon me at tirst,
but that I should be prepared eventually to
take the whole burden. The question is
under consideration. The Principal haa to
be sounded. Mr. Cecil mtist be consulted
and persuaded. Almost everything want^i
arrangement. May God's will be done 1
This alone grieves and vexes me, that, witii
so great a matter hanging over me, I am so
feeble in mind, so full of sin, so backward
in prayer, watchfulness, and submission."

The same subject is again referred to on
the 9th of March, a day never forgotten by
him :

"Seven years have passed since the grdcn

LIKK OK msilul* AVILSON. 43

of God came with power to nie, wlio was
buried in total darkuesss. 1 ackiiowled«<e
myself to he the vikst of the vile, and I
grieve over it. Still ila- grace of God is
exceedin<;ly abuiulant towards mu. I wish
to be nothing, and would cleave to Christ
only,

"The Oxfonl business is aitj»roaehing its
completion. 'Hie Princij)al has consented.
My parents acquiesce. Mr. Cecil, though
disinclined, does not absolutely refute. 1
have written to Mr. Cr<»uch to say that 1
shall be ready to undertake it as soon as I
have fultilled mv engagement tt) remain with
Mr. Cecil lor three years. This must be
done, unless Mr. Crouch can find some one
whom Mr. Cecil would be willing to take in
my place, and thus set me free. The will of
the Lord be done.''

Several months passed away before Mr.
Wilson Could secure a successor for his cu-
racy, and it was not until November that he
preached his farewell fccrmon and took his
leave. Large congregations assembled to

44 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

hear his parting counsels, and many tears
were slied.

The other event to which we referred was
the marriage of the young clergyman with
his cousin Ann, the daughter of liis uncle,
Mr. "William Wilson, to whom he had heen
tenderly attached for several years. The
ceremony took place on the 23d of Novem-
ber, 1803.

A few words in regard to family matters,
in this place, will not be amiss, especially as
the happiness of Mr. Wilson fur many vi-ars
afterwards was greatly increased by his
union Avith this lovely and excellent woman.
As a daughter, she had her father's testimony
that she had never given him one hour's un-
easiness ; and after the death of a beloved
mother, she had been a guide and protector
to her younger sisters. Although naturally
inclined to silence and reserve, when fhe be-
came a clergyman's wife she gave up her
habits of retirement, and interesting hei>elf
in her husband's work, she presided over his
household with dignity and grace, and dis-

LIVE OF Bl.inop WILSOX. 45

charged lur approj)riate duties in the fear of
God.

In November, ISOo, his eldest son, Daniel,
was horn ; in September, 1807, Ids second
son, Jnlin : in June, lsoi», his daugliter,
Amelia. These three were b<»rn in ( ).\iV)rd.

In N<tveinl>er, 1811, a second daughter,
Ann Margaret, was born; in March, 1814, a
third daughter, Eliza Emma; and in Novem-
ber, ISlfl, a third s(»n, William. These were
Itorn in L«»ri(h»ii. Thus (ind •' made him an
house," and for nearly fourteen years (with
one sad interruj)tion, occasioned by the death
of his infant daughter, Amelia, in 1809) the
voice of joy and health was heard in it.

Mr. Wilson was always too much occupied
•with the duties of his office to spend much
time with his children, and while he was
ready to j)romote their good at any sacritice,
he did not enter into their jairsuits, and was
not as patient with them as some are. At
the same time, probably no parent ever suf-
fered more acutely than he did when they
were sick or in trouble.

46 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON'.

After the death of little Ann. in 1818, he
thus pours out his heart, in a letter to Mrs.
Hannah More : " It is impossible for me to
describe to you what we are going through.
After the sudden death of one child— a lovely
girl, about six years and a half old — a second
child has been seized with sickness, and lias
now continued for above seven weeks in a
most affecting and alarming state, AVe arc
watching our dear little boy dying before
our eyes. He has been for eiglit days in
perpetual convulsions, except as opiates com-
pose for a time his agitated frame. Tlie
afflicted mother hangs over her suffering
child with an anguish I cannot describe.
Thus it pleases our heavenly Father to exer-
cise us with by far the most severe trial we
have ever known.

" For myself, as a minister of the sanctuarv,
I am quite assured that God ' in very faithful-
ness has caused me to be troubled.' I want
bringing down. The natural tendency of
my mind is towards excessive activity and
bustle, with all the secret love of display and

LIFE OF BISHOP WII.SOX. 47

thf ])raise of men wliirli accompanies such a
turn of character. I have now gone on
seventeen years in the sacred ministry, Miili
a large share of liealth and spirits, with some
success in the great W(.rk of ' reconciliaiinn'
intrusted to me. Some late circumstances,
in wliich I had, Ik.wcvit. very little }>er.-onal
effort, have hrought me still more hef..re the
public eye, and now my lu-aveidy Father
chastens me for my profit, that I mav he a
partaker of His holiness. He takes me aside
from my j.ul.lic duties to private self-exami-
nation, and he calls me from preaching to
praying— from the instruction of others to
the instruction of myself. He l.ids me look
inward, and lake the gnage and measure of
my heart. He commands me to be silent,
and contrite, and interior in my religion.
He is preparing me for comforting, perhaj.s,
the minds of others with the comfort where-
with I myself am comforted of (iod; and
whilst he conlines me to the chamber of soi-
row, is perhaps fitting me in some bettir
manner to discharge those high and elevated

48 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

duties of a steward of the mysteries of God
which I Iiavc so little honored as I oiij^ht.
Oh, that I may learn softness, confession,
humility, and tenderness in this school of
suffering !"

The little boy spoken of in this letter re-
covered partially from this dangerous attack,
and having survived until five years old, an
object of solicitude and tender sympathy, he
gently passed away.

Mr. Wilson's eldest-bom, Daniel, was a
great comfort to his parents, and became a
useful clergyman — still being si)ared to labor
for the good of souls.

John, the second son, was led awav from
the path of duty by tlie seductions of bad
companions, and finally retired to the Conti-
nent, where he died in August, 1833, sin-
cerely penitent for his faults, and at peace
with God and man. His father was then in
India, but his brother ministered at his
dying couch. He was patient under the
most intense sufferings, and thankful for
every mercy, receiving the Holy Sacrament

LIFE OF BISHUl' WILSON.

humbly, and tinding it ii means of grace to
Lis soul.

We havo prelerrtd to bring together these
items concerning iauiily mutters, that the
regular course of t!.c narrative may not be
interrupted by them hereafter.
5

DUTIES AT OXFORD — CFRATE OF WORTOX — ATTK.MITS TO
BENEFIT THE UNDER-GRADCATE3 — I TPER AND LOWER
WORTOX A STRIKING CONTRAST "HE KXUW9 AL-
MOST EVERY thing!" CALLED TO ANOTHER FIELD —

ST. John's, Bedford row — reason for making xnis

CHANGE — unselfishness — A SCATTERED CONOKXOA-
TION SOON RALLIED — THE PREACHING OF " CHRIST
crucified" GRAPHIC PICTIRE — INTEHESTIXO INCI-
DENTS LARGE CONFIRMATION — EVIDENCES OF PAS-
TORAL FIDELITY — OUTSIDE LABORS — SCENE AT A
DINNER-TABLE — MRS. FRY — HABITS OF PRATER —
FAILING HEALTH — VISIT TO THE CONTINENT — FRESH
LESSONS IN THE SCHOOL OF AFFLICTION.

X the year 180-i, Mr. Wilson was re-
siding with his family in Oxford,
where his collegiate office occupied
him during the week, his SuiidnyB
being employed in officiating as cu-
rate of Worton, When he began his
duties at St. Edmund's Hall, he held a
subordinate position, having Mr. Crouch to
lean upon for counsel, and to aid him in diffi-
culties. Three years afterwards, when his
old friend retired from office, his responsibili-

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 51

ties were greatly increased. lie thus writes,
in January, 1807 :

" Our friend Mr. Crouch has now resigned
to me the whole management of the Hall ;
and utterly incompetent, I am left alone. I
can scarcely tell what I am to do, and what
leave undone. Nevertheless, I must follow
the leadings of God's providence.

" The number of young men in the Hall
at present, and the measure of their attain-
ments, are not, perhaps, l)eyond my roach;
but what plans may be adopted for the future
I know not. You will easily undcistand how
much I am engaged, when I tell you that
this next term I have to lecture on Aristotle
and the tragedies of -^schyhis; that the
New Testament has to be critically and co-
piously dealt with, and Aldrich's ' Ars logica'
to be entered on. I will do what I can. If
I cannot do for my pupils all that my wishes
and the duties of my office require, yet
nothing shall be wanting that good-will,
kindness, and careful study can accomplish.

" It seems to me that my main object must

62 LIFE OF BISHOP -WILSON.

be 80 to instruct them in the saving knowl-
edge of God, and so to imbue their minds
(as much as in me lies) with true pietj, that
however little they may profit by me in
secular matters, they may nevertheless learn
to love God, to believe in Christ, and reject
the vain traditions and fimcies of men, to
estimate aright the value of the soul, and to
know and be ready to proclaim tlic excellent
glory of the Cross. If they know and under-
stand these things savingly and experiment-
ally, they know all.

'- So far as all this goes, my opinions re-
main unchanged and immoveable, though I
know well that I am unable to follow them
diligently, or carry them out successfully by
my own power and might."

Besides the regular lectures and other in-
structions, Mr. Wilson sought to be useful to
the under-graduates, by inviting them, in
small parties, to the familiar intercourse of
his house and table. His good intentions
were, however, in a measure, defeated by a
gravity and coldness of manner which left an

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 53

unpleasant iinpretsion, making even social
gatherings partake too much of tlie character
of meetings for hiisiness and duty. His pu-
pils, however, liuuored and admired him, and
his influence wa» very generally felt. Thus
much for iiis college duties.

Ilis pastoral labors at Worton are those in
whicli we feel most interest. There are two
Wortons — r]>per and Lower — little villages
lying betwei M IJamhury aiul Woodstock, in
Oxfordshire; the population consisting of
farmers and agricultural laborers, and both
places united not exceeding two liundred
souls. A small church belonged to each
village, where the people enjoy the privi-
leges of religious worship.

Some of Mr. Wilson's predecessors in this
curacy had been extremely careless in the
performance of their duties, and every thing
had fallen into sad neglect.

The contrast between this and his earnest
and laborious ministry must have been very
striking. At the close of the year 18U3, he
tlius writes to his mother :

64 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON

"I am called a laborer, a minister, an am-
bassador, a worker with God ; niav I I'ullil
the solemn duties which these lilies impljr,
and which they re(|uire of me! An idl"
laborer, a careless minister, an unfaithful
steward, a false ambassador, a 6lc-c|>in{^
watchman, will bring down upon him^-lf a
tenfold destruction.

" I wish, my dear mother, to be more like
Mary sitting at the feet of Je8U6, and learn-
ing His words. I wish to be more like
IsAiAu, who cried aloud and spared not, in
showing his people their tnu)sgrefi6ion», and
the house of Israel their sins; I wish to l>o
more like 8t. Pail, instant in 6ca««»n and
out of season, reproving, rebuking, exhorting,
with all long-suticring and doctrine; above
all, it is my prayer to have in me the sanic
mind which was also in Christ Jesus, to bare
Christ formed in nu-, to walk worthy of the
Lord unto all well-pleasing, being fruitful in
every good work, and abounding in the
knowledge of God,

"I have now two pari&heu on luy hands,

UKE OK UlSilOl' WILSON. 65

where death ami sin ami durkne&s have
reigijei! uncontrolled. Jesus is here un-
known, grace is here a slrjinptr. holiness is
neither uiidersttHxi nor dfsire«l. All is uudt-r
the iK>wcr of the 'strong man arninl.' But ,
tlio Hible teacheti me a charm which ha* a
60ver«ign efticacy : ' I, if 1 In? LiriU) ui-, will
draw all men unto me.' ' The weajuina of our
warfare aro not carnal, but miijhty thnnKjh
(/W.' ' We have this treasure in earthen
ve*»eU, tiiat the (xcdUncy of the poxttr nuiy
be of God, and not K)i uk' Tliei»e iiri- my
firet principloi. lliis is my system. 1 .iebiro
to preach ' peace by Jt*us Christ,' and then
pray for the j^jMnt of .lesus to apply it
Wivingly to the heart and conscience. I am
only aehametl tJiat 1 do it so weakly and
imperfectly."

Throwing aside all stiffuets and formality,
the realous curate endeavorml to adapt busi-
ness to the capacities of his rubtic congrega-
tions, and illubtralioi»s for his discourses were
freely drawn from the setnl, the suck, the
common, or the fanner, husbandman, uud

56 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

gardener. On one occasion he had been
preaching on the resurrection of the body,
and had dwelt upon the dying of the grain
of wheat ere it springs up to new life. Two
farmers were standing by the porch, after
service, when one remarked : " There, you
see, he knows a'most every thing. lie told
us truly how the seed dies afore it grows.
He is not like our parson, who scarcely
knows the difference between a cow and the
moon."

"I remember," said a laboring man, who
had been referred to for recollections of these
days, '* when one time he was speaking of
victory over sins of the heart, and he im-
pressed his thoughts upon us by saying, in
his earnest way, ' oSTow, if you want to sub-
due sin in your hearts, you must encourage
all that is holy there. He who will keep
tares out of the sack, must fill it up with
wheat.' "

Doddington is a large village in the imme-
diate neighborhood, and the people were
busy enclosing the common. '" Mark," he

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 67

said, " the way to heaven is not like an open
common, with very many ways running
through it, but a road fenced on both sides
by the word of God."

Occasionally, there was a rapidity of utter-
ance in the pulpit, and an impetuosity of
manner; but tliis was not habitual or con-
stant. His delivery was quiot and deliberate,
and so distinct that the whole sermon was
often taken down, in common writing, from
his lips. He was very close in his appeals to
conscience, and so solemn and impressive in
his warnings and exhortations, as to })roduce
a trembling awe. " l^ray, do not let Mr.
Wilson preach here again," said a lady to
her minister, in an adjoining parish, "he
alarms me so!" And this was doubtless
sometimes true, for he was in earnest, and
could almost say, with the Apostle, "Whether
we be beside ourselves, it is to God ; and
whether we be sober, it is for your cause;
for the love of Christ constraineth us."

The effect of all this was not sudden, but
progressive, and it may encourage some who

58 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

think that they are laboring in vain, and
spending their strength for nought, to listen
to his own account. In July, 1804, he writes
to his friend Mr. Pearson : " My Worton
flock improves very little, if you speak of
true religion. I cannot, however, say that
my ministry has been altogether unsuccess-
ful." In May, 1806, he writes again : '• We
are going on well in our churches. The con-
gregations are numerous and attentive ; and
on Sunday last we had lifty-eight communi-
cants. I hope the Lord is doing something
for us, and that several are seeking a better
country, even a heavenly."

Again, in January, 1807 : '• A certain
measure of success attends me at Worton.
The congregations are numerous for tlie
place. They hear and receive gladly the
divine Word, but very few attain to salva-
tion. Pour upon us, O Holy Spirit I tliy
heavenly grace, that tiie dead may hear Thy
voice and live."

During the long vacation of the same year,
he says: "Alfairs prosper now at Worton.

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 59

We have a AVednesday service as well as on
Sundays. The church is crowded. It is de-
lightful to see such a great cum}»any listening
tu the word of (lod ; whilst we may hope that,
many will be endued with divine life, and
attain to heavenly blessedness."

Great good was accomplished through all
the country about AVurton, and the little
churches were not only crowded, but many
stood in the churchyard during the whole of
the service and sermon, and large numbers
of communicants came to the altar of the
Lord.

A marble tablet over the entrance of
Upper Worton church stands as a memorial
of the faithful curate who there once dis-
pensed the bread of life.

In the year 1809, Mr. Wilson was called
to a more important field of labor. lie thus
writes from Oxford to his friend Pearson :
'' At Christmas last, Mr. Cecil sent for me to
Clifton, and urged me to take St. John's as
his curate, when ray assibtant at St. Ed-
mund's Hall should be in a situation to act

60 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

alone. I objected strongly on the ground of
St. John's not being suitable to my cast of
character; but this difficulty being removed
by the assurance h'^ gave me of the universal
approbation manifested when I liave taken
duty for him, I then agreed that, in the course
of two or tliree years, if God should please,
I would yield to his wishes. With these im-
pressions I left Clifton, and scarcely thought
further of the aifair, till a letter from liim
reached me about a month back, to state that
his health was very rapidly declining, that
things were falling to pieces at the chapel,
and to nrge me to take it wholly, as minister,
whilst his life remained to him and the power
to consign it legally.

" I was seized with the utmost consterna-
tion, and the moment the term closed, hurried
to London to weigh the summons. 1 found
Mr. Cecil too far gone to be capable of giv-
ing advice, but his mind was fi.xed on me as
his successor. I stated to Mi-. Cardalo and
the principal people of the chapel, all my
difficulties, arising from Mr. Ilill, my pro-

LIFE OF BI5UOF \NaL80N.

posed successor at the Hall, being yet an
undor-graihiate, and incapable of being left.
Ko obstacle would divert tlieni iVuni their
entreaties, and 1 yielded at length, on the
supposition that no impediment arose in the
execution of our plan. The Principal of St.
Edmund's Hall consented ^vithout a scruple
to the succe.sMun of Mr. Hill, upon my j-roTu-
ise of continuing to sui)erintend till he hhon d
be settled and had become a Master of Arts.
Three bishops— Oxford, Hereford, and Lon-
don—loaded me with civilities and kindness,
and I left London on Saturday, virtually
mini:>ter of St. John's. My plan is to be
there in the vacations, and such times during
the term as I can be spared, and to manage
at Oxford till Mr. Hill is Master of Arts and
,of an age for holy orders, so as to be able to
officiate for me in the Hall chapel and at
Worton."

This letter was written in March. Some-
what later he thus reveals his motives :

'•The employment of a tutor at Oxford
has been far from being perfectly congenial

63 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

to my mind. As to the propriety of my
leaving the University, and giving myself
wholly to my ministry, I cannot have a
doubt. The gradual decay of vital piety in
my own heart is too obvious and too alarm-
ing a symptom not to force itself upon my
conscience. May God yet spare me for his
honor !"

Mr. Wilson entered upon his public duties
at St. John's Chapel, Bedford Row, on the
2d of July, 1809 (his birth-day), before any
legal arrangement had been made, which led
to a little unpleasant affair at the beginning,
but his business ihatters were speedily ar-
ranged to the satisfaction of all parties. Two
hundred guineas a year were to be paid out
of the income of the chapel to Mr. Cecil and
his family until the close of the lease, leav-
ing three hundred pounds a year as Mr. Wil-
son's salary. To show his disinterestedness,
it should be mentioned that he gave up a
parish with £500 per annum, that he might
devote himself more entirely to the work of
the ministry.

LIFE OF BISHOP ■V\^LSON. 63

In consequence of Mr. Cecil's long-contin-
ued illness, the congregation of St. John's
had become much scattered, but within a
month aftor the arrival of his successor, the
chai)el was crowded. The building itself
possessed no architectural beauties to attract,
and the service was conducted in the plainest
way, without any chanting — a psalm and
hymn being sung, with the accompaniments
of the organ. The manner of the new in-
cumbent was natural, his voice j)erfect, and
his action graceful and aj>]»ropriate. Mr.
Simeon used to say that the concreo-ation
were at his feet. The preaching of " Christ
crucified" j)roved to be a powerful agency
for arousing the slumbering consciences of
the M-icked, and many went away from that
tabernacle humbled and penitent.

The congregation was gathered from all
parts of London, and was one well calculated
to draw forth the powers of a clergyman
" Amongst the regular attendants were Johr
Thornton and his sons— names suggestive oi
singular goodness and beneficence. Thcrj

64 LIFK OF BISHOP WILSON.

sat Cliarles Grant -with his family, and two
sons, distinguished afterwards, the one as
Lord Glenelg, President of the Board of
Control, and Secretary of State for the Colo-
nies; the other as Sir Robert Grant, Gov-
ernor ot Bombay. There also sat Zacliary
Macaulay, accompanied by his son, the legis-
lative counsellor of India and historian of
England — ennobling literature, and now en-
nobled l)y it. Dr. Mason Good was there —
a physician of high repute, the master of
seventeen languages, and translator of the
Psalms and the Book of Job, who, once a
disciple of Belsham, was now ' sitting at the
feet of Jesus.' !Xear him might be seen Mr.
Stephen and his family, Mr. Cardale, Mr.
Buinbridge, Mr. AVigg, Mr. Charles Bridges,
and many others of high repute and piety.
Lawyers of note, also, who afterwards adi)rn-
ed the bench, were pew-holders in St. John's.
The good Bishop Ryder often attended, and
Lord Calthorpe ; Mr. Bowdler, the ' facile
princeps,' as he was termed, of the rising
barristers of his day, and Sir Digby Mack-

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 65

worth. Mr. "NVilbertorce was frequently
present, with his son Samuel, 'to take care
of him.' The late Duchess of Beaufort, also,
often sought to hear him, with many mem-
bers of her family. Individuals of every
'sort and condition' were thus assembled,
high and low, rich and poor, one with another.
Tiiirty or forty carriages might often be
counted during the Lciudon season, standing
in triple rows about the doors; and though
there was, as is too often, unhappily, the case
in proprietary chapels, but scant accommo-
dation for the poor, yet they loved to attend,
and every vacant sitting-place was tilled by
them the moment the do(»rs opened."*

Many interesting incidents are related,
showing the good whieii Mr. Wilson accom-
plished, while olheiating as minister of St.
John's. It is told of one now advanced in
life, and distinguished both in the political
and religious world, that when he first came
up to London, to study for the bar, he casu-
ally (as men speak) entered St. John'^ Chapel

° Bateman's Life of Wilson, p. 140-1.
G*

66 LITE OF BISHOP "WILSON.

one Sunday evening. After standing for a
long while, and failing to get a seat, he felt
vexed and chafed, and was retiring. ^ One of
the settled congregation, however, saw him
going, followed him co the onter door, brought
him back, and made room for him in his pew.
The sermon that he then heard was instru-
mental to his conversion, and he walked
thenceforth in the way that leadeth to ever-
lasting life. The incident is not only encour-
aging to ministers, but instructive to j)ew-
holders ; the opening of a door may lead to
the salvation of a soul.

Another incident may also be noted. A
near relative of Daniel AVilson was one of a
large company, when a gentleman approach-
ed and sought a personal introduction. " I
wished to be introduced," he said, in ex-
planation, " to a relative of one to whom I
owe everything for time and eternity. I am
only one of very many who do not know and
never spoke to Mr. Wilson, but to whom he
has been a father in Christ. He never will
know, and he never ought to know, the good

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 67

he has been the means of doing ; for no man
could bear it."

There were large Sunday schools connect-
ed with St. John's, taught by members of
the congregation, which claimed the pastor's
notice ; and the Welsh schools, or the youth
of the schools for the instruction and main-
tenance of children of the Piincipality at-
tended upon his ministrations.

Mr. Wilson bestowed particular pains in
preparing candidates for Contirmation, and on
one occasion three hundred and twenty-five
young persons were presented by him to the
Bishop, to receive his blessing in this holy rite.

The number of conmiunicants at St. John's
was very large, five hundred being sometimes
present at once, which made the service so
long, that only a few minutes intervened be-
tween the close of the morning and the com-
mencement of the afternoon service.

The collections for benevolent purposes
were surpassed by those of no church in
Loudon. Mr. Wilson's appeals were most
importunate, and few were able to resist

68 LI^E OF BISHOP WILSON.

them. Once, wlicn pleading the cau^e of
charity, he closed by saying, " Some will, I
fear, notwithstanding what I have urged,
pass the plate and give nothing, thinking
nohody sees. I tell you— I tell such an one
— God sees."

Although the people who attended St.
John's were thoroughly evangelical in i)rin-
ciple, they were devoted in their attaciiment
to the Ciiurch, and when the Hon. an<l Rev.
Baptist Noel, one of Mr. Wilson's successors,
left it, for some peculiar reasons of liis own,
only a few individuals followed him, in spito
of his great popularity.

Mr. Wilson had much to do beyond the
limits of his charge, and the religious and
missionary operations of the day found in
him a zealous advocate and friend. During
the summer holidays, having established his
family at Worton, or some other coimtry
phice, he mfide extensive tours for the benefit
of the Bible or Cliurch Missionary Society,
calling forth an interest in their affairs, and
collecting funds to aid them, A few inci-

LIFE OF BISUOP WILSON. 69

dents connected witli these interesting jour-
neys may here be apjiropriately introduced.
Once, when travelling with an old and be-
h>vo'l tVitMul, the lic'V. J. W. C'uiininghain,
(»M a missionary excursion, they dined at a
house wliere the provision was most luxurious
and costly, and where a company was assem-
bled quite foreign to the character of the
deputation and their immediate object. In
due course the host arose, and in a sort of
uproarious manner calleil upon the eoiii])any
to drink "Health to the Deputation." The
whole spirit of the dinner was ofleusive to
devout mind?, and the question was to
change it. Others sat still, but Daniel Wil-
son rose up, and said, " I l)elieve it is custom-
ary, when any one's health is drunk, to return
thanks ; and this I do most cordiaJly ; and
most ati'ectionately do I wish you, sir, in re-
turn, and this company, good liealth. But
then (he added, in that deep tone into Avhich
his voice naturally fell when he was strongly
moved) you will, perhaps, allow me to tell
you in what I conceive ' Good Health' really

70 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

to consist." And then he proceeded to speak
of the health of the wul, in language so sol-
emn and aflecting that every one at the table
felt the power of truth thus announced, and
the whole character of the assembly was at
once changed and solemnized. And yet all
this was said and done with such exquisite
good-humor and kindness, that not a single
person was otfended ; but all manifesed their
gratitude to him in expressions of 4-espect,
almost amounting to affection.

An incident of a somewhat similar charac-
ter occurred at Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton's
house in town. A large party of clergy and
laity, attracted by the May meetings, had
been invited to his hospitable board. All
were of one mind, and all desirous of mutual
edilication ; but the evening was passing
awav, and the conversation was still desul-
tory and broken. Suddenly a loud voice was
heard from the top of the table, addressing
one seated near the bottom. It was Daniel
Wilson speaking to Dr. Mai-sh. '' William
Marsh," he said, " may I ask you a question ?

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 71

You have liad some experieuce in dcaliifg
witli c-riiniiials lying under the sentence of
execution ; is theiv any ]>urtiun of the Scrip-
ture that yon liave t'uund more efficacious
than anotiier in bringing them to conviction
of sin and true repentance ? But" — checking
himscdf, and rrt'erring to Mrs. Fry, who was
sitting beside him — "perha]>s I ought rather
to put the question to my neighbor. May I,
dear madam, ask whether any particular
pa?sage of Scripture occurs to you as having
proved most useful to that class of our fellow-

sinners

" 1 can have no hetitation in answering
thy (juestion,'' replied Mrs. Vrv] "one pas-
sage 1 have found far more etleetual than any
others ; and the bimple reading of it has
proved most useful. 1 refer to the latter part
of the seventh chapter of Luke's Gospel. It
has softened numy hearts, and made eyes
weep that never wept before."

•'The seventh chai»ter of St. Luke!" said
Daniel Wilson. "The latter part. Let us
examine it. IIow glad I am that I asked

72 LITE OF BISHOP WILBON.

you !" Then, taking a little Testament from
his pocket, he began to read the passage.
This led to a comment on it, to inquiries
from others, and to general conversation;
narratives flowed from Mrs. Fry, and illus-
trations of various kinds from others, so that
all were pleased, instructed, and editied.

The formation of the Bible Association at
Oxford was a difficult and delicate matter, in
which he showed much tact. At a kind of
preliminary meeting of many of the authori-
ties of the University, he was present, en-
deavoring to remove objections and to win
assent. The weather was oppressive, and
Daniel Wilson approached one of the heads
of houses, who was present, not as an ap-
prover, but a listener, with cake and wine.
This gave occasion for conversation, and a
hope was expressed that he would patronize
the Society and take part in the meeting.
An immediate refusal was given, and strong
objections urged. The Society, it was said,
would increase the influence of dissent, and
tend so far to the injury of the Church.

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 73

"Exactly so," replied Daniel Wilson;
"this will be the result if the work is left in
the hands of the dissenters; and therefore,
Doctor, how important it is that men of
weight and influence in the Church shoukh
come forward and take the lead."

Other arguments were added, and pre-
vailed ; and thus, by his tact and good tem-
per, he gained his point, and the Doctor
became an oflice-bearer in the {Society, and
made a speech at the meeting.

Two or three more incidents may be added,
as illustrating Mr. Wilson's habit and mode
of prayer. A friend (the Eev. Thomas
Harding, now vicar of Bexley) accompanied
him to Brighton on behalf of one of the re-
litrious societies. Two large meetings had
been attended; and the evening having been
closed by an address to a circle of friends at
Sir Thomas Bloomtield's, and by prayer, they
entered the coach together on their return to
town. There were no other passengers. The
moment they had fairly started, Daniel Wil-
son, drawing up the window, said : " Now,
7

74: LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

my dear friend, we must have our evening
prayers together ere we sleep." He then
commended Lis friend, liiniself, and thcHse
they had just left, to the Divine protection ;
and, his petitions ended, he fell fast asleep.

Once, on a visit at a friend's house, he was
requested to officiate at morning prayere with
the family, but to be very thort, becunse of
some pressing engagement. AVhen the serv-
ants were seated, he said: ''I am requested
to be very short to-day ; I will therefore give
you Christianity in a nut-shell. Our heavenly
Father said of our blessed liedeemer, ' Thou
art my beloved son, in whom I am well
pleased.' Any soul that can say of that Re-
deemer, 'Thou art my beloved Saviour, in
whom I am well pleased,' is a real Chri&tian.
Now, let us pray."

The last trait of character to be mentioned
is related by Dr. Marsh, and is short and
simple. He sometimes travelled, on behalf
of these societies, with Daniel "Wilson, and
on arriving at their inn, they were frequently
compelled to share a double-bedded room.

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. <5

On such occasions, Dr. Marsh records the
fact, that the hist sight his eyes met at night,
and the first sight in the morning, was always
Daniel Wilson on his knees.

Such incessant and exciting labors as the
zealous minister of ISt. Joim's was engaged
in, could hardly fail to exhaust his strength,
and we are not surprised to find that in the
autumn of 1>^2l* he was prostrate and con-
fined to a sick room. Early the next year
he resumed his public duties, but soon found
that nature had not yet recovered from her
previous strain ; and acting upon medical
advice, he made a visit to the Continent,
which lasted from June to November, and
which was a source of much benefit and en-
joyment. He otiieiated on two Sundays after
his return, greatly to the joy of his people,
when all the bad symptoms of his disease
appeared again, in even a worse form than
before, and again he was compelled to learn
the lessons of patience and submission, under
his heavenly Father's chastening hand.

€\'^kx lourtl).

MR. WILSON APPEARS IV AXOTIIEK PCLPIT — ISLINGTON

— THE LAST INCUMBENT ONE PARTY DELIGHTED,

AND THE OTIIEK APPKEIIENSIVE — THE NEW VlCAu's

FIRST SERMON — WAITING TUE LORd'S GOOD TIME

WORLDLY WISDOM — ALL DIFFICULTIES HARMONIZED

" NO SUCH THING AS GETTING A COMFORTAULE GAME
AT cards" — SITTING IN THE PULPIT — EFFORTS FOB
ADDITIONAL CHURCH ACCOMMODATION — DIFFICULTIES

IN THE WAY — THE FIRST MEETING OF THE VESTRY

A THIRD SERVICE BEGUN IMPROVING HEALTH CIR-
CULAR LETTER IN REGARD TO BUILDING NEW CHURCHES
— THE FINAL ADOPTION OF THE PLAN PROPOSED AP-
PLICATION TO THE CHURCH COMMISSIONERS — " I AM
LIKE UNTO THEM THAT DREAM" — TWO FAITHFUL
CURATES — FIFTEEN SUNDAY SCHOOLS ESTABUSHED.

FTER a silence of eight months, Mr.

"Wilson appeared in another pnlpit,

and in very different circumstances

■\^,hip from those which had hitherto sur-

rounded him. The important living

of Islington had become vacant, and

Mr. William Wilson (his wife's father liaving

purchased the advowson,* as it is called)

o "Advowson is the right of patronage to a church or

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 77

presented it to his son-in-law. Although the
parish ^va8 then regarded almost as a country
district— green fields dividing it, in some de-
gree, from the great metropolis — it has long
since been swallowed up in the onward march
of London, and all distinctive marks are
swept awuy.

Islington was a most important charge,
embracing thirty thousand souls. The last
incumbent, a fine specimen of an old-fash-
ioned divine, had been a great favorite with
a large portion of the parishioners, but he
had done little to rouse them from the spirit-
ual lethargy into which they had sunk.

an ecclesiastical benefice ; and he who has the right of
advowson is called the patron of the church, from his
obligation to defend the rights of the church from op-
pression and violence. For when lords of manors first
built churches upon their own demesnes, and appointed
the tithes of those manors to be paid to the officiating
ministers which before were given to the clergy in com-
mon, the lord who thus built a church, and endowed it
with glebe or land, had of common right a power annexed
of nomin.iting such minister as he pleased (provided he
were canonically qualified) to officiate in that church, of
which he wivs the founder, endower, maint;iincr, or, in
one word, the patron."— Hook's Cuurch Dictionary.

78 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

Some who had attended St. John's Chapel,
Bedford Row, were residents of Islington ;
and these persons were delighted at the idea
of having their favorite minister so near
them. Others, again, expressed no little ajv
prehension lest Mr. Wilson's thoroughly
evangelical teaching and energetic manner
might prove disagreeable to a congregation
60 long accustomed to a different system,
while a few even went so far as to declare
that tliey would not attend cliurch.

Although still very feeble in health, the
new Vicar of Islington preached his first ser-
mon in St. Mary's Church, July 2d, 1824,
entering that day on his forty seventh year.
This experiment showed him that his strenorth
was not sufficiently restored to enable him to
prosecute the work which he so much desired
to begin — and he must needs abide the Lord's
good pleasure. It was not until the close of
November that his voice was heard again in
the parish church, when he delivered a stir-
ring Advent sermon, from St. Mark i. 15

"The time is fulfilled and the kinfrdom of

LIFE OF BISnor 'WTLSON. 79

God is at band, Eei)ent ye, and believe tbo
Gospeb"

Mr. Wilson veil understood tbe position
wbicb be occupied, and be resolved to pursue
a course so prudent and unexceptionable,
tbat wbile be made no compromise of tbe
trutb, none niigbt take needless otfenee.
Soon, bowever, some began to wonder at
wbat tbey tbougbt a sacrifice of principle.
His ii|»peals seemed to be less fervent, and
bis manner less earnest. They said, "lie
was very difterent at 8t. Jobn's." Tbey al-
most doubted if be preacbed tbe (jiospel.
But tbis was " their foolishness." The ser-
mons were the same. They were St. John's
sermons, wisely adapted to Islington ; and
tbe course pursued was tbe one most likely
to produce tbe desired effect — " if by any
means I may save some." lie was gently
remonstrated M-ith by a well-wisher, and his
reasons were asked. Tbe answer was imme-
diate, and to this effect: "I could preacb
away tbe parish cburcb congregation in a
fortnigbt ; and in another fortnigbt, perhaps.

80 LITE OF BISHOP WILSON.

I could fill it with a congregation twice as
large. But these are my parishioners. I do
not wish to drive them away. I long for
their souls as one that must give account.
My heart's desire is to lead them to Christ.
The branch in tlie vine must not be cut off,
but made fruitful.''

And his actions out of the pulpit, as well
as in it, were in accordance witli these words.
When troublous times came on, and many
were oftendcd, some friend told him of an
angry parishioner who had declared that
neither he nor his family would ever come
to the parish church again. "■ What do you
say?" was the vicar's response ; "what name
did' you mention? Wliere does he live? I
will call on liini to-morrow morning." He
called accordingly, and saw the family, and
all was set right in a moment ; for few could
resist him when he wished to })lease.

It is scarcely necessary to say that this ac-
tion was entirely disinterested. As vicar, he
was of course independent of all secular mo-
tives; and the slightest intimation of an.

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 81

intention of giving up a pew in church, was
followed by twenty earnest applications for
it. The efl'eet of th/ conduct then pursued
was, in tlie end, wliur he desired. None left
the church ; but, ou the contrary, prejudices
began to yield, hearts to soften, grace to
work. Keligion became prominent, and
worldliness drew back complaining, and
murmuring, ""There is no such thing as get-
ting a comfortable game at cards now, as in
Dr. Strahan's time."

One old gentleman, a poor Churchman
from his youth, was so full of anger at the
change, that he could scarcely speak upon
the subject. He threatened to leave the
parish altogether. But wliilst he lingered,
the angel of the Lord "laid hold upon his
hand," and all was changed. " No," he re-
plied to an application about his pew, " 1
shall not leave. I shall remain. I find now
that religion is heart- work."

It will readily be supposed that vast
crowds assembled in the church, and that
every standing-place was occupied.

82 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

It was the practice of the vicar now to sit
in the pulpit. He was at first compelled to
do this from ill health; but it became a
habit, and he continued it to the end of life.
A stool was construc*^^ed which would take to
pieces, and which raised him, sitting, to the
height of a person standing. Cross bars
steadied it and rested his feet ; and upon
these, when excited by his subject, or desiring
to impress some weighty truth upon his au-
ditors, he often rose, greatly increasing his
heiglrt, and suggesting the idea originated
by John Knox, that he was about to " tiee
out of the pulpit." The effect, though not
graceful, was impressive and earnest; and in
Daniel Wilson's case, something of dignity
was always attached even to his pcculianties.

When the Yicar of Islington had got fairly
at work in his new parish, he began seriously
to consider what arrangements could be
made for additional church accommodation.

His efforts in this direction were hindered
by a peculiarity in Islington — a large body
of trustees, elected by the people, having

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 83

power to act with the church-wardens in the
nianagement of all business matters. In
consequence of this arrangement, every ex-
citing question brought together a large
crowd, and the vestry meetings were often
scenes of disgraceful turmoil and confusion.
As the building of additional churches
must be a work of time, Mr. Wilson wisely
determined to make the best possible use of
St. Mary's, and he accordingly proposed that
niirht services should l)e held there, besides
those of the morning and afternoon. The
first vestry meeting which he presided over
was called to consider this matter. He thus
describes it :

" IsLDJOTON, February 18, 1825.

"I had, last night, my vestry for nearly
four hours at the church, on the evening
service. About two hundred persons attend-
ed, and long discussions arose — not upon the
main question, for all approved of opening
the church, but on the points : AVhether the
church should be entirely free, or the seats
be let? and then, whether the expenses

84 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

should be paid by the church-wardens, or by
voliiDtary subscription ? It was carried, at
length, unanimously, that the church should
be free, and by 117 against 59 that the
church-wardens should pay the expenses.
Nothing could be more kind and respectful
than their whole conduct to me, personally,
but I was worn out with standing, speaking,
talking, and calling to order — in short,
' rulinor the waves of the sea and the tumult
of the people.' "

The third service was immediately begun,
and the crowded congregations were a most
gratifying testimony to the expediency of
such a measure. Mr. Wilson's health was
improving, and his zeal kept pace witli his
increasing strength. Having made the best
arrangement he could to supply the spiritual
wants of his overgrown flock, he ap])lied his
mind to the only measure which could ])0S-
sibly meet the demand — the erection of new
churches. The trustees were reluctant to
engage in this undertaking in consequence
of their unfortunate experience some years

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 85

before, when a chapel-of-ease had been built.
Through niisnianagement, and other causes,
a debt had been contracted, which still
weighed heavily upon the tax-payers, and
rendered thoin indisposed to assume addi-
tional responsibilities.

Mr. Wilson, however, prepared a circular
letter to his parishioners in the spring of 1S25,
the main points of which were the following :

The parish contained thirty thousand
people, and was rapidly increasing. Land
was already let for buildings which, when
completed, would raise the population to
fifty thousand souls. The church and chapel-
of-ease together had sittings for two thou-
sand five hundred ; so that out of every
twelve parishioners, eleven were absolutely
shut out of the house of God.

The trustees of the parish and His Ma-
jesty's commissioners alike concurred in the
opinion that one church, in a parish spread-
ing over so wide a surface, would be com-
paratively useless, and that three were
absolutely required. This would involve an

86 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

expense of £30,000, at the very least. But
if the parishioners would find the sites, and
advance £12,000, His Majesty's commis-
sioners would take all further responsibility
upon themselves, ana complete the whole
work. This £12,000 might be first raised,
and then eventually extinguished, by a rate
of three-pence in the pound, which would
only require, from the great bulk of the
parishioners, on an average, a payment of
three or four shillings per annum — and that
not from each individual, but from each
family inhabiting a dwelling-house. Under
certain contingencies, even this might be
lessened, but it could not possibly be ex-
ceeded. And thus, at so small a sacrifice,
and no subsequent risk, the whole parish
might be provided with church accommoda-
tion for years to come.

The letter ended as follows :

" Let me entreat the prayers of my pa-
rishioners to Almighty God, the author of all
good, that such a soundness of judgment,
and such a temper of peace and charity may

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 87

prevail throughout the consideration of this
great question, tliat it may be crowned, if it
should seem right and lit, with the desired
success ; but that, at all events, it may prove
an .occasion, not of heat and contention, but
of good-will and kindness and conciliation
between all the remotest inhabitants of this
vast and important parish."

This able appeal produced a decided eflfect,
and five days after the letter had been issued,
a vestry meeting was held to consider so
important a question. Mr. Wilson by no
means relied upon mere human agency to
accomplish the desire of his heart, but he
made it tlie subject of unceasing prayer.
And how wonderfully the Almighty over-
ruled all things for the advancement of His
own glory ! The trustees assembled, and
the plan proposed by the vicar was unani-
mously adopted. Tliis vote, however, must be
confirmed at another meeting, and although
difficulties were then raised, and some ob-
jected, the previous action was approved of
by large majorities.

88 LIFE OF BISHOP WII.?ON.

Application must be made to the Church
Commissioners, who a^jreed to build the
churches. TVe o:ive Mr, Wilson's own ac-
count :

" IsLWCTOx. May 25. 1825.

" Surely praise should follow prayer.
Yesterday our groat undertaking succeeded.
The two archbishops, and twenty or more
bishops and noblemen, condescended to our
petition, and Thrte Churches, to contain five
thousand souls, are to be immediately built.
The intense curiosity with 'jvhich my person
was surveyed by the Episcopal Commission-
ers is more than I can describe ; and mv own
nervousness in answering to a thousand ques-
tions, and undergoing an hour's examination
before such a Board, almost deprived me of
the presence of mind necessary for such a
conjuncture. To God I ascribe the whole
success. I am like unto them that dream.
A parish of thirty thousand people, in eon-
fusion and ill-will, and determined against
any more new churches as long as they lived
(we are paying £2.354 annually for our

LIFE OF BISHOP WILgON. 89

chapel-of ease), brought round to vote almost
unanimously the sum of £12,000 ; and this
pittance accepted by the Commissioners, tor
chapels that will cost them £35,000 — and
would have cost the bunglincr managers of a
parish £70,000 ; this is ' the Lord's doing,
and it is marvellous in our eyes.' Let May
12 and May 24 be marked in my calendar as
'jubilee days.' "

After a brief season of rest, which was
passed at Cheltenham and Worton, Mr.
Wilson resumed his Libors at Islington,
whence he thus writes on the 12th of Novem-
ber, 1825 :

" I am wonderful well for me. In fact, I
have been better the last seven weeks than I
have been for years. The calls upon me
since I came home have been incessant ; and
yet I have been al)le to preach at church
every Sunday. The attention at church is
intense. 1 trust and believe good is doinsr.
Tlie seed must have time to lie in the ground
before it springs up. Oh I may the heavenly
Husbandman make ' the ground' into which
8*

90 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON'.

it falls 'good !' I begin now to find what T
though'. I was prepared tor — chocks and ob-
stacles in my great church atfairs. It is
astonishing how little one is practically pre-
pared to meet disappointments. Theory
and practice are not necessarily connected in
our disordered hearts."

Although nothing has been said of Mr.
"Wilisun's assistants, our readers would hardly
suppose that so much machinery could liave
been kept in successful operation by one
man alone ; but it niay be well enough to
mention that his eftorts were ably seconded
by two faithful curatt-s — Mr. Mar^ball and
^Ir. Uambleton. Various agencies were
em})loyed for the good of the extensive |iar-
ish — and among others, til'teen Sunday -schoids
were established — from which much precious
fruit was <'athered.

(Tbapttr /iflli.

A PTOBM BREWIXO THK AFTKKXOOX IJICTrRESIlII

LOXQ Jk.VU I'AIXKUL bTUrGc;LK BKOfGIIT TO A PEACB-
ABLS £XU — PEIUirAblVX IXKI.UKSCE — THE VUOtM TAKKX
n* — SEVERE AFKLUTIOX — SIKH. WIlJJOX's SICKNESS
AND HEATH — "THE I^AME VKSTKItDAY, AM) TO-I)AT,

AND Ff>UEVKK!" KEnlii.N ATloN — I.AIUiE CU.VFIKMATION

— PKEPAltATlOX FOU KIlOiT lOlilM (MUX — rBOSI'EKOCS
CONDITION OF THE I'AUISH — fOXMEritATIXO OF TUB
TUREB NEW CIIIKCHES — FREEIMM FItOM PEIIT — AP-
POINTMENT OV C'LBUUYMBN — THE I.oRD's WUKK I'KUB<
PEUINO.

Ill's fur Mr, Wilson's (.'arnost prayer,
that peace and truth mi^ht abide
amongst the j»eoj>le of his eliurge,
1^'-' had been graciously answered.
Early in 1S:2G, however, this hujipy
state of things was unex])ectc'(lly
disturbed. The ditliculty grew out of what
was called the aftenioou lectureship ; the
vicar not being responsible for this service,
and about a hundred pounds a year being col-
lected by Voluntary subscrijitions, to defray
its expenses. The lecturer at this time was

92 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOX.

the Rev. Mr. Denliam, and it was a report
of liis intended resi^rnation which tli-f sn.'-
gested any disturbing question.

As tlie one hoKling this office was n<»t
obliged to perform any pastoral duties during
the week, it was suppose<I that tlierc might
be several applicants l\»r the vacancy, and
Mr. Marsliall, the senior curate, solicited the
votes of the parishioners by means of a cir-
cular letter. At this stage of the proceed-
ings, Mr. Wilson thought proper to interl'ere,
and announced his intention, in cat.e of a
vacancy, to make arrangcin.'nts bin:. ..It" f*..r
the afternoon service.

A controversy grew out of this — the vestry
standing up for what they contended to bo
their rights in the case, ami tiie vicar insist-
ing upon his own. At tlie tirst meeting
which was held un the subject, Mr. Wilson
iiaviiig entered a j.rotest against any en-
croachment upon his jirivileges, promised
that if the right of app(^intment legullv
belonged to the i)arishi(>ners, they should be
permitted to clioose whom they pleased.

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 93

The vestry agreed to this, but when the
vacancy really occurred, they seemed to
have forgotten their engagement, and tliey
actually met to elect Mr. Dtiilmiirs suc-
cessor. The motion to do tiiis was, however,
voted down, and at last, when the whole
question was lell to the arl)itration of Dr.
Lushington, it wasdecided in the vicar's favor.
It is grievous to think li<)\v much l>itt<r-
ness and ill-will had Ikoii arousrd hy the
whole proceedings — and we are thankful to
be able to record that the storm now sK»wly
passed away. Mr. Wilson saw that it was
important, for his future peace, that the
inllucnco of good and energetic layiiKU
Bhould be secured to modify and manage so
unwitldy a body as the trustees, and he
,6ought to interest some of his friends in this
behalf One instance will illustrate the
course he pursued, and prove his persuasive
intiuence over the minds of others. He
desired to secure the services of a gentleman
whose scientitic attainments, courteous bear-
ing, calmness of temi»eramcut, and general

94 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

ability rendered his aid most valuable.
With this object in view, lie ealUnl upon
him one morning, and said :

" I am anxious to induce the gentry of tho
parish, and especially those who value true
religion, to take part in the management of
its concerns habitually. Will you consent to
be nominated as a trustee and come forward
and help us ?"

" I cannot think of it," was the reply.
" I am a man of peace — I have my ]Mir8uit8,
which are pleasant to myself, and I hope, iii
some respects, profitable to othei^s. I am
always ready to take my part in educational
matters, and in religious associations, but
from parish matters I shrink."

" But I wish," said the vicar, '* to urge
upon you the importance of exerting your
influence on the side of order, and supporting
the Church and your vicar."

" And I should be glad indeed to do so.
But parish business, in my view, would in-
volve a loss of self-respect. I must decline
all part in it,"

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 95

*' JJut, my dear Iricnd, do you not believe
that one day you will have to render an ac-
count to God of all the means vt' intluenee
placed at your disposal, and of all the talents
coininitted to your char^j^e T'

"Certaiidy ; hut this is foreign to my liah-
its and distasteful to my feelim^s."

'"Ah! hut remember, my friend, that we
are called upon to 'deny ourselves,' to ' take
up our cross,' to 'run with patience the race
set before us.' "

"True — very true."

"Are you, then — are any of us the best
judges of what is the path for us to walk in i
It is iK^t always the ea>y j>alh which is the
rigbt one ; it is not always when we please
ourselves that we best please God. iiettcr
follow duty when it calls, and you will secure
God's blessing."

The result may be anticipated. The cross
was taken up, duty efficiently performed,
good service rendered, a useful examjjle set,
and the great oiject gained.

Mr. Wilson was overtaken, in the midst

96 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

of his labors, by the lieaviest trial of his life
—the death of his dear, devoted wife. She
had been an invalid and a sufferer for several
years, and from this cause her friends had
been less prepared to expect a sudden ternii-
nation of lier earthly coui-se. In April,
1827, her disease grew more alarming, and
early the next month it was evident to all
that her end must be near. Without a inui--
mur or regret, she turned at once to the work
of self-examination, submitting herself en-
tirely to God's holy care and keeping. On
the morning of May 7th her husband entered
the room, and, standing by the bedside, bent
over her in silent sympathy. She opened
her eyes, and recognized him at once. All
the tenderness of her early love seemed to
gush forth. She lifted up her wasted hands,
stroked gently and repeatedly each side of
his face, and whispered, "Dearest creature!"
adding, " do not excite me ; say something
to cahn me." With tearful eye and quiver-
ing lip, he named that name which is above
every name — " Jesus Christ, the same yes-

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON, 97

terday, aud to-day, and for ever." It found
a response in the heart. '* Tliat is beautiful,"
she said. To lier sister-in-hiw, wlio was soon
after at lier side, she said, " Perhaps I may
not be alive long." " And if not," was the
reply, '-you will be in Paradise." "Ah,
yes," she said, '' that will he far better."

Her thoughts still chiiig to her children
witli the tenderest love. Their temporal and
eternal welfare was very near her heart ; and
when all was silent in the room, her voice
was often heard ascending up to heaven in
earnest supplications on their behalf.

"My dearest love," said her husband, on
coming in, "you will soon be with Jesus."
" To see Him r was her brief but weighty
answer.

Soon the power of articulation began to
fail, and the notice of external things to
lessen. All stood around the bed — husband,
children, sisters, servants, "^he noticed no
external thing, but still held communion with
her God. " Lord, have mercy on my soul !
Succor me in Jesus Christ. In sickness and
9

98 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

in dying, oh, succor and save ! Lord, let me
enjoy Thy presence for evermore. I have
no merits in myself, but my reliance is on
Christ. Lord, save me in Christ Jesus. I
do love Him. Though I am a sinner, save
me for His sake."

These were the last connected words. A
few fragments only of love and piety could
afterwards be gathered. " Lord, teach sub-
mission" — " no more sin" — " sing with joy"
— " dear John" — " dear Dan" — '' resignation"
— " Saviour .^"

Till the afternoon of Thui'sday death iin-
gered; and on that day, May loth, at one
o'clock, she ceased to breathe, and her spirit
returned to that Father who gave, and that
Saviour who redeemed it. She slept in
Jesus; whilst friends knelt round her bed,
weeping, yet sorrowing " not as others wlio
have no hope." She was interred in tlie
family vault under the parish church of
Islington. The funeral sermon was preached
by the Dean of Salisbury ; and then the be-
reaved husband set out once more on the

LIFE OF BTSHOP WILSON. 99

journey of life, a solitary and widowed man.
He had lost one who had been a help meet
for him — his counsellor in difficulties, his
comforter in sorrows, his nurse in sickness.
He never ceased to think of her with true
affection, nor to speak of her with tender
regret.

'' Indeed, it is all true," was the expression
of his first letter after the event; ''I have
lost the companion of my youth, the partner
of my joys and sorrows, the mother of my
children, the guide of my Christian course.
My sorrows flow deeply, and must flow, so
long as I remain behind. But I hope I do
not murmur. I hope I desire to say, 'Not
my will, but Thine be done.' I hope I am
grateful for four-and-twenty years of peace,
and union, and comfort. I hope I bless God
for the delightful testimony to her Saviour
which she bore in life and death."

Although Mr. Wilson was greatly dis-
tressed by this late aflliction, he regarded it
as a call from God, requiring him to be more
devoted in His service.

100 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

Almost seven hundred yonng persons in
his parish had just renewed the vows of
Baptism in Confirmation, and he was now
most anxious to ])repare them for their first
Communion. Besiaes preaching on the sub-
ject, he urged them to come to him, in i>ri-
vate, for additional instruction, and many
gladly availed themselves of the privilege.

The year 1828 found the aflairs of the
parish in a most encouraging state. In ad-
dition to three full services on Sundays and
great festivals, the church was opened for
prayers on every Wednesday and Friday
morning, and on Saints' days.

The next important event to he noted is
the consecration of the three new ciiurches,
which had been erected within the bound?
of the parish.

St. John's Church, Holloway, which ac-
commodates about eighteen hundred persons,
was consecrated by Dr. Howley, then Bishop
of London, on the 2d of July, 1828, and St.
Paul's, at Ball's Pond, on the 23d of Octo-
ber, in the same year. This church is about

LIFK <»F BISHOP WILSON. 101

as large as St. John's. Trinity— the largest
of the three, having two thousand and nine
gittiuo-s — was consecrated on the 19th of
March, 1829.

The whole business arrangements had been
so admirably managed that, so far from con-
tracting any debt, a balance of one hundred
pounds was returned to the parish. Mr.
Wilson presented to eacli church on the day
of its consecration a beautiful comniuniun
set. His great anxiety was to secure efficient
clerfymen for them, and after due considera-
tion, the Rev. W. Marshall, the Rev. John
Sandys, and the Rev. II. F. Fell were ap-
pointed. The churches were soon filled, and
the work of the Lord })rospered. The good
vicar continued to feel the deepest interest
in them until his dying day.

Clia})tcr ^kll].

THE PEIVATE JOURNAL OXCE MORE RESUMED— MR. WIL-
SON's entrance upon his FIFTY-TniRD YEAR — HONEST
CONFESSIONS OF A CONTRITE HEART— ISLINGTON IN AN
UPROAR— CAUSE OF THE DISTURBANCE — THE PBAYKB
OF FAITH RECEIVES AN ANSWER OF PEACE— A VOICE
FROM INDIA— DEATH OF BISHOP TIRSER— DIFFICILTT
IN FINDING A SUCCESSOR — MR. WILSON OFFERS TO GO —
HIS MOTIVES SCRUTINIZED — CONSECRATION — PREPARA-
TIONS FOE LEAVING ENGLAND — SETS SAIL FoR CAL-
CUTTA.

, E liave now brought down oiir nar-
[ ^ rative to the year 183(». On the
ffi-MEA 12tli of January, Mr. Wilson takes
^^^uJ ^^^^ ^'^^ ^^^ private note-book once
more, and makes tliis record :
" Twenty-three years have passed
since I wrote in this journal. I can scarcely
say why — I believe that I ceased to write
because pride gradually increased, and I
could not even describe the state of my soul
without some inflation, which spoiled all."

Again, on the iirst of July, he writes in
this journal, in which the secret workings of

LITE OF BISHOP AVLLSOX. 103

his heart are described: "To-morrow, if it
please God, I sliall conjplete nij fifty-second
year, and enter my fifty-tliird. What should
be my resolutions lor the new year i . Tull
me, O my soul ! Mlmt I ought to do, as it
respects my private devotions, my ministerial
work, my children, religious societies, and
the Church of God.

" 1. My private devotions ought to be
more regular, fervent, and spiritual— above
all, I ought to study the Bible more humbly
and prayerfully.

" 2. My ministry demands more simplicity,
sweetness, tenderness of heart, spirituality,
fidelity, boldness.

" 3. My children require my prayers, my
example, my instructions, and a steady, con-
sistent walk.

"4. The societies need carefulness to avoid
divisions, and to keep from needless interfer-
ence ; all must be open, straightforward, wise.

" 5. The Church of God wants a heart full
of charity, a single eye, and the simplicity
of Jesus Christ in all things.

104 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

" I have, myself, to guard against (1)
pride ; (2) the lusts of the flesh ; (3) vain
and worldly reading. Give me, O God ! the
needful grace,"

Once more, on the 10th of the same month,
we find'these honest confessions of a contrite
heart. " How can I begin my meditation !
How can I enter Thy presence, my God !
My thoughts oppress me. Tlie instahility
of my character, the weakness of my will,
my frequent relapses, shut my muutli and
make me miserable. I liave preached tliis
morning on the fall of David, from the words,
' Tliou art the mani' But I liave more need
of self-application than any of my hearers.

"'I am the man I' the man unfaithful,
the man ungrateful, the man pioud. the man
living to himself — the man full of covetous-
ness, weakness, and corruption. O my God !
have pity on me. Visit me with Tliy grace.
Give me Thy Spirit. Destroy in me tlie
dominion of sin, and set up the kingdom of
purity and virtue."

About the time that Mr. Wilson was

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 105

making these entries, all Islington was in an
uproar. The difficulty arose from an unin-
tentional error which had been made in the
election of the parish trustees, for which he
was in no way responsible. It gave occa-
sion, however, for the old spirit of opposition!
to show itself again, and several stormy
vestry meetings were held. The vicar's
friends were unwilling that he should be ex-
posed to the thickest of the contest, and the
senior warden presided in his place. We
shall not attempt to go into particulars, but
merely say that the agitated waves of party
strife ere long subsided, and when the war-
den, in his capacity of chairman, went to the
vicar to report, the latter replied to his con-
gratulations on the favorable result :

" My dear sir, I thought it would be even
as you had said, because I knew that God
heareth and answereth prayer. The moment
you left me last night, I sent for my curates,
that ' two or three' might agree in wliat they
should ask ; and when you were taking the
chair, we fell upon our knees and besought

106 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOX.

the Lord to give you a mouth and wisdom
that no adversary might be able to gainsay
or resist. Thus, whilst you were striving in
the plain, we were ])raying on the mount.
And this is the i-esult. May God be praised !"

" Ah, sir," said the church-warden, when
giving this account of his vicar, with tearful
eye and quivering lip, " ah, sir, he was
indeed a man of prayer."

Mr. Wilson had spent eight years at Isling-
ton, and thirty thousand persons had felt the
influence of his devotion to their service.

It had seemed a great undertaking when
he entered upon the care of this single par-
ish, but it was as nothing compared with
that which now awaited him.

In 1831, Bishop Turner, of Calcutta, died.
He was the fourth prehite who, witiiiu a
short space of time, had sunk under the
enervating climate of India.

It is curious to observe how Mr. Wilson's
thoughts had for years past been turned to-
wards the East. His interest in Bishoj^ Heber
we have already referred to. In 182'J, wlien

LIFE OF BISHOP "VVILSON. 107

Dr. Turner was about to sail lor liis distant
diocese, he visited Islington, and attended a
meeting ot" the Church Missionary Society.
Mr. Wilson presided, and in his address he
assured the Uisliop that it", at any time, the
people of Islington could give or do anything
to benelit India, they were ready. Little
did he foresee how that pledge would be
redeemed !

Bishop Turner had so great confidence in
Mr. Wilson's judgment, that he begged him
to make such su":<;estions as he thouj^ht
would be of use to him in his Indian Ei)isco-
pate— which request was faithfully complied
with.

Two years passed by, and Bishop Turner
liad been taken away, and India was calling
for another to fill his place. Such a fatality
had attended those who had hitherto gone
out (four Bishops having died \\ithin nine
years), that several who had been offered the
mitre, declined to accept it. In this emer-
gency, Mr. Wilson declared his willingness
to go, in case no one else could be found.

108 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

Does not the death of his devoted wife
seem desijjned bv Providence to break a tie
wliich iniirht have bound him fast to En-
gland, and kept him back from long years
of service in Indi.i i Let no man i>resiime
to say that it was ambition wln'ch prompted
the Vicar of Islington to ninke the ]»ropo8al
he did. lie was most ha]>pily situated, en-
joyed an ample competency, occupied a high
position, was surroundi'd by loving friends,
and exercised a wide influence. AVhat c»»nld
India ofi'er in exchange for these ? Those to
whom the appointing power was entrusted,
were sensible of the deej) respon.-ibility
which rested on them, and tluy made the
most anxious inquiries concerning Mr. "Wil-
son's fitness for so difficult and trying a
position. All were at last fully satistied that
he was well qualified for the office, and ho
was accordingly offered the Bishopric of
India. No further time was to be lost.
Nine months had already passed since the
death of Bishop Turner, and his successor
should be ready to depart.

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 109

Sunday, April 29th, was fixed for the con-
secration. On that day he arose early, and
made this entry in his journal : " 1 am now
come to the beginning of this awful, solemn,
delightful day — the day of my espousals to
Christ iny Saviour — the day of my renewal
t»f my vows as deacon and priest, and of the
additional vows of siii>erintendent, overseer,
and Bishop of the Church of CaU-utta. O
Lord! assist mc in the piepaiation for this
office. Aid me during the solemnities of ilu-
day. Grant me grace after it to fullil my
engagements and jiromises."

At jtrayers with his family that morning,
he expounde<l St. I'aulV address to the elders
of the Church at Ephe>us, and wiih decj)
feeling and faltering voice a))plie(l some of
the verses to his own case.

"I also go to India under somewhat simi-
lar circumstances with the Apostle; in that
*I know not the things that shall befall me
there.' But his God will be my God, and
his Father my Father, and therefore none of

these things move me."
10

110 LIFE OF BISHOP WILCOX.

The consecration took place in the chapel
of Lambetli Palace, the Archbishop of Can-
terbury being assisted in the solenwi office bv
Dr. Bloomtield, Bishop of London. Dr. Moiik,
Bishop of Gloucester, and l)r. (iray. Bishop
of Bristol.

The new bishop of Calcutta readied home
about five in the afternoon, and retiriiifj to
his study, appeared no more that day. The
following were his evening metlitations:
"Lord, I would n..w adon- Thee for Thv
great grace given unto me; that I should be
called to the ofiice of Chief pastor and
Bishop of Thy Church. Oh ! guard me from
the spiritual dangers to wliich I am most
exposed — pride, self-consequence, worldliuess
of spirit, false dignity, human applause,
abuse of authority, reliance on j.a.st knowl-
edge or experience. Lord, give me sim-
plicity of heart, boldness, steadiness, decision
of character, deadness of affection to the
world. Let me remember that the great
vital points of religion are the main things
to be kept constantly and steadilv on mv

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

Ill

heart, tlien compassion for souls, then sini-
plicitv of object, iiud ulistraction from everv
other interfering claim; then a spirit of
prayer and supplication ; then learning les-
sons from atttietinn, when God sends it."

"We shall not attempt to describe the mul-
tiplied engagements which (jccupied his last
dav8 in Enjrland. Having seen his son in-
ducted into the living of Islington, and at-
tended to every other «iiit y, he left his native
shores on the llMh of .June, 18^2, in the ship
James Sihhald, bound for Calcutta.

C^a^tcr Stbmtlr.

MAKING GOOD USE OF A SEA-TOYAGE— DAILY BOtmSE
ON SHIP-BOABD— INTEKESTIXG LETTER TO THE DEAN
OF SALISBURY— THE DARK AND BRIGHT 6IDE.S OF THE
PICTURE— DESIRE TO GLORIFY GOD — ARRIVAL AT
CAPE TOWN— AN UNEXPECTED VLSITOR — TKX DAYS
-WELL SPENT— AFFECTING FAREWELL— MORE DILIGENT
THAN BEFORE — SICKNESS BREAKS OUT — FIRST SIGHT
OF INDIA — LANDING AT CALCUTTA.

NY one who has experienced the
inconveniences and discomforts of
a sea-vovage, will be prepared to
V(2y give Bishop AVils«>n full credit fur
his eflbrts to be nseful during so
trying a period. The confinement
of the ship, to a certain extent, affected liis
health, but he made the best use of his time,
as will be seen from the following extract
from a letter to a friend :

'July 26, 1832.

" "We live very i-egularly. My day is this :
I rise at six o'clock, and spend till nearly

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 113

eight in my cabin ;^ then walk for a quarter
of an lioiir before prayers in the cuddy, when
I read and comment on tlie prophet Isaiah ;
reading and writing, with occasional walks
of five minutes interposed, occupy the moi-n-
ing till two o'clock; we dine at three; repose
in cabin follows till five ; at half-past five we
have evening prayers on deck, when I read
and comment on the Acts of the Apostles;
tea at six ; then come exercise and readiuir:
at nine o'clock, private prayer in cabin, with
my daughter and chaj)lain ; at ten o'clock I
am in my cot, with light put out. Our pro-
vision is abundaiir. Tliere were shipped, I
understand, thirty-six dozen of poultry, forty
sheep, forty pigs, one hundred barrels of
beer, one hundred and fifty Yorkshire hams,
and a cow to give milk all the voyage; be-
sides dried fruits, preserved meats, and wines,
including champagne and claret."

A letter to the Dean of Salisbury, which
we transcribe, will interest our readers and
furnish the best account of his experiences
on the great deep.

10*

114 LiFi: OF iJisnoi' wilson.

''Saturday, July 28, 1832. N. Lat. 4- 10'. W. Lonp.
14° 12', about 4,300 miles from England by
the log, and 400 miles from Cape Palmas.
"Did you ever see such a date, with so
many guides to the reader' But such is the
best method of giving you a correct notion
of our present spot. AVe are hoping to meet
some homeward-bound vessel as we pass the
line, and I write in order to avail myself of
the opportunity. We liave had a most lavur-
able passage thus far — not very quick, but
most agreeable; no storms, no heat, no calm,
no rain. We are now entering the trade-
winds, which will not leave us, as we Impe,
till we reach the Cape. The sea-sickness
was a mere trifle ; in one week we had over-
come it. But the real pressure upon the
mind and body is separation, the severing of
all bonds of nature and habit, desolation of
heart, the feeling of being alone and impris-
oned on the wild, barren, boundless ocean,
without the possibility of escape ; no change,
no external world, no news, no communica-
tion. Then, the diti'erence of diet, bad wa-
ter, bad butter, bad tea, a rolling cot by

LIFE OF BISnOP WTLSON. 115

night and an uncasj ship by day, the head
confined, the heart withered, the capacity of
thought and prayer lost! These constitute
the privations of a five or six months' voy-
age, undertaken for the fii-st time, in the fifty-
fourth year of a minister's age, and after all
his habits and associations have been but-
tressed and propped up by parish commit-
tees, public duties, a circle of brethren, and
the endearments of a family.

"This is tlic dark *ide of the picture.
Revei-se it, and all is brightness, joy, confi-
dence in God, peace, anticipation, gratitude
for being permitted to enter on such a design,
and preparation for a future day. And all
the previous chaos of feeling has its lesson.
It constitutes a ' dispensation,' and draws one
inward upon conscience, faith, prayer. These
allure the heart out of itself, and, from the
sensible objects of discouragement, to God
and His sovereignty, omnipresence, all-suffi-
ciency, and then it arrives at peace, its true
felicity and end. I have been much reflect-
ing on the mysterious course of events which

116 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOX.

have led me to this cabin as a Bishop of In-
dia, compared with my education as a boy
destined for commerce, in December, 1792.
Then began that intercourse with my fatlier-
in-law, which led to my espousing his eldest
daughter in 1803, to the parish of Islington,
to the new churches, and t'roni these to Cal-
cutta. AVhen I trace back this order of
events, I am smitten with adoration at the
mercy and compassion of the Lord. If a
single link had been wanting in the chain,
the whole would have fallen to pieces. Yea,
my beloved friend, I look back, like Jacob,
to the time when witii my staff I ])assed
Jordan, and now 1 am become two bands.
To the Lord only be all the ]>raise ascribed.
My heart overflows with love and adoration
to my God and Saviour for all His mercies.
And yet other feelings perhaps surpass these
— a sense of huiniliation for my returns for
all these benefits. I cannot enter upon this
topic, it would defeat its object. But God
knoweth my heart. What a sinner before
my practical knowledge of the Gospel, :nul

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 117

what a feeble, wandering soul since ! One
more thought, however, equals, or ought to
equal, this — the desire to glorify God, and
fultil my duties in the Superintendence and
Bishopric^ now so unexpectedly entrusted to
me. All my past history should make me
the more anxious to amend, to rise higher,
to acquire more wisdom, to act with more
decision, promptitude, disinterestedness, and
consistency ; to believe, love, and obey, with
more elevated and aspiring motives than
ever. Nothing more easy than to nuir the
last scene of life. But to till it up with
dignity, meekness, discretion, holiness, sim-
plicity of aim — this is tlie difficulty. Lord,
help me !"

It had been arranged, previously to Bishop
Wilson's departure from England, that he
should stop at the Cape of Good Hope, and
discharge such Episcopal functions as might
be required, notice having been sent before-
hand to that effect.

When the vessel reached Cape Town, he
was sorry to find that these despatches had

118 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

not been received, and no preparations made
for bis visit.

The Bishop was, however, received with
the utmost courtesy hy the Governor, and
arrangements were made to enable liim to
spend the brief period of his sojuurn to the
best advantage. Besides preacliing on sev-
eral occasions, visiting the schools, conse-
crating two pieces of ground on which
churches were to be built, attending a meet-
ing of the Society for Promoting Christian
Knowledge, and huldiiig an ordination, lie
confirmed three hundred persons. An aft'rct-
ing farewell address closed his labors at
Cape Town — when many followed him to
the ship, and with tears and prayers for his
safety, bade him farewell. The ten days,
thus profitably spent, were long remembered
with satisfaction and delight by the inhab-
itants of the Cape, and the Bishop found in
them a useful preparation for the more
arduous duties which awaited Jiim. During
the remainder of the voyage he diligently
applied himself to his studies, drew closer to

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 119

the missionaries and cateehists, who were
his tV'lluw-passengers, aiici began a course of
lectures in his privat' cabin, in anticipation
of tlie ordination at Calcutta.

Meanwhile, 6ickIK■^.s had broken out, the
Bishop's daughter being one of the suf-
ferers. It was a great relief to his anxious
mind when they reached the yellow waters
of Sangor — and, in <iuc time, the low nunl
banks of the Ilooghly presented themselves
to view.

When the ship cast anchor oft' Kedgeree,
a little steamer canTe ah»nir<ide, brinirin^
Archdeacon C'orric and Di-. Mill — the former
of whom, having long kii.«wn the IJishop,
now hastened forward, embraced, and kissed
him, with the most tender aftection. The
James l^ibbald was towed by the steamer to
Calcutta, where the Bishop landed, under a
salute from the fort, on Monday, November
5th, 1832.

€\mitx 6igbtl].

THE bishop's installation — KIND ADDRESS TO THE
CLERGY — JURISDICTION OF THE RI^HOP OF CALCUTTA
IN 1832 — A WISE DIVISION OF 80 VAST A FIELD— FIRST

SERMON IN THE CATHEDRAL GENERAL IXSI'ECTIOX OF

SCHOOLS AND MISSIONARY SOCIETIES— THE CIVILITIK8
OF LIFE — bishop's PALACE — " KNOUOH FOR 8UX
months!" — MARRIAGE OF A DArOHTEK — TWO YEAB8
FOR ACCLIMATION — IMPOSSIBILITY OF PLEASING EVERY-
BODY — WISDOM jrSTIFIED OF HER CHILDUEN — PER-
SONAL HABITS — MODES OF GAINING INFORMATION —
FRIENDLY AND CONFIDENTIAL INTERCOURSE WITH THE
GOVERNOR-GENERAL — ATTENDING TO BrSIXES.S ON

HORSEBACK '' LORD W ILLIAM IS LESS OF A CHIRCUMAJI

THAN I COULD DESIRE.''

HE same inorning tliat Bi^llOl> Wil-
son landed at Calcutta, lie went to
the cathedral, where he was in-
stalled* by Archdeacon Corrie, with
the nsiial ceremonies, about twenty
clergymen being present. He took
advantage of this occasion to make a bhort

<* A full description of the service of installation will
be found in the Life of Bishop Stewart, of Quebec, in this
series, p. 9-t.

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 121

and affectionate address, in which he begged
an interest in their prayers, and assured them
tliat he wished to be regarded as a brother to
the older clergy, and a father to the younger.

The jurisdiction of the Bishop of Calcutta,
in 1832, extended over territories now wisely
divided into sixteen distinct dioceses. The
burden was enough to crusli any one wlio
should nuike the attempt to carry it, and yet
the new prelate of India was resolved, by
God's help, to do what he could. So little
had hitherto been accomplished in the way
of establishing great general principles «f
action, that he was obliged to proceed with
extreme caution, taking advice from others,
and calling his own good sense into constant
requisition.

On the 11th of November, the Bishop
preached liis iirst sermon in the cathedral,
choosing for his theme the language of St.
Paul [Ephesians iii. 8], " The unsearchable
riches of Christ." A large and attentive
congregation, including the public author-
ities, was in attendance.
11

122 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

He next went round preacliing in all the
Other churches in Calcutta and the neighbor-
hood. He also visited Bishop's College un<l
the several mission schools, pre&ided nv.r
meetings of the Societies for Promoting
Christian Knowledge, and for the Propaga-
tion of the Gospel, besides writing letters of
instruction to Madras, Bombay, Ceylon,
Australia, aTid China.

All this while the whole society of Calcutta
was jjaying him the courtesies due to his
position and office, and he was busy making
a/rangements for taking possession of the
house which the Government provided for
his use. This was entirely unfurnished, and
when the Bishop first went to see it, he found
such a scanty supply of chairs and tables
scattered through it, that lie said to Arch-
deacon Corrie, to whom he had written from
England to have it provided with all things
needful, " Why is this ?" The good clergyman
replied, " I thought, my lord, that there was
enough to last for six months." As most of
the Bishop's predecessors had died within

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 123

this brief space, he concluded, in his sim-
plicity, that it would be foolish to make
arrangements for a lon<^er period. The
Bishop smiled, but immediately gave orders
to have the house completely furnished.
India was henceforth to be his home, and, in
order to prolong his days for usefulness,
he must secure for himself the comforts of
life.

Before the close of the year 1832, the
Bishop's daughter became the wife of his
chaplain — the Eev. Josiah Bateman — a mar-
riage which gave great satisfaction to the
devoted father. The new comers had been
advised to remain for two years in Calcutta,
in order to become acclimated, and they fol-
lowed these prudent counsels.

It is impossible for a man to please every-
body, let him act as wisely and prudently as
he may. Bishop Wilson soon found that
Calcutta was like Jerusalem of old. "There
were children sitting in the market-place, an(l
calling one to another, and saying, 'We have
piped unto you, and ye have not danced ; we

124 LIFE OF BISHOP "WILSON.

have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.' "
Bishop Heber had been blamed for neglect-
ing etiquette ; Bishop Wilson was blamed for
observing it. Bishop Turner had been cen-
sured lor keeping no establishment, seeing
little society, being little known, and failing,
consequently, in acquiring that influence
which he had often needed in carrying out
his wise and practical measures. Bishop
Wilson was accused of ostentation for keep-
ing open house, for using hospitalit}*, and for
acquiring in this way valuable friends and
extensive influence.

But wisdom is justified of all her children.
His personal habits at this time were very
simple and regular. He rose early, and rode
on a small black horse, brougiit from the
Cape, which for a time was able to take care
both of itself and its master, and by an easy
amble gave air without eflbrt. Piivate de-
votions were succeeded by family prayers in
the chapel which he had himself fitted up.
His chaplain, from the reading-desk, read
the appointed lesson, and he, from his seat,

LITE OF BISHOP WILSON. 125

expounded it, and then prayed. A hearty
breakfast of rice, fish, and soojce (a kind of
porridge) followed. The morning was then
gi ven to business. At mid-day lie rested, and
generally slept for two jiours; and thoiigli
business M-ent on, he was never disturbed.
Eefreshed by sleep, he was ready for the
afternoon dak, and for any matters that
pressed for decision. The evening ride or
drive and the late dinner followed; family
prayers and evening devotions closed the
day. Good appetite and sound sleep, the
two pillars of good health, sustained him
during the many years of his Indian course.
He was indefatigable in acquiring informa-
tion. Every chaplain as he visited the Presi-
dency, each missionary when he called on
business, travellers like Dr. Wolff from far
countries, all civil and military servants with
whom he came in contact, were put under
contribution. No pains were spared, no
opinion despised, no advice rejected. A visit
to Dr. Carey at Serampore elicited many
interesting reminiscences of the early Chris-
11*

126 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

tianity of India. A visit to Enssipngla gave
reality to the missionary work now carrying
on. A friendly conversation with Dr. Duff
furnished important information on the sub-
ject of native education. All was written
down at the time in a MS. book, and pre-
served for future perusal, enlargement, or
correction, lie was, in truth, thoroughly a
man of business. His heart was in liis work.
It engrossed even his morning ride and even-
ing drive. When others, weary with a sleep-
less night or breathless day, sought the early
bracing air or cool evening breeze, and felt
totally unfit for business, he seemed lit for
nothing else, and to like nothing half so well.
Join him, and the business of yesterday, the
plans of to-day, the proji)ects for to morrow,
were instantly brought upon the tapis ; and
the matters discussed alreaily many iimes,
were discussed at full length unee more. It
was thus he developed his ideas and fixed his
purposes. His mind was cleared and made
up, not so much by thought as by conversa-
tion. The repetition caused him no we^ri-

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 127

ness. Business was liis recreation and de-
light.*

When Bishop Wilson first reached Calcutta,
he was received by the Vice-President, at-
tended by his aides-de-camp ; the Governor-
General, Lord Bentinck, being then absent
on a tour through the upper provinces. The
Governor-General, however, sent him a cour-
teous greeting, and after returning to Calcutta
in February, 1S33, he calletl on the Bishop
without ceremony, and friendly and confi-
dential intercourse at once began. They
were accustomed to go out on horseback
together almost daily, and much important
business was transacted during these pleasant
rides.

" Lord and Lady William," says the
Bishop, when writing to Mr. Charles Grant,
'' are a blessing to India. We differ widely
about establishments, etc., but what is that
compared to a difference, which might easily
occur, about the good of India, the interests

o Bateinan, p. 252, etc. Many ptissages taken in whole
or in part from this work, are not specially noted.

128 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

of the natives, and the diflusion of Chribti-
anity, on which we are strongly agreed?"

And again, later: "Lord William is rather
more of a Whig, and less of a Chnrclunan,
than 1 conld desire, hut incomparably better
than the highest Churchman, if without
piety, vigor, and activity. Lord William
reverences religion and its sincc-re professors
and ministers, but he has prejudices against
bishops, ecclesiastical establishments, and
national churches."

Cliapttr Pntb.

DETAILS OF LABOR — DIFFICULTIES IX THE FREE SCHOOL,
AND MEASURES TAKEN TO RECONCILE THEM — PUBLI-
CATION OF PAINE's "age OF REASON*' — LECTURES
ON THE EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY — CLERICAL

MEETINGS — THEIR EFFECTS — BISHOp's COLLEGE THE

NEW BISHOP DOES HIS DUTY AS A VISITOR — FIRST
ORDINATION IN INDIA — A HOLY WEEK — LARGE CON-
FIRMATION — THE "seven duties" — NOT TOO LATE —
AN AWKWARD INTERRUPTION — CONVERSION OF THE
NATIVES — TJlE BISHOP VISITS AN INTERESTING MISSION
—CHRISTIANITY AND PAGANISM SIDE BY SIDE — BAP-
TISM ADMINISTERED " GOOD, GOOD."

^/(^^ HE two years spent by Bishop Wil-
son in Calcutta, while becoming
accustomed to the enervating efiects
of the climate, were very busy ones.
"We mu?t go somewhat into details,
in order to show the multiplicity
and importance of his engagements.

The Free School — a noble institution,
founded many years before, for the benefit
of the East Indian and Portuguese inhabit-
ants of the city, where three or four hundred

130 LIFE OF BISHOP -WILSON.

children were trained for future usefulness —
had been much hindered in its great mission
for good, by unhappy dissensions among the
trustees.

At the urgent r --quest of all parties, the
Bishop consented to arbitrate in the matter.
Having made himself fully acquainted witli
all the particulars of the case, he brought his
worldly wisdom to bear upon it, and at last
succeeded so perfectly in restoring harmony
and peace, that he received a corTlial vote of
thanks for his kind and conciliating conduct.
All this was to liini a subject of grateful
praise, as every previous step had been a
subject of fervent prayer.

Infidelity had been active in India, as in
other quarters of the globe, in attempting to
BOW tares among the wheat ; and on the
Bishop's arrival, a copy of Paine's " Age of
Reason" was handed him — one of a large
edition which had been published by some
who professed to be Christians, for the per-
version of the educated and inquiring natives.
In order to counteract the evil effects of this

LIFE OF BISHOP Wn.SON. 131

dangerous book, he delivered a course of Lent
Lectures, in the catliedral, on the Evidences
of Christianity, which were largely attended,
and produced a very decided impression.

One of the Bishop's first acts was to estab-
lish a series of clerical meetings, to be held
at his own house, witli a view to cultivate
more friendlv relations amonjr the clergy of
Calcutta and the neighborhood. Personal
friendships were tlius strengthened and pre-
judices removed, many interesting theological
questions were discussed, and devout prayers
offered up for the influences of the Holy
Spirit, which we may believe were abun-
dantl}' answered. The Bishop always opened
the discussion himself, after having given a
brief statement of measures in progress, or
completed, for the benefit of the diocese.
Each clergyman present was called npon in
turn to explain his opinion, and at the hour
of prayer all proceeded to the chapel, to
make known their wants unto God, and to
implore the great Head of the Church to
bless the labors of His servants.

132 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

In 1832, although the buildings of Bishop's
College were complete, and the institution
was in operation, the }>upils were few and
the prospects discouraging. According to
the statutes of the College, the Bishop of
Calcutta was made a visitor, by virtue of his
office — all pecuniary arrangements being
supposed to be sanctioned by iiini ; and yet
60 many unpleasant difficulties had arisen
between the College authorities and Bishop
Turner, that he had quietly withdrawn from
all interference. Ilis more energetic suc-
cessor felt that this would be wrong, and he
accordingly resumed the position which law-
fully belonged to him, and by a cour.-e at
once kind and decided, he did mucii to pro-
mote the usefulness of this noble institution.

Bishop Wilson's first ordination, in India,
was held on the Epiphany after his arrival,
when two candidates were admitted to the
holy order of Deacons, and seven to the
Priesthood. As all subsequent ordinations
were conducted after the same model, it will
be proper to mention that during the week

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 133

preceding the solemn occasion, the candidates
were guests at the Episcopal palace— lectures
being delivered, each day, at morning
prayers, from one of the Epistles to Timothy
or Titus, of which notes were taken down
by tliose for whose benefit they were deliv-
ered. And thus the whole week was spent
in prayer, examination, and in familiar
instructions — a week which was never for-
gotten.

On Tuesday, April 2d, 1S32, the Bishop
held his first Confirmation in India. Four
hundred and seventy pei*sons ai)peared in the
cathedral, and participated in the sacred
rite. Of these, more than one hundred were
native Christians. Their numbers excited
great astonishment at the time, and no small
apprehension as to the effect upon those that
were " without." They clustered round the
communion rails, whilst the Europeans filled
the body of the cathedral. The services
were read, and the rite administered sepa-
rately.

The many confirmations following this
12

134 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

first, seemed always to be attended with a
blessing. The Bishop's manner was most
impressive, and his words most earnest and
affecting. He usually gave two addresses —
one, hortatory, before the administration,
and one, jiractical, after it. The full assent
of the catechumens he almost always re-
quired to be repeated twice, and sometimes
thrice, till the church resounded with the
words, " I do." And in the second address,
he was accustomed to deliver seven rules,
which were to be repeated after him at the
time, and written in tiie Bible or the Prayer-
book afterwards. Subsequently they were
expanded and printed ; but originally they
wore short and sententious, as follows :

1. Pray every day of your life for more
and more of God's Holy Spirit.

2. Prepare at once for receiving aright
the Holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood
of Christ.

3. Read every day some portion of God's
Holy Word.

4. Reverence and observe the Lord's Day.

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 135

5. Keep in the unity of the Church.

6. Avoid bad company, and seek the com-
pany of the good.

7. When you have got wrong, confess it,
and get right as soon as you can.

In many a Bible and Prayer-book through-
out India these words will be found written ;
by many a civilian, soldier. East Indian, and
native Christian have they been repeated
and treasured up. " Please, sir, will you
give us our seven duties," was the constant
request to the Bishop's chaplain after ser-
vice. A co^jy of them was always made,
and left behind at every station, for the use
of those who had been confirmed. Many
interesting, and some curious, incidents oc-
curred in connection with them, of which the
following are specimens :

On one occasion, when the Confirmation
was concluded in a large military station,
and the Bishop was resting for a few minutes
in the vestry, a young and noble-looking
English soldier hastily entered, and made
his military salute. On being questioned,

136 LIFE OF BISHOP \\nL80N.

it appeared that he had been a candidate
for Confirmation, and was duly prepared ;
but, having been on guard, he was too late
for the ceremony, and came now to express
his sorrow, and see if his case admitted of a
remedy. For awhile the Bisliop doubted ;
but his interest was roused by hearing the
soldier plead previous knowledge, and say
that he had been a boy in the Islington pa-
rochial schools ; that he had often been
catechised in that church, and that he had
heard the Bishop's last sermon,

"Kneel down," said tlie Bishoji. He
knelt, and was confirmed, and admitted to
the full communion of the Church militant
on earth.

On another occasion, in tlie Straits, when
the Bishop was enumerating tliese seven
duties, and requiring the assent and pledge
of the catechumens to observe them, a voice
was heard from the midst refusing compli-
ance. An aged man had been confirmed,
of an eccentric character. " No," he said,
" he would observe what the rubric required.

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 137

but would pledge himself to nothing more."
No difficulty, of course, was made ; and with
the surprise the matter passed away. It was
not the time or place to dwell upon " all
those things which your godfathers and god-
mothers then undertook for you."

The conversion of the natives to the true
faith was a subject in which the Bishop felt
the deepest interest, and whenever any mis-
sionaries had candidates ready for Baptism,
he was glad to give the sanction of his
presence.

On Whitsunday, 1833, he baptized a native
convert, who had passed through the various
stages between the dark regions of heathen-
ism and the purer atmosphere of the Gospel.
Afterwards, we find him going in u flat-
bottomed boat, hollowed out of a tree, to
visit the missions of the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel, under the charge
of the Rev. D. Jones, and his catechist, Mr.
Driburg. When the little church-bell rang
out its cheerful invitation to assemble for
public worship, the beating of the tomtom in
12*

138 LIFE OF BISHOP WILBOS.

a pagan temple hard bj seemed to breathe
defiance.

After Divine service, the candidates for
Baptism Avere publicly examined, and the
Bishop admitted seven to the ark of Christ's
Church, and then addressed them in an im-
pressive discourse from our Saviour's words,
" I am the light of the world," each sentence
being translated by the missionary. Great
interest was manifested, and now and tlien a
low murmur was heard of " good, good ;"
" true, true ;" " yes, yes."

During the first two years of the Bishop's
residence in Calcutta he witnessed the bap-
tism of one hundred and seventy-eight
natives — a number which was afterwards
largely increased.

aptcr f cntlr.

tjifhappy ditisioxs among christians a hindrance
to the gospel — bishop wilson discourages a
bpirit of proselyting — establishment of infant
schools — successful experiment — extract from a
bengalee paper — the bishop's efforts in behalf
of steam navigation between england and india
— the wide space bkidged oveh by oriental
steamers — renewal of the east india company's
charter — the king authorized to make some
important changes in church affairs — bishop
Wilson's joy at the dawn of better days — the

DIOCESES filled, AND THE NEW MACHINERY SET TO
WORK.

HE unhappy divisions in the Chris-
tian workl present a great obstacle
to tlie more rapid spread of the
'>_p Gospel, and those who are called to
labor in heathen lands find their
dithculties much increased thereby.
Not only are the poor benighted pagans per-
plexed by the disputes among the disciples
of one Lord and Mastei-, but the missionaries
of different denominations often expend more

140 LITE OF BISHOP WILSON.

energy in battling with each other, tlian in
wao-ing war against tlie common enemy of all.

Bishop Wilson thought, as the tield was so
broad, that it was inexpedient to encourage
any thing hke the proselyting of native
Christians from other Protestant bodies— not
only because it would occasion much hard
feelino- among the missionaries, but because
it might encourage persons who had been
disgraced in one congregation to seek refuge
in another. Much could be said on both
sides of such a question, and it is one about
which good men will conscientiously differ.

It had been a favorite plan with the Jiishop
to establish infant schools in India, as being
an admirable means for developing the na-
tive mind and character. Having interested
a number of influential men in the enterprise,
a subscription was raised of live tliousand
rupees, and a competent master and mistress
sent for from England. The school was lirst
opened, in 1834:, for the benefit of the nomi
nally Christian children of Portuguese and
East Indian descent, and every thing prom-

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 141

ised well. The Bishop presided at a public
examination which was held in the Town
Hall, in June of the following year, inanj
induential natives being present, and express-
ing themselves as greatly delighted with the
exercises.

It was now determined to open a school
for native children, to be under the care of
the same master and mistress as the other
school, but in a distinct apartment. In four
months' time, an examination of native chil-
dren, from two to seven years of age, was
held, a large audience having assen)bled to
witness it. One Imndred native infants,
clad in the splendid dresses of the East, and
decked with the ornauK'nts of tlie harem,
crowded the platform, and went through all
the exercises usually displayed at home.
They spoke English fluently, sang hymns,
marched, clapped hands, examined one an •
other, showed wonderful intelligence, and
elicited universal admiration. No infant
school in England could have surpassed these
little briglit-eyed, dark-skinned Indians. The

142 LIFE OF BISHOP "VVILSOX.

experiment completely answered. The Euro-
pean gentry were charmed ; and the feeling
amongst the natives, generally, may be
judged of by an extract from a Bengalee
newspaper published at the time. Thus
spake the editor of the Gyananeshum :

" On Thursday morning a meeting of the
Infant School Society was held in the Town
Hall. The Lord Bishop. Sir Edward Ryan,
Sir Benjamin Malkin, Sir J, Grant, Lady
Ryan, and numerous other friends of educa-
tion, of both sexes, were present. After the
business of the Society had been transacted,
the boys of the native infant school were
ushered in. They were about a hundred in
number. The postures they put themselves
into, at the command of their master, were
pretty and amusing. They sang several
English songs, and kept clap])ing the time
in good order. Tliey astonished the audience
by the expertness with which they answered
questions put to them in numeration, addi-
tion, the tables of currency in this country,
etc. All this was done, in English, bv tiie

LIFE OF BISHOP A^^L80N. 143

Hindoo children. Tlie audience seemed to
he much gratified at their progress. The
Lord Bishop took particular notice of the
correctness of their pronunciation, which he
highly eulogized."

The experiment liaving proved a complete
succe s, tJie Bishop was anxious to have such
schools established throughout India, and
application was made to the '^ Education
Committee'' of the government to provide
funds for the purpose. The Committee re-
ceived the proposition with many gracious
words, and for three years nothing was done
on the subject. Meanwliile the native school
in Calcutta continued to prosper, but another
generation may pass away before the many
advantages of such institutions will be enjoy-
ed throughout the Avidely extended bounda-
ries of India.

But it was not only in religious and educa-
tional matters that the Bishop exerted him-
self for the benefit of society. Among other
subjects which engaged his attention was
that of steam communication between Eno--

144 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

land and her distant provinces in the East.
In 1832 it was not uncommon for a letter to
be one hundred and seventy or eighty days
on the voyage, a most imtbrtunate delay fur
those engaged in business, and most painful
to kindred and friends living at such a dis-
tance apart.

Bishop Wilson felt that by .shortening the
long intervals of correspondence, the general
interests of India would Ite mateiially pro-
moted, and the Gospel extended under more
favorable auspices. The subject had been
talked about for some time, and here it
seemed likely to end, until he came to the
assistance of those most nearly interested,
when a feasible plan of operations was imme-
diately prepared and permanent steps taken.
It was unusual, indeed, to see a bishop pre-
siding over a public meeting where such
questions were discussed, but his rare gifts
of energy and decision, tein})ered by j)ru-
dence and common sense, were too much
needed at such a time to permit him to re-
main inactive. He did not cease to exert

LIFE OF BISHOP M'lLSON. 145

himself in the cause until the distance be-
tween England and India was bridged, as it
were, by those splendid Oriental steamers
which have done so much to soften the neces-
sary pains of absence, and to insure, in cases
of danger, earnest sympathy and prompt
relief.

In October, 1833, tidings reached India
that a bill had been brought into Parliament
for the renewal of the East India Company's
charter, wliich also empowered the king to
divide the diocese, to erect Calcutta into a
metropolitan see, and to appoint two !?utfra-
gan bishops tor Madras and Bombay. While
Bishop "Wilson was ready to shrink back at
the bare thought of the responsibilities which
would thus be laid ujion him, his heart over-
flowed with thankfulness at the brightening
prospects of the Church.

" How can I tell you my joy at the pros-
pect of the suffragan bishops I" he says, in
a letter to an old friend. " How I labored
that plan before I left England, in June,
1832 ! The president, the chairman, the
13

146 LIFE OF BISHOr -WILSOX.

Archbishop, the Bishop of London, the secre-
tary of the Board — all Avere assailed and
urged by me in turns. The two Mr. Grants
at first thought the wliolc plan iinpractical>le,
but ended (after three months' incessant
drives, and comparisons of plans, and refer-
ences, and delays) in the arrangement of a
bill, drawn by Mr. Groom, the solicitor of
the Board.

" Well do I remember Mr. Sinjeon saying,
that if I had been made Bishop of Calcutta
merely to carry that measure, and was never
to reach India, I should have done a great
work. My disappointment, of course, was
the more keen when Dr. Dealtry sent me
word last August that it had been found im-
practicable to bring in the bill that session ;
for on the Saturday, June Kith, when I dined
at Mr. Grant's, the first thing Earl Grey had
said, upon my being introduced to him, was,
that he highly approved of the measure as
circulated by Mr. Grant, and thought it very
reasonable. I then went up to the Bishop
of London, and with joy brought him to the

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 147

Prime Minister, when he confirmed what he
before had said. This took me to Mr. Grant
and to the chairman, to express my gratitude
and delight. I conceived, in fact, that tlie
thing was carried, and so it was ; for now it
is inserted in the charter speech, not as a
matter of debate, but as previously arranged ;
and probably the very bill drawn and ready
in June, 1832, will be passed now. And
how greatly are my joy and gratitude to
Providence enhanced by the very delay and
disappointment ! Mr. Grant's speech came
upon me as a thunder-stroke. I wrote off
instantly a long letter imder the first impulse
of joy. I have now heard from Dr. Dealtry
(June 23) to know my wishes as to the men.
I have proposed Archdeacon Corrie for Ma-
dras, Archdeacon Robinson for Bombay, and
Archdeacon Carr, now of Bombay, to be, by
my appointment, Archdeacon of Calcutta,
instead of Corrie.

'• I am advising Corrie to proceed to En-
gland instanter for consecration, and I pro-
pose to meet him, on his return, at Madras,

148 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

and consecrate (if we are permitted) Robin-
son.

" My soul swells with thanksgivings and
praise to God for his vast mercy, not as it
respects my Episcopate, but the permanent
good of India. But I fear even to write to
you of these feelings, lest I should grieve the
Holy Comforter ; for Satan's grand assault
upon my mind since March 27th, 1832, is
elation, joy, natural spirits, eager pursuit of
a great object, a soul panting to stretch
itself to the length and breadth of my vast
diocese."

The bill passed Parliament August 2l6t,
1833, and reached India at the close of the
year. Considerable delay occurred in carry-
ing out its provisions ; for the expenditure
sanctioned for the whole ecclesiastical estab-
lishment was limited, and the Archdeaconry
of Bombay being tilled up, as we have seen,
the funds did not at once admit of the ap-
pointment of both bishops. Eventually,
however, all came round. Archdeacon
Corrie — one of those men whoso praise is in

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 149

all the churches, and whom the Bishop
deemed, for meekness and gentleness of
spirit, more like his Divine Master than any
one he had ever known— was recalled from
the visitation on which, with proper allow-
ances, now fur the first time obtained, he
hud been engaged, and sent to England. He
returned, in 1S35, Bishop of Madras. The
Archdeacon of Madras retired on his pension.
Archdeacon Carr was summoned home in
1837, and returned Bishop of Bombay.

All the dioceses were then filled, and a
new machinery began to work. It formed a
precedent of vast importance for a spreading
church, and has been followed, both in Aus-
tralia and in Africa. They also have now
their metropolitans and suftragans ; and
if ever, in the providence of God, these great
dependencies are separated from the parent
stock, their Church will still retain within
itself the power of reproduction and indefi-
nite expansion — still be enabled to put forth
great branches, and bear fruit for the healing
of the nations.

19*

Cljaptcr 0:lrljcutl].

THE WANT OF SUITABLE .^LACES FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP

A FEASIBLE FLAN FOR REMEDYING THE EVIL — ITS

GRATIFYING RESULTS A KNOTTY QUESTION WHICH LED

TO SOME DIFFICULTIES — THE BISHOP LOSES COSFIDKNCB
IN PUBLIC MEN — PREPARATIONS FOR A VISITATION OF

HIS DIOCESE I1I3 FIRST CHARGE TO THE CI.EKOV

DEPARTURE FOR PENANG — WHAT HAPPENED TIIKRK —
A FLOURISHING NUTMEG PLANTATION, AND ITS CLER-
ICAL OWNER — AN AMUSING INCIDENT — ARRIVAL AT
SINGAPORE — ITS RELIGIOUS DESTITUTION — SOME IM-
PORTANT STEPS TAKEN — PRESBYTERIAN SCRUPLES RE-
MOVED.

HE want of suitable Imildings for
public worship had long been felt
in India, and the barrack and
Ccx^)^ the ball-room had been the only
places which could be secured for
the purpose. No regular plan for
remedying the evil was propo^e<l until 1834,
when a communication appeared in the
Christian Intelligencer (then edited in Cal-
cutta by Bishop "Wilson's chaplain and son-

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 151

in-law), suggesting that a fund should be
raised, by voluntary subscriptions through-
out India, of one rupee a montli — the man-
agement of the fmul being vested in the
Bishop, Archdeacon, and Presidency chap-
lain.

This plan, with tome modifications, was
speedily carried into eftect, and its results
may be gatliered fioni a brief extract from a
report published in 1857: "There are now
one hundred and twenty churches in this
diocese (Calcutta), including those in the
course of erection ; and to sixty-six of these
has this 'One-Rupee-Subscription Fund'
contributed, since its commencement in
1834, sums amounting to eighty-one thou-
sand seven hundred and thirty-eight rupees."

During all the time which had elapsed
since the Bishop's coming to India, we must
imagine him taking exercise every morning
on horseback, usually in company with Lord
William, and discussing important questions
of Church and State, as usual. The relation
of the chaplains to the Government and the

152 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

Bishop was one of these, and it had caused
no little disturbance and anxiety.

Having been formally requested by the
Government to define the duties of chaplains
at military stations, and to give his opinion
as to the degree of authority which it was
proper for the commanding officer to exer-
cise at such stations, he acceded to the re-
quest according to his best judgment, the
Governor-General fully agreeing with him in
his decision. And yet, strange to say, when
Lord William published his otlicial orders,
not long afterwards, he took entirely different
ground. The Bishop could liardly believe
his eyes when he read the paper, but after
having appealed, in several able letters, fmm
the decision which had been made, he sub-
mitted as patiently as he could. Few under-
stood how deeply his feelings had been
wounded, and how much his confidence in
public men had been impaired. Ilis private
notes, however, make some disclosures. He
thus writes :

" If, after consulting a bishop as to the

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 153

relative position of military officers and chap-
lains, and agreeing solemnly with the ex-
planations given, the Government can then
publish orders- in contradiction to that ex-
planation, and their own avowed pledge of
concurrence ; if they do this without inform-
ing the Bishop ; if they do it after having
communicated other points of difference, hut
concealed tiiis, what can a bishop do or hope
for? Where is faith or trustworthiness to
be found ?

" But, hush, my soul ! Silence thy human
reasonings and carnal complaints I This is
Thy hand, O my God ! and Thou, Lord,
hast done it. Is it not by Thy permission,
and for the spiritual humiliation of the
Christian, that the events of this world take
place ? Before Thy righteousness I desire to
bow, trusting that Thou canst reverse these
evils, if for our real and highest good, and
believing that Thou art calling on us to
cease from man and creature props, and to
rest ourselves entirely and unreservedly on
Thy Almighty Arm."

154 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

The climate of India and the pressure of
business were producing tlieir effect upon tlje
Bishop's health, and he was liy no means
sorry when the two years were ended, and
he could enter upon a visitation of liis exten-
sive diocese. The serious illness of his
daughter, which rendered a sea voyage indis-
pensable, increased his anxiety to leave Cal-
cutta, and he accordingly requested that a
vessel might be provided for conveying him-
self and his suite to the various settlements
on the eastern coast, and thence across the
Bay of Bengal to Madras and Ceylon.

The primary visitation was held in the
cathedral, at Calcutta, on tlie 13th of August,
1834, twenty-one clergymen being present,
when the Bishop delivered his charge, which
had occupied his attention for several months
past. When his reverend brethren gathered
about liijii, he commenced his address by
saying, "That in tlie short space of twelve
or thirteen years a fifth bishop of Calcutta
should be addressing his reverend brethren
from this chair, is a most affecting memorial

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 155

of the uncertainty of life, and of the mys-
teries of the Divine judgments. As to man,
all is weakness and change. The pastoral
staff drops from the hand before it is grasped.
Measures are broken off in the midst ; and
we nmst look to the mercy of God alone for
the settlement and future safety of our
apostolical branch of Christ's holy Catholic
Church in India." His feelings were over-
powered ; all the circumstances connecting
together the past and the present seemed to
rush upon his mind; his voice faltered; he
paused in deep emotion, and was a consider-
able time ere he could resume his self-com-
mand. Then, continuing his address, he
riveted the attention of all his hearers, and
sympathy gave place to a feeling of deep
, solemnity.

' The statistical part of the address showed
a considerable improvement in Church affairs

in India.

After the close of this interesting assembly,
the Bishop delivered a farewell sermon at the
cathedral, and early on Monday morning,

156 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

August 24th, he embarked, under the usual
salute, and went forth on his first visitation.
The passage to Penang was prolonged by
adverse winds, and was rendered more anx-
ious by the continued ill health of his daugh-
ter; but on the 19th of September the vessel
glided into the roadstead formed by the island
of Penang on the one side, and the Queda
Country on the other.

The Bishop and his party landed inuiiodi-
ately, and were hospitably received and shel-
tered in the house of Sir Benjamin Malkin,
the Judge and Keeorder of the Si rait:?.
Nothing could exceed the kindness mani-
fested by himself and his excellent lady dur-
ino- the whole of the Bishop's stay ; and after
he left, his daughter, having derived no ben-
efit from the sea voyage, and being unable to
continue it, found there a home for numy
months, and remained until increasing illness
compelled a permanent return to England.

The real business of the visitation soon
be^^an, and all that could be done the Bishop
did. The chaplain was first visited in his

LIFE OF BISnOP AVILSON. 157

parsonage, and the Bishop looked grave
when lie found attached to it a flourishing
nutmeg plantation. Words ot* caution only
Mclc spoken now, but the pursuit was after-
wards forbidden.

The colonel in command at the station,
wishing to show the Bishop all possible
respect, proposed that the troops should pass
in review before him, which was accordingly
done. This is rather amusing to think of,
but it was meant in kindness, and it was so
received. Having visited the schools and
hospitals, preached three times, confirmed
forty-eight persons, and administered the
Lord's Supper, he took his leave and em-
barked for Singapore. This is a free port,
to which merchants of all nations had access,
and the place had neither been famed for
morality nor honesty. As no church had
hitherto been built, and religious services
were not celebrated with any regularity, the
Bishop was very desirous to take prompt
measures for establishing a better state of
things. He landed on Saturday night, and
14

158 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSr)N.

sent around notice of Divine service and the
Holy Communion for the following morning,
and of a public meeting for Monday. The
attendance on the Sunday service was large,
and all the influential people in the settle-
ment met on Monday morning, to discuss
the propriety of building a church. The
Bishop presided, by their request, and sub-
mitted a plan for raisiiig funds, which was
speedily adopted, and three thousand dollars
were subscribed before the adjournment of
the meeting.

The young persons who were desirous of
Confirmation were then called together, and
examined and instructed. A good many of
them having been brought up Presbyterians,
had some objection to the reference in the
preface to the Confirmation office to god-
fathers and godmothers. The Bishop decided
that, in all such cases, the natural parents
stood to their children in God's stead ; and
that this being, previously understood and
allowed on both sides, they might answer
conscientiously, and he confirm willingly.

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

159

He then addressed them earnestly upon
the point of dedication to God, and on the
appointed day administered the rite.

Having consecrated the church-yard, and
encouraged the building committee to go on
witli their work, the first Episcopal visit ever
paid to Singapore was brought to a close.

Cbapttr f iuclftlr.

MALACCA CAUGDT NAPPING RESULT OF THE BISHOPS

VISITATION — MOCLMEIN — YELLOW ROBES AND SHAVEN

HEADS — HOPEFIL PROSPECTS SPICY BREEZES FROM

CEYLON THREE WEEKS OF CONSTANT LABOR DAN-
GEROUS PASSAGE TO MADRAS — NARROW ESCAPE FROM
SHll'WRECK — AN ESPECIAL ERRAND, AND NOT A PLEA-
SANT ONE — THE CASTE QUESTION — NO MORE HALF-
WAY MEASURES — WINNOWING THE CHAFF FROM THE
■WHEAT — TIME-SEUVING POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT

PROCEEDS TO TANJOBE " THE TRACK OF THE HOLY

AND BELOVED HEBER" — RECEPTION AT TANJORE — THB
OLD NATIVE PRIEST — SECRET ASPIRATIONS.

N the night of October 10th Bisliop
Wilson landed at Malacca, and sought
shelter in the old white Stadt-hoiise,
no one being there to -welcome or to
entertain him. " From the sublime
to the ridiculous there is but a step,"
he said, with great good-humor, as he seated
himself upon an euip y box; and the next
morning, with his u>ual energy, all necessary
arrangements for the visitation were made.
Divine service was celebrated in the old

LITE OF BISHOP "WILSON. 161

Dutch church, which the trustees kindly
offered to transfer to the Bishop if he would
consecrate it, and secure the appointment of
a chaplain. lie promised to do his best to
obtain a clergyman for them, appointed a
candidate for Holy Orders, as lay-reader, but
deferred the consecration of the building
until a chaplain had been sent. Twenty-nine
were confirmed, and thirty- one communi-
cated ; and after bidding the people an affec-
tionate farewell, he writes home in regard to
Malacca ;

" God grant that the spices and fragrance
of grace and holiness may equal the exqui&ite
odors of this place. But one feels horrified
to think that we are in the midst of pirates,
murderers, and opium caters — men of fierce
and barbarous usages beyond conception.
Oh, what Avould not Christianity do for these
poor creatures ! It is a comfort to think that
the rule of England is merciful and bene-
ficial compared with that of the Malays,
Mohammedans, Portuguese, or even the
Dutch, imperfect as our Government is.
14*

162 LITE OF BISnOP -VTILSON.

May the spirit of real piety and zeal fill our
rulers more and more ! I am sure the
Bishop has enough to do, as well a^^ the
clergy, in beginning every thing ariglit."

The steamer now turned her course to-
wards Moulmein, and here it occurs to me
to recommend the reader to open a map of
Asia, and follow the Bishop in his journey-
ings.

All was new and strange in Moulmein,
which was part of the territory cedrd to the
English in the last war. Pagan priests with
flowing yellow robes and shaven heads
were numerous, and idols of gigantic size
sat in the temidos which had been erected for
their worship. A large body of English
troops were tlien stationed in Moulmein, and
many distinguished othcers.

Mr. Hamilton, the chaplain, assisted in
making arrangements for the Bishop's visit-
ation, which included an inspection of tlie
schools and hospitals, the consecration of a
handsome Gothic church, and the adminis-
tration of the rite of the " Laying On of

LITE OF BISHOP WILSON. 163

Hands." On the 2Sth of October the Bishop
took his leave.

" I have been linishing," he says, " the
last Sunday of my second year's residence in
India by preaching my hundred and fifty-
second sermon, before five or six hundred
persons of all ranks, in the newly consecrated
church of Moulmein. It is a beautiful struc-
ture, just such as Augustine built in England
at the conversion of the larger cities towards
the end of the sixth century. AVe have been
proclaiming the Gospel in the Burman
Empire, with Cliina on one side and India
on the other ; lihud and his monstrous
fables deceiving four hundred millions on
our right ; and Brahma with his metaphys-
ical atheism chaining down one hundred
millions on our left ; whilst the base impos-
tor Mohammed rages against the Deity and
Sacrifice of the blessed Saviour in the midst
of both, witli ten or twenty' millions of fol-
lowers. But our DrvixE Lord shall ere long
reign ; and Bhuddist, and Brahminist, and
Mohammedan — yea, tlie infidel, and papist,

164 LIFE OF BISHOP ^^^L60N.

and nominal Christian throughout Asia, shall
unite in adoring His cross."

On the 7th of November the Bishop was
regaled with the sweet breezes from the cin-
namon groves of Ceylon, and a new and
beautiful scene was unveiled before him.
But he had something to do besides inhaling
fragrant odors and admiring lovely sccncr}'.
Many urgent matters pressed for settlement,
misunderstandings between the higliest au-
thorities of Church and State must be exam-
ined into ; disunion among the clergy must
be healed ; learned oontrovei*sies in regard to
two diflerent versions of the Bible into
Cingalese must be listened to, and a final de-
cision made — all this, and more, came upon
the Bishop at the very beginning of his visit-
ation. He exercised a sound discretion in
the settlement of every difficulty, and if all
parties were not satisfied, none could censure
him for showing an undue bias to either
side.

On Sunday, he preached to an overflowing
congregation, in the Fort church, and on

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 165

Tuesday confirmed one hundred and eight
young persons, the words and final blessing
being repeated in English, Cingalese, Por-
tuguese, and Tamul.

On Tuesday the Bishop held his visitation
and delivered his charge to the clergy.
These multiplied engagements were varied
by a visit to the Church Missionary Institu-
tion at Cotta, wliich he thus describes : " 1
must tell you of the exquisite drive we have
had through the cinnamon gardens for five
miles. Kotliing since the garden of Eden
was so beautiful — a vast field of green fra-
grant bush, with every fibre and branch
bursting with cinnamon. But even this
extraordinary scene yields to tlie moral fra-
grance of this dear missionary station of
Cotta, now numbering twelve out-stations,
four clergymen, twenty-one native teachers,
six hundred average attendants on public
worship, twenty-one communicants, nineteen
seminarists, sixteen schools, and four hun-
dred and thirty scholars. Our honored Mr.
Lambrick, after eighteen years of steady and

166 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

holy labor, presides over the whole. "Will
you believe that I have been examining
native youth in the English Scriptui-es,
geography, history, astronomy, mathematics,
Latin, Greek, and Hebrew ?"

Fifty-five young natives were confirmed
here. Having made an excursion to Kandy,
the ancient capital of the island, where
Bhuddism was seen in one of its strong-
holds, and a faithful missionary was cheered
ill the midst of discouraging labors, the
Bishop returned to Colombo on the 18th of
]S^ovember, in time to examine the candi-
dates for Holy Orders. Three days after
wards, the ordination was held, and soon he
was under way for Matura and Trincomalee.
At the latter place, the visitation of Ceylon
ended, liaving cost three weeks of incessant
labor.

In his passage to Madras, the Bishop
barely escaped from death, through the
mercy of Him who can rule the raging of the
sea. The condition of the poor, worn-out
vessel was so perilous, that the captain cried

LIFE OF BISHOP AVILSOX. 167

out in despair, " I can do no more ; tell the
Bishop he had better go to prayers." Al-
most overcome with fatigue and sea-sickness,
the good man obeyed the summons, and hav-
ing read St. Paul's account of his shipwreck
(Acts xxvii. 13-36), his voice being well-
nigh drowned by tlie groaning of the ship
and the noise of the waves, he called upon
the Lord to deliver them . The Almighty, who
hears the supplications of His servants, made
the storm to cease.

At day-dawn, December 10th, they landed
at Madras. The Bishop had come here on
an especial errand, and he had looked for-
ward with much anxiety to the results of
this visit. " The Caste question" had been
the occasion of many difficulties in this por-
tion of the missionary lield, and it was con-
cerning these that prompt measures were
now to be taken.

"We can only explain, very briefly, that
while in Bengal, and elsewhere, the natives
who embraced Christianity had been obliged
to give up all connection with idolatry and

168 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

its usages, greater liberty had improperly
been granted to the converts in Soutliern
India, wlileh had allowed half tlie evils of
Paganism to be retained under tlie name
of Christianity. The old distinctions of
caste were so far preserved as to mar the
solemnities of public worsliip, and to engen-
der envy, hatred, and pride — and all this had
been winked at for years, le&t any interference
on the part of the missionaries should alien-
ate larire numbers of their confjreirations.

Bishop Wilson was well informed in re-
gard to these things, and rejecting all timid
counsels and time- serving compromises, he
looked at the question simply as a matter of
right or wrong, and acted accordingly. In
the summer of 1S33 he addressed an earnest
letter on the subject to the missionaries
througlioiit his diocese, in tiie course of
which he takes the following decided posi-
tions :

" 1. The catechumens preparing /or bap-
tism must be informed by you of the Bishop's
decision, and must be gently and tenderly

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 169

advised to submit to it. Of course, the min-
ister informs tlie Bishop or Archdeacon a
week previously to the intended baptism of
each convert, agreeably to the directions
given by my honored predecessor, in his
charge delivered at Madras, in November,
1830; and this will afford opportunity for
each particular case being well considered.

"2. The children of native Christians will,
in the next place, not be admitted to the
Holy Communion witiiout this renunciation
of castes; their previous education being
directed duly to this, amongst other duties
of the Christian religion, no material diffi-
culties will, as 1 trust, arise here.

"3. With respect to tlie adult Christians
already admitted to the Holy Communion, I
should recommend that their prejudices and
habits be so far consulted as not to insist on
an open, direct renunciation of caste. The
execution of the award in the case of all new
converts and comnmnicants will speedily
wear out the practice.

" 4. In the mean time, it may suffice that
15

170 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

overt acts, which spring from the distinction
of castes, be at once and finally discontinued
in the church; whether places in the church
be concerned, or the manner of approach lo
the Lord's table, or processions in marriages,
or marks on the forehead made with paint or
mixtures, or diiferences of food and dress —
whatever be the overt acts, they nmst, in the
church, and so far as the influence of minis-
ters goes, be at once abandoned."

The circulation of this letter produced a
great sensation. Many of the native converts
went back to their old ways, and congrega-
tions which had been large and flourishing
were suddenly reduced lo a mere handful.
It was a thorough winnowing of the chaff
from the wheat. The Bishop was duly in-
formed of all that occurred, and his advice
was freely given in all cases of perplexity.
His difliculties were greatly increased by the
cowardly policy of the Goverumeat, which
was disjtosed to yield to the remonstrances
of the natives, and to sufler matters to fall
back into their former state. Surely, England

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 1/1

paid dearly, at a more recent day, for her
unfaithfulness towards India, and her count-
less children sunk in ignorance and degrada-
tion !

Bishop Wilson was not a man to falter in
the di-.charge of a plain duty, and he was
determined to abide by the decision which
he had given. While he remained at Ma-
dras, he delivered sixteen sermons and ad-
dresses, confirmed six hundred and seventeen,
and delivered his charge to the clergy, be-
sides attending several committee meetings of
different religious bodies. He also preached
twice in the church of the native Christians
of Yepery ; and ahhough to all outward
appearances a stranger would have been well
pleased with their orderly and reverent be-
havior, one more familiar with them could
not fail to have observed the old distinction
of caste in as active operation as before. Tlie
Bishop concluded to do nothing more to re-
strain this evil until his return from Tanjore.
Towards that place he now hastened, treading
in the steps of his predecessor, and accompa-

172 LIFE OF BISilOP WILSON.

nied by Archdeacon Itobinson, whose society
was as pleasant as his experience was valu-
able. Madras was left on December 29th,
and on the 31st, at Atcherawauk, the follow-
ing words were written :

*' Our ten miles' march is over, out of
wliich I rode four on my Pegu pony. The
close of another year calls to consideration
of the end of life, usefulness, projects, de-
signs. The track of the holy and beloved
Heber is solemn and aflecting indeed. Poor
fellow ! Tlie thermometer, as he joui-neyed,
sometimes stood at 112 degrees; and even in
his tent, the Archdeacon who accompanied
him says they could not get it lower than
97 degrees. It was the very wcrst seat^on
of the year for the fcoiith (^March to April,
1826). Sir Thomas Monro again and again
warned him that the end of January was tlie
last moment he should have left Madras.
God's holy will, however, is thus accom-
plished in us and in the Church. Two things
strike me: (1) Bishop, lleber's budden death
was necessary to seal his doctrine, to awaken

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 173

all India, to turn his astonishing popularity
and loveableness into an attachment to the
cansu in which he died, to fix England and
India in one gaze of interest. (2) His death,
after two and a half years of residence and
journeys, saved him all the odium, misrepre-
senta!ii)n, conflict witii the worldly, envy of
the wicked, and jarring with religious socie-
ties. All was thus couleiir de rose ^ and as
to influence after his decease, he died at the
exact moment."

Early on the morning of the 10th of Janu-
ary, 1835, the Bishop esj)ied the pagodas of
Tanjore ; and at a ford over one of the
brandies of the river Caverv a large number
of native Christians and school-children were
assembled. The venerable missionary Kohl-
hoff was at their head, and crowds of heathen
stood around. The river was soon crossed,
and the Bishop immediately alighted from
his palanquin ; but before he could salu'.e
them, a hymn of praise rose on the morning
air, sounding most sweet from native tongue?.
When it was ended, mutual greetings were

1 r *
iO"

174 MFE OF HTSnor WIL80N.

interchanged. The native priest Nyanapra-
gasen (the efl'ulgence of glory), eighty-three
years of age, drew near and Avas presented,
llis long white robe, comhining in om; gar-
ment l)0th gown and caesock, liainionizcd
well witli the snowy hair falling on liis
shoulilors, and gave iiini a most vcni'ialile
appearance, lie took the liiishop's ollLTed
hand between both of his, and blessed iind
for bringing liini amongst them, adding a
hope, that as Elijah brought back tlie stift-
necked Israelites to God, so he might over-
come the obstinacy of this people.

After a few more kind words, tlie Bisliop
bade them farewell, and hastened on to the
Residency, where Colonel Macleane and his
admirable family were ready to receive and
entertain him.

" Here I am, entering into this once flour-
ishing Church, O Lord, in Thy name, and
with a single eye to Thy glory and the jmrity
of Thy Go8i)el over all India. (irant me
Thy meekness, Thy wisdom. Thy lirmness,
Thy fortitude, Thy discretion. Thine address

LIFE OF BISnOP WILSON. 175

in treating with men. To Thee do I look up.
As to myself and Imiiiaii power, my heart
faileth me. For what can I do with seven-
teen hundred revolters and ten thousand un-
informed and prejudiced Christians? Lord,
undertake for me."

Such were the first secret aspirations of his
soul. We must leave further particulars for
the next chapter.

Oaptcr f Irirttcntb.

MOST rNPBOMISINO COSDITION OF AFFAIRS LOOKING TO

GOD FOR HELP — SWAItTz's GRATE — INTERESTING 6KB-
VICES — EFFOICTS TO DRING THE NATIVE CHRISTIANS TO
A BETTER MIND JkURNET TO TRICHINOroLT — SER-
VICES IN THE MISSION CHCKCH — BISHOP IIF.BER — THK
CASTE QUESTION AGAIN — MEETING THE DIFFICULTT
BOLDLY — SOME CHANGES FOR THE BETTER — ORDINA-
TION AT TANJORE — A RALLYING POINT GAINED

HAPPY SIX MONTHS — SAFE ARRIVAL AT CALCUTTA.

F FAIRS at Tanjore were in a most
unsettled condition. Large iiuin-
bers of na'.ive Christians had re-
fused to submit to the Bishop's
decision in regard to foi-saking their
old pagan rules of caste, and the
state of morals was deplorable. The mission-
aries had become extremely unpopular, and
every thing was as un])roiiii5>ing as it well
could be. Refuge was sought in God, as the
only hope, and the Bishop prayed most earn-
estly that he might be guided to do what
was for the leal good of the Church. Ilav-

LIFE OF RISIIOl* WILSON. 177

ing held several conferences with some of the
native priests, catechists, and others, he in-
vited them all to attend service on Sunday,
and they promised to do so, if they could sit
according to their former arrangement of
caste. Permission was given tliem, on this
occasion, to follow their own inclinations.

On Sunday, the Bishop preached in the
morning to the English congregation. Di-
vine service was held in the Mission church
• — a hallowed spot, where Swartz and other
venerable men had ministered throuirh life,
and found a resting-place at death ; where
many souls, rescued from heathenism, had
been added unto the Lord ; and where some
of Heber's last loving words had been spoken.

In the evening, fi-om the same place, the
native Christians were addressed. The ser-
vice, necessarily, was in Tamul, and young
Mr. Com merer, who was a catechist, and
spoke it admirably, acted as the Bishop's
interpreter. Seven hundred and fifty per-
sons were counted, sitting, after their man-
ner, on the floor of the church, of whom

178 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

more than three hundred were Soodra men
and women ; whilst uncounted crowds stood
round the doors and windows.

The Bishop's text was, '• Walk in love, as
Christ also loved us;" and he dwelt upon
two points— the love of Christ to us, and our
love to one another, lie was very aflec-
tionate and very earnest, and the etiect was
perceptible, the whole congregation was
moved. Towards the conclusion, he dwelt
upon the character of the " Good Samaritan,''
as illustrative of the love we should bear to
one another. He described the meeting
with the " certain man" of the parable ; the
seeing him in distress ; not asking him who
he was ; not dreaming of defilement by con-
tact with him ; but meeting the present
duty ; pouring in oil and wine ; putting him
on his own beast ; taking care of him ; and
nil because he was in distress, and because
lie was a neighbor.

" And what," asked the Bishop, rising
from his seat, and with outstretched arms
bcndino- over the congregation which sat

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 179

beneath him, " what did our blessed Master
and Saviour say concerning this ? What
was his doctrine ? What was his command ?
What were his words i Go and Do Thou
Likewise !"

A long pause of motionless and breathless
silence followed, broken only when he be-
sought every one present to offer up this
prayer : " Lord, give me a broken heart, to
receive the love of Christ and obey his com-
mands." Whilst the whole congregation
were repeating these words aloud in Tamul,
he bowed upon the cushion, doubtless en-
treating help from God, and then dismissed
them with his blessing.

On Monday the Mission churches and
buildings were inspected ; the room in which
Swartz died, and all the other places of in-
terest, were visited ; and then another con-
ference was held, at which it was resolved to
invite all native Christians, who might wish
it, to private conversation, affording thus an
opportunity to hear their difficulties, and
help in their removal. Time would fail us

180 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

to give even an outline of all the efforts
which were made to bring the unhappy
people to a better mind. The native Chris-
tians were in sore perplexity. They had
hoped that the Bishop would yield to tlair
importunities, but they found him both
kinder and firmer than they expected. On
the 2l8t of January he set out for Trichin-
opoly, proposing to defer any final arrange-
ments until his return. Stopping at a large
native station, called Multoopatty, he
preached, and administered the holy Sacra-
ment to two hundred and forty-SQven native
communicants, no foolish question of caste
troubling any mind. In the afternoon, six-
teen children were baptized.

" I^ever,'- says the Bishop, recalling this
day, " had I such grace given me since I
have been in orders, now thirty -four years,
as is now vouchsafed ; that 1, who am, in-
deed, ' less than the least of all saints,' should
be permitted to preach amongst the Gentiles
' the unsearchable riches of Christ.' If God
carries me through this series of iluties and

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 181

labors, I may say truly, ' Lord, novr lettest
Thou Thy servant depart in peace, for mine
eyes have seen Thy salvation.' One such
day as we have just passed is worth years of
commoH service. I really almost wish I might
resign Calcutta, and take the see of Madras.
These native churches require just the care I
should delight to give."

On Friday, January 23d, lie reached
Trichinopoly, a place of fifty thousand inliab-
itants, where tlie beloved Heber died.

Here, the troublesome caste question was
again encountered. The Bishop preached in
the Mission church on the day after his
arrival, taking no notice of the Soodras,
who were clustering together in a group by
themselves, and who had not been near the
church for nine months before. They had
a native priest amongst them, and he, as
well as many of the congregation, being pos-
sessed of independent property, were appar-
ently determined to stand out. It was
necessary, however, that the matter should
be at once brought to an issue, for the
16

182 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

Bishop had but a few days to star, and he
would return no more.

Here, therefore, he resolved, for the first
time, to carry out the purpose he liad fornjed.
There was no hope tliat, in any ease, the
whole dissentient body would comply with
his wishes. The evil lay too deep, the prej-
udices and habits were too s?trong. But a
nucleus might be formed, round which
others might gather from time to time, and
to wliich all new converts might be added.
If this nucleus could be formed in eacli sta-
tion, and arranged upon the basis of the
Bishop's direction, then time, j>atience, and
watchfulness, by God's grace, would do the
rest.

This, therefore, was the Bishop's purpose ;
and to accomplish it, notice was given of
Divine service and the administration of the
Lord's Supper, for the very morning of his
departure. All seemed impressed with the
importance of the occasion, and the church
was thronged. When the Bishop, in his
robes, left the vestry in order to proceed to

LIFE OF BISHOP AVILSON. 183

his seat at the communion-table and com-
mence the service, lie saw many scattered
groups of natives standing apart from the
main body of the congregation, who were
seated on the floor. Fully aware of the
cause, he joined one group, and taking two
native Christians by the hand, ])e gently led
them forward to a vacant place in front, and
seated them. Ilis chaj>lain, following in the
surplice, by his directions, did the same.
Others who were j)re.<ent were bid to assist.
It was all done quietly, and no sort of resitit-
ance was made. The Soodra sat by the
Pariah, and the Tariah by the Soodra, and
both were intentionally intermingled with
many of the authorities and influential
Europeans of the station.

"When all was quiet, the service com-
menced; and in the course of it forty nalivcs
came up, without distinction, and were con-
tirmed. Then followed the sermon, from the
words, *' Preaching peace by Jesus Christ."
When the holy Sacrament was about to be
celebrated, the Bishop quietly gave directions

184 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

as to the mode of administration. A Soodra
catechist received it first, then two Pariah
eatechists, then a European gentleman, then
a Soodra, then some East Indians. The gen-
try of the station, lii.ving been much inter-
ested in the matter, had placed themselves at
the Bishop's disposal; and, at the special
request of the lady of the highest rank, a
Pariah knelt and communicated between her
and her husband. This lacilitated the ar-
rangement ; and silently, but most effectually,
the barrier which had existed for so long a
time was broken down, and one hundred and
forty-seven partook of the Lord's Supper,
without distinction.

A precedent was thus set. This was the
nucleus of the native Church of the future.
Every wanderer, every dissentient, might
join it; but always in this way and accord-
ing to this rule. New converts also, and
every one who was confirmed, would know
what was expected from them. Dead leaves
would gradually drop ofl'; these were to be
the new buds.

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 185

Of course many Soodras had retired from
the church before the Sacrament was admin-
istered, and all had been free to do so. But
it was found that nine families of influence
had conformed, and were well content.
These, with the large body of Pariahs, were
suflicient for the purpose ; and the Bishop
thanked God and took courage. lie preach-
ed once more, and made a collection, which
Bishop Heber's death had prevented his
doing nine years before, for the Propagation
Society, and then took his departure. He
called at the missionary station of Boodalore,
in his way, and arrived at Tanjore again on
Wednesday morning, January 28th.*

Three days after his return, the Bishop
held an ordination, when four deacons were
admitted to the priesthood, and a Lutheran
missionary was made deacon. The next
morning was appointed for service with the
natives, and as it was the last time he could
meet them, it was anticipated with some

o Bateman, p. 381-2.
■ 16*

186 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

anxiety. The day began auspiciously by the
receipt of a letter from the native Christians
at Vepery, signed by seven, in the name and
on behalf of all, confessing past errors, and
promising unfeigned and unconditional obe-
dience for the future.

The morning prayers were read in Tamul
at eight o'clock; and at half-past ten all
were assembled for the sermon and holy
Sacrament. They arranged themselves as
they pleased ; a few sat apart ; but the greater
number were mingled together. About six
hundred were present. The Bishop did not
interfere, as at Tricliinopoly. Attt-r the Lit-
any, he preached t'win the words, *' "Why are
ye fearful, O ye of little faith ^" The whole
congregation seemed to remain for tlie holy
Sacrament ; for though some had retired,
yet the church looked full. The Kesident
and ladies of his family Hrst ap})roached —
then some Soodras and Pariahs iMtermin«:led
— then some Europeans — then natives and
Europeans mingled — then natives and East
Indians mingled — then one or two missiona-

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 187

ries and natives. All was voluntary, and all
was perfectly understood.

The only remaining peculiarity — and that
was fairly allowable, and perhaps desirable
— was, that amongst the natives men and
women communicated separately — the men
first, the women after. The whole number
of communicants on this occasion was three
hundred and forty-eight. Of these, sixty-
two were Europeans, and two hundred and
eighty-six native Christians, amongst whom
forty-three were Soodras from Tanjore and
the neighborhood. Here, again, God gave
success. The number thus conforming cer-
tainly was small, as compared with the many
non-conformists ; but it was sufficient for a
precedent. It afforded a rallying point ; and
,the Bishop was content.
i The result was better than at one time he
anticipated. Henceforth all depended on
strengthening the mission, watching over
new converts, and instructing the rising
generation.

Having delivered his " Missionary Charge"

188 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

at Tanjore, the Bishop retraced his steps to
Madras, where he arrived on the 14th of
February, 1835, "iiaving spent," he says,
"the happiest six months in my life; so
much do I love missionary work." Ten
days were given to Madras, and by the iid
of March he was once more safely sheltered
beneath our roof, in Calcutta, having com-
pleted a journey of six thousand five hun-
dred miles.

Cjyaptcr Inurtctntlr.

AT HOME, BUT NOT IDLE — CUANGE IN THE GOVERNMENT,
AND THE DEPARTURE OF FRIENDS — AN AFFECTING

DUTY LORD WILLIAM RETURNS HOME — PERPLEXING

QUESTIONS SETTLED THE BISHOP RESUMES HIS VISIT-
ATION — ENTRANCE-GATE TO THE SYRIAN CHURCHES —
BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THEM — SERVICES AT QUILON — RETS
OUT FOR THE INTERIOR-r-FREACHES AT ALLEPIE —
ATTEMPTS TO BENEFIT THE SYRIAN CHRISTIANS — THE

COLLEGE AT COTTAYAM BISHOP WILSON WAITED

UPON BY THE SYRIAN CLERGY — HIS CONFERENCES
WITH THEM — "never AGAIN SHALL I BEHOLD SUCH
A SIGHT."

LTHOUGH Bishop Wilson had
reached liome, it was not for tlie
enjoyment of rest. The atmosphere
of Calcutta was foggy, damp, hot,
and suflocating ; but he roused liim-
self up to bear the pressure of daily
duties, and many perplexing cares. Changes
were soon to take place in the government,
friends were departing for England, and his
own faith seemed sometimes almost to waver.
Lord William Bentinck had suffered so se-

190 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

verely from the climate, that he had resigned
his office. His unpleasant difficulty wi:h
the Bishop was now forgotten, and the latter
said of him, " 1 verily believe we shall never
see his like again. Had his lordship been
educated in Church principles, he would
liave been nearly perfect."

Lord William's health had been so poor,
that he had been uiuible to attend public
worship for some time past, and a special
service was held for his benetit, wliicli the
Bishop thus describes :

"Monday, March \Oth, .835.

"Last night I had a most afteoting duty.
I performed Divine service for the first and
last time in Government House. A drawing-
room was fitted witli a high table, covered
with crimson cloth ; seats were arranged on
each side of tiie room; all the Court was
assembled — aides-de-camp, j.ublic and pri-
vate secretaries, physicians — in number about
twenty. My chaplain read the evening pray-
ers (we were both robedj, and 1 preached
from the words, 'Come unto Me, all ye that

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 191

labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest.' I used Swartz's sweet notes,
as at Tanjore. I spoke and told out 'the
whole story,' as Joseph Milner would have
expressed it, addressed the conscience, called
on the infidel (such were pi-esent) to consider
his ways, invited the superstitious (such were
present) to the simplicity of Christ, and com-
mended the Governor-General and his family
and suite to the blessed Jesus durin"- the
voyage. They were affected to tears. After
the prayer at the conclusion, I pronounced
the benediction, and gave it a personal appli-
cation by going round and laying my hands
on the head of each kneeling worshipper, and
then returning to my seat and concluding it.
The Governor-General and Lady William
came up to thank me after service ; but they
were almost unable to speak for tears. Who
can tell what good may be done ? I suppose
it was the most affecting scene ever witnessed
at the departure of a governor-general.

"My own soul is subsiding more and more
into God. The excitement of India is gone

192 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

by; the novelty has ceased; I have run
through the first series of duties; human
schemes and hopes are exhausted. Now,
blessed Jesus! I return to Tliee. Do Tliou,
and Thou only, work in me, and by nic and
for me, and througn me. Be Tliou only
glorified. Disphiy Thy grace in the efiects
of Thy glorious Gospel in the hearts of

men.

The day before tlie Govcruor-Gencrars
departure', thr Bishop was requested to ad-
minister the Ib'ly Communion at (iovern-
ment House, lie makes this record on the
ITth of March: "I iiavc perfwrnu-d the sol-
emn service. None were present Imt Ix)rd
and Lady William. Af er the Communion,
they sat down and talked over with me the
main things atiecting my department. Not
a word was ^aid of the ^ad business of last
June. Ihit every thing in matter^ of detail
was conceded to me that 1 could possibly
wish. I then embraeed each of them, and
bade them farewell."

And now a nunii»er of peri»le.\ing que8-

LIFE OF BTSnOP WILSON. 193

tions whicli presented themselves, required
all the Bishop's wisdom and prudence and
decision of character, rightly to settle.
Archdeacon Corrie had gone to England, for
consecration as Bishop of Madras ; and ac-
cording to a very absurd custom which had
grown up, the senior Presidency chaplain
fully expected to be a])pointed liis successor.
Bi<hop Wilson determined tliat this course
should be abandoned, aii<l in tlie face of the
most violent opposition on the part of the
aspiring applicant and his friends, he gave
the Archdeaconry to Mr. Doaltry, then chap-
lain of the old church, Calcutta.

The relations between the Bishop of Cal-
cutta and the Church Missionary Society
were now definitely settled ; Dr. "Wilson
being unwilling to occupy the position of
subserviency to a committee of clergy and
laity at home, to which his predecessors had
felt obliged to submit. The " Select Vestry"
of the cathedral, also, who for years had
managed its affairs in their own way, were
taught that a Bishop had some rights in his
17

194 LFFK OF BISHOP -WILSON.

own church, and that he was able to main-
tain them.

These temporary troubles, however, by no
means interrupted Bishop AVilson's ministra-
tions, and he continu'^d to i)reach with accept-
ance the Gospel of the grace of God, and to
exercise the peculiar functions (tf his office.
On the 13th of October, 1885, we find him
once more on shipboard, about to resume his
visitation. It was proposed to close the year
at Bombay, filling up the brief intervening
period by a visit to the Syrian churches, and
Goa, on the coast of Malabar. From Bom-
bav, the visitation would extend over the
upper provinces, and close at Calcutta, in the
spring of 1S37.

The little brig which the Government had
provided for the Bishop, bore him safely
down the Bay of Bengal, around Ceylon and
Cape Comorin, and then ascending the coast
of Malabar, landed him at Quilon, the en-
trance-gate to the Syrian churches. The
story of these ancient churches is well worth
reading, but this is no place to repeat it.

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 195

Claiming St. Thomas, the Apostle, as their
founder, they liave preserved, through long
ages, the primitive organization of tlie Church,
and since Dr. Buchanan's visit in 1806, a
friendly intercourse has been kept up with
them. Bishop Middleton went to see them
ten years afterwards, and Bishop Heber cor-
responded with one of their bishops. ^Ye
have now to accompany Bishop Wilson, on
his visit, in the autumn of 1835.

Landing at Quilon, he preached, con-
firmed, and ordained, and then set out for
the interior, several boats, each rowed by a
dozen men, being provided for his party.
As they approached Allepie, a station of the
Church Missionary Society, the bell Mas
heard sounding sweetly over the waters, and
calling to evening service. Though weary
with a journey of sixty miles, the Bishop
preached to a congregation of about three
hundred native Christians, and then at once
retired to rest.

The Church missionaries, while laborino-
amongst the heathen, in the province of

190 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

Travancore, were endeavoring, in a prudent
way, to correct some of the abuses which had
crept into the ancient Syrian Church. It
was a delicate task, but they had ah-eady
accomplished some good, and Bishop Wilson
encouraged them to hope for more. With a
view of countenancing and aiding this work,
he now proceeded to Cottayam, where a col-
lege had been established. A grant of land
had been made towards its support by the
Kajah, and an agreement entered into with
the Syrian Metran, or Bishop, that all his
candidates for the ministry should enjoy its
benefits. The Church Mi^sionary Society
had contributed liberally for the establish-
ment of that important institution, on the
condition that while the Syrians should have
the management of the land, the English
missionaries should instruct the studenis.

This arrangement, while very admirable in
theory, was most difficult in practice, and
what complicated the wliole matter still
more, was the character of the Syrian Bishop
— who did not enjoy a high reputation for

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 197

either morality or honesty. It, however,
formed no part of Bishop Wilson's plan, to
go beyond his own lawful authority, and it
was rather as a visitor and an adviser tliat
he had come to Cottyam.

Making his headquarters with the English
missionaries, he was waited upon by the
Syrian Bishop and a number of the centaurs,
or priests, and afterwards inspected their
churches, attended their worship, and, by
invitation, preached, with liis accustomed
simplicity and force. A special day was set
apart for holding a serious conference with
the Syrian Bishop, in regard to the afl'airs
of his Church, a full account of wliich has
been preserved.* The college difficulties,
the importance of establishing more schools
throughout the country, and the duty of ex-
plaining the Gospel to the people — these,
and other points, were freely discussed.

On the day following, wliich was Sunday,
Bishop "Wilson preached. " I have wit-
nessed," he writes, " the most affecting scene
o Batemaa's Life of Bishop Wilson, p. 431, etc.

17*

198 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

which I ever could have conceived — two
thousand of the ancient Syrian Christians
crowding to hear the word of the Gospel
in the principal church at Cottayam — the
Metropolitan and about forty priests and
deacons being present. After their own ser-
vice, performed in their usual manner, I
preached from llev. iii. 7. S, for more than
an hour, the Rev. Mr. Bayley interpreting.
I dwelt on wliat the Spirit saith unto the
Church of Philadelphia : first, as it respects
Christ, who addressed the Church ; secondly,
as it respects the Church itself; thirdly, as
to the promise made to it. On this last head
I showed them that Christ had set before
them an open door by the protection and
friendship of the English Church and people.
In application, I called on each one present
to keep Christ's word, and not deny his name,
as to their own salvation.

" Never again shall I behold such a sight.
How can I bless God enough for brintrinsr
me here at this critical time ? for under the
present Metran all has been going back."

C^apUr liftecntl).

HASTENING ONWARD TO COCHUf — IXTEECOTJBSE 'WITH
WHITE AXD BLACK JEWS — A WORD OF EXHORTATION

WHICH WAS NOT VERT FAVOJJABLY RECEIVED COX-

FIRMATIOX AT COCniX — VISIT TO SEVERAL SYRIAN
CHURCHES — GENERAL IMPRESSIONS CONCERNING THEIB

SPIRITUAL STATE OLD GOA — ST. FRANCIS XAVIEB

THE CITY OF CHURCHES MILITARY STATION AT BEL-
GAUM — SIXTEEN DAYS SPENT IN BOMBAY — PREPARA-
TIONS FOE A LONG LAND JOURNEY.

tARLY on Monday morning, Novem-
ber 23cl, Bisliop Wilson and his
^ company returned to their boats,

and hastened onward to Cochin,
wliere Mr. Risdale, the English
missionary, gladly received him.
Amongst those who called upon him were
deputations from the White and Black Jews,
soliciting him to visit their synagogues. He
accepted the invitation, and after the usual
worship, in the synagogue of the White
Jews, he was requested to address some word
of exhortation to the people. It was a

200 LIFE OF BISHOP AVILSON.

strange position for a Christian Bishop, but
he rose without liesitation, and spoke as
follows :

" Children of the God of Abraham, the
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hearken :

" We believe, as you do, in tiie God of
Moses, David, Isaiaii, and Daniel. The
prophet Isaiah says, in one place, 'A virgin
shall conceive and bring forth a son,' and in
another, ' He shall be despised and lojected
of men.' The })rophet Zechariah says, ' Thy
King comelh unto thee, meek, aiid having
salvation.' The prophet Daniel says, ' After
three-score and two weeks, Messiah shall be
cut off, but not for liimself.' Now, we Chris-
tians say that all these things liave been ex-
actly fuliilled in our Lord Jesus Christ ; that
He has come ; that lie has proved His
mission by fullilling prophecy, by working
miracles, by a pure and holy life. Ilim,
through ignorance, your fathers slew and
hanged on a tree. You are still expecting a
temporal Messiah, with external splendor
and glory ; we say that the highest glory of

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 201

our Lord is exhibited in His condescension
and humility, in that, though He was rich,
yet lor our sakes He became poor, and
liumbled Himself even unto death for us men
and for our salvation. We pray you to
listen to these things. Seek for the Spirit
of God who spake in times past unto the
fathers by the prophets. Pray that your
hearts may be opened to understand and
believe the evidences of the Christian faith,
and the Messiahship of tlie Son of God.
There is salvation in none other, for there is
none other name given under heaven amongst
men whereby we can be saved." * * *

Eyes glanced fiercely and lips curled
scornfully as he spoke these words ; and
whispers were interchanged, as if each one
was confirming his neighbor in unbelief.
But no outward manifestation of displeasure
appeared ; and when the discourse was ended,
prayer once more arose from the desk, and
the " Bishop of Calcutta" (for the words
were plainly distinguished) was apparently
commended unto God.

202 LIFE OF BISHOP "WILSON.

The congregation was dismissed, and liav-
ing examined the parcliment rolls of the law,
the Bishop visited the synagogue of the
Black Jews, and then retired to Iiis quarters
at Mr. Risdale's house. On Tuesday, No-
vember 14, he confirmed seventy-five young
persons in the church at Cochin, and having
devoted the next day to a visit to several of
the Syrian churches in the northern ])art of
Travancore, he once more returned to the
brig and pursued his course. He thus re-
cords his impressions concerning this part of
his visitation :

'• I must pour out my heart, ere the im-
pression is weakened, now that 1 have com-
pleted my visit of ten days to the Syrian
churches. And first, I owe humble praises
to Almighty God that lie has granted me to
see the two spots I most eagerly desired, but
never thought 1 should be allowed to visit —
the southern scenes of Swartz's labors and
the Syrian churches. I have also been per-
mitted to visit them each in the most critical
juncture, and have, 1 trust, been enabled in

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 203

each to lay the foundation of important ser-
vice. I was yesterday well enough to write
out my sermon on Rev. iii. 7, 8, which Mr.
Bayley will immediately translate into Ma-
layalim, and circulate, when printed, amongst
the two hundred and fifty clergy, and one
hundred thousand laity of the Syrian Church.
The Eesident will, moreover, immediately
meet the senior missionary, and see the
Metran, and put things in train to meet my
wishes. God only knows what events may
happen ; but never in my life, 1 think,
was I permitted to render a greater service
than in these dear Syrian churches. But,
hush, my soul ! lest thou rob God of His
glory.

" Amongst the general remarks which oc-
cur to me whilst reflecting on these churches,
one is, that we have here an example of a
native ministry in primitive simplicity, living
for the most part in their churches, on about
eight or ten rupees a month (or ten or twelve
pounds a year), their dress white linen, their
food rice, eggs, and milk. It was thus Am-

204 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

brose and Basil and Austin lived, allowing
for differences of climate.

" Another remark is, that we have here
the primitive use of synods and elections.
The Metran himself is chosen by the clergy,
two or three being set apart, and then lots
drawn. The congregation, also, approves of
the priest before he is set over them ; and
the deacons are nominated in the first in-
stance by lay pereons. For all great mat-
ters, bishop, priests, and chief laity meet in
synods.

"Another primitive custom is, tiie number
of priests and deacons who live at each
church. There are generally six or seven ;
and as, from their j>overty, they are fre-
quently unmarried, they live upon the fees.
This leads to abuse.

" Another trait is, the high reverence of
the people for the sacred office. They dis-
tinguish between the bad character of the
present Metran and his office. This rever-
ence doubtless partakes of supei"stitiou.

" It is a further peculiarity, that each Me-

LIFE OF BISHOP AVILSON. 205

tran or Metropolitan consecrates his successor
early, and then dismisses him to the most
distant part of his diocese, to live retired in
one of the churches, without allowing him
the power of ordination or the privilege of
jurisdiction. Tliis is to keep up the apostol-
ical succession.

" Once more. Ecclesiastical and civil suits
are brought before the bishop, while criminal
cases go before the ruling powers, according
to St. PanTs directions to the Corinthians.
This is, however, giving way in civil matters,
but the ecclesiastical power is complete.

" Affain. This is now the onlv Church, so
far as I know, that professes to be governed
by the decrees of the Council of Nice, and
enforces on her priests, at ordination, obe-
dience to its canons.

" As to the Nestorian and Jacobite errors,
they seem to know nothing about them,
though the liturgies now in use amongst
them employ ceriainly the Jacobite terms."

The Bishop's next halting-place was Goa —
the only renmant of the Portuguese domin-
18

206 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

ions in India, and the head-quarters of Ro-
manism. The Bombay Government had
announced his coming, and requested that
he might be received with becoming cour-
tesy. This request was more than granted,
and every kindness was shown him. Free
access was given to the many inj\gniticent
churches, and he visited the tomb of St.
Francis Xavier on the high festival day set
apart to his memory. The following page
from the Bishop's journal is worth pre-
serving :

"Old Goa, Convkyt of th« ArorsnrfKS, |
Thursday, Decembn M, \K\b. )

"Here, in the very building where Dr.
Buchanan, in ISOS, wrote those touching
memoranda about Goa, which tilled England
afterwards with indignation at the Inquisi-
tion, I am sitting, witli mixed feelings of
admiration, grief, and joy. I see some etiecta
of that eminent man's labors. A tew years
after he wrote, the Inquisition, by tho inter-
ference of England, was abolished; and in
1830 the entire building was levelled with

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 207

the ground. I have been walking over tlie
ruins, and it was with ditticultj I was pulled
up the mounds of overgrown fragments. I
looked round on the vast masses with wonder
at the mysteries of Providence in the wvv-
throw of this monstrous usurpation. The
dungeons. were inaccessible, and, indeed, the
long, lank, wild herbage springing up all
abi)ut, rendered the separate divisions of the
building indistinct. It seems to have been a
quadrangle, with an interior court und clois-
ters. It adjoined the cathedral and arclji-
episcopal j)alace, and is an emblem now, as I
hupe, of ihe fall of the kindred establish-
ments of an apostate church in Europe.

**Thi8 was, as Dr. Buchanan well expresses
it, the City of Churches. In 15UU there
were one hundred and litty thousand Chri.-
tians in comnmnion with the Church <.!'
liome. Now the number of communicants
in the cathedral and ditferent parish churches
is about two hundred. As the power of
Portugal sank before the Dutch in 1(J6U, and
was at length annihilated bv the British su-

208 LIFE OF BISHOP "WILSON.

premacy, Goa gradually lust its influence
It then became, and was discovered to be,
unhealthy. Thus it was deserted, and so
remains.

" I have been breakfasting in the cloisters,
on provisions brought by Archdeacon Carr,
of Bombay, who has joined ns, and Captain
Le Mesurer, who is appointed to command
our escort. On either side 1 liad a monk ;
one held ottice in the convent, and spoke a
little French. I told him how I admired St.
Austin, and liad read only a few days since
an abridgment of his ' Confessions.' I said,
' We Protestants believe in Jesus Christ as
St. Austin did, though you think we are
atheists. Ko ; we know we are sinners, and
we humbly trust in the merits and death of
the Son of God.' 'Je ne suis pas J6suite,
moi ; mais je suis Jesus, ^'on sum Jesuita;
sed ego sequor Jesum.' They assented."

On the otli of December the Bishop let\
Goa (having returned his best acknowledg-
ments for the kindness which had been ex-
tended to him), and jiaid a hasty visit to

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 209

the military station at Belgaum, where he
preached on the next day to a thousand Eu-
ropean troops, and o:i Monday confirmed and
administered the JJnly Coninmnion. Five
days more brought him to Bombay. Land-
iug early on Sunday morniug, he rode at
once to St. Thomas' church, and having
preached to a large congregation, he was
invited to make his home with his old friend,
Sir Eobert Grant, the -Governor. Sixteen
days were spent in Bombay, where all things
\vere found at peace. The usual sermons,
confirmations, school examinations, and com-
mittee meetings took place.

On the 23d of December the Bishop deliv-
ered a charge to the clergy, and then began
his i)reparations for a long journey through
the upper provinces of India. It was of
great importance to reach the IlimaUiya
Mountains, and obtain slielter there before
the hot weather set in; and this involved a
succession of one hundred marches, and a
distance of fifteen hundred miles, through
countries in many parts unsettled, and by no
18*

210 LITE OF BISHOP WILSON.

means safe. From the commissariat stores
of the government, elephants, camels, hack-
eries or country carts, and tents, with their
attendants, were furnished willingly ; but
each one of the party had to provide for
himself servants, bearers, palanquins, horses,
and all the many contrivances essential to
comfort, and indeed to health, upon a long
land journey in India. The camp was gra-
dually formed and sent forward, and soon
afterwards the Bishop took leave of his kind
friends at Bombay, and set out on his toil-
some way.

POOKAH AND KIKKEE — XEW YEAR's BLES3INQ READY

FOR MARCIIIXG IIOKSE AND FOOT — THE SEPOY GUARD

— ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS — TEMPERANCE LECTURE

ENTERS THE TERRITORIES OF THE NIZAM — A NICE
CHURCH, BUT ONE SELDOM USED — THE EFFECTS OF
PLAIN PREACHING, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES —
LAY-READING RECOM.MENDED — THE BISUOP OF MADRAS
SENDS A WARNING WHICH IS UNHEEDED — BRAVING
DANGERS — STANDING UP FOR THE ORDER OF THE
OHUBCn.

HE last day of the old year and the
lirst day of the new were passed by
Bishop Wilson at the great military
^i^i^"-. stations of Poonah and Kirkee.

He thus records his reflections
there :

" PooNAii, December 31, 1835.

"We arrived at this ancient seat of the
Mahratta Empire at Ave o'clock this morn-
ing. It is an immense cantonment. It has
been fearfully cold. At eight o'clock yester-
day morning, the thermometer was 54°. The
fine old Mahratta commander of the thirty

212 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

horsemen who form ray escort, and ride
peaceably beside my palanquin, was a cele-
brated officer under the Peiswah's govern-
ment, and fought most fiercely against the
English only eighteen years since. The
tremendous character of these Mali rat t as re-
mains, though they are subdued. My com-
mander came to be introduced to me this
morning, bedizened with gold. lie had a
dark, jutting countenance, eyes tierce and
prominent, mustaches black as jet, sword
sheathed by his side. This Poonah, with
Ahmedabad, was one of the scerR'S of the
acute negotiations of the Duke of Wellington
in 1803. Even at present, no Mahratta is al-
lowed to go to Bombay without special license.

"January 1. 183<i.

" A happy, happy new year to my dearest
family. A bishop's and a father's blesting
rest upon you all. Be encouraged in the
good ways of the Lord. Let us grow in
grace, and in the knowledge (which includes,
in inspired language, faith and love) of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let deep,

LIFE OF BISHOP ■WILSON. 213

unaffected, heartfelt humility before God,
silence, dread of human applause, a willing-
ness to be unknown, a sole reference to the
approbation of God the great final Judge, an
independence of the frown or flattery of the
religious world, be our constant aim. May
all this increase in us this new year, im-
mensely ditiicult as eacli part of it is."

On new year's day the Bishop preached
to five hundred soldiers at Kirkee, and on the
day following in the handsome church at
Poonah. A Confirmation closed his services
at tiiese important stations. By the 4th of
January all things were in readiness for the
march to Simlah, and the Bishop, accom-
panied by Archdeacon Carr, his chaplain,
captain, and doctor, began his patriarchal
lite. Two hundred and seventy persons
accompanied him, and formed a motley
group of all ranks and callings. First came
the soldiers, horse and foot, the former as a
guard of honor, but still calculated to render
good service ; the latter as a defence in a
district full of thieves.

214 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

The commander of the horsemen has been
already described. The men were in strict
accord with him— wild and undisciplined
Mahrattas, full of fire and pride. They
received British pay, but each wore his own
dress, provided his own horse, and chose his
own weapons. The dress was fanciful, and
composed of mingled colors of red, yellow,
blue, and white, with a small turban set
jauntily upon the head ; the horse was
active, but full of vice, and incapable of long
continued service ; the weapons consisted of
a long gun, a spear, several swords, and
pistols ad libitum. These troopers served to
carry messages and procure guides.

The Sepoys, on the other hand, guarded
the camp at night. Without such precau-
tion in this part of India, few could escape
being pillaged. A naked man, with hair
shaved close, and skin dark us the niglit,
would glide beneath the cords, cut an open-
ing in the canvass, and strip the tent. All
would be conveyed away so silently and
imperceptibly, that the inmates, however

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 215

numerous, would be unconscious of the
wrong till the morning light revealed it.
Nay, instances were common of the very
sheets of the bed being taken from under the
sleeper. A tickling feather sufficed, without
awaking, to cause a restless movement, and
this admitted of a pull. Then came a pause ;
after which the process is repeated again
and again, till the object was attained. And
if from any sudden cause tlie sleeper awaken-
ed, and discovering, attempted to seize the
thief, a greased body, and a sharp dagger
fixed outside the elbow, insured escape. A
party who came across the Bishop's route
aflbrded an illustration of all this. They
asked to be allowed to j)itch their tents close
to his guard of soldiers, for the better secu-
rity. They were willingly allowed to do so,
but in the morning there came a message to
beg for clothes, since husband, wife, child,
and nurse had been robbed of almost all.

But besides the troops thus needed for
honor and for safety, each individual of the
Bisliop's party was provided with a full set

216- LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

of bearers (for no delays were to be met with
in these parts) for carrying the pahanquin,
and running into stations for the Sundays;
whilst each hackery, elephant, camel, bul-
lock, and pony had one or more attendants,
with wives and families accompanying them.
Soon all things fell into order. Each person
in the encampment found his proper place,
and moved on, day by day, without friction.

Lens before dawn the summons to aj'ise
and depart was heard ; and if the sleeper
hesitated, the tapping of his teiit-pegs and
the collapse of the canvass covering presaged
a catastrophe. A cup of coffee was ready at
his call; his horse stood at the tent-door;
one after another joined the single file, fol-
lowing the troopers and the guide, and keep-
ing close together, lest from the high jungle
on either side a tiger should make his spring.
Five or six miles were thus slowly passed ;
and when the sun arose, the Bishop finished
the march of ten or twelve miles in his
palanquin, and the others on the gallop.

Arrived at the new encampment, a second

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOX. 217

set of tents, fac-similes of those just left, stood
pitched in the same external order as on the
day before ; whilst the proper occupant, on
entering, found his table, chair, book, writ-
ing-case, and pencil arranged precisely as
when sleep had closed his eyes on the pre-
vious night. All remained the same, but in
another scene, and under another sky. Some
hours after, the elephants, camels, and carts
came up, bringing the tents and baggage.
Then daily food was sought, followed by the
morning's quiet, the mid day meal, the even-
ing stroll.

In this style the Bishop made his visitation
through this part of India. Divine service
and a Confirmation were held at the station
called Ahniednuiz:icur, where the breach is
still seen which Wolliiigtou's great guns
made in its strong walls. He also delivered
a powerful appeal in behalf of temperance,
as the evils of hard-drinking had been seri-
ously felt.

The Bishop now entered the territories of

the Nizam, and was escorted to the famous
19

218 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

town called Aurungabad, not far off from
which was the encampment of English
troops. Although tlie number of Europeans
did not exceed thirty, there was a neat
church and burial-ground — but, alas! no
chaplain, nor any attempt at religious wor-
ship. Besides preaching and administering
the Lord's Supper, the Bishop baptized a
number of native children, whose parents
sought this blessing for them.

To show the eftect of plain preaching upon
the minds of those who had long lived in the
neglect of Christian duties, it is said that
some were quite alarmed at hearing idolatry
denounced, lest the Nizam should be oflended
at it. The old Colonel commandant had no
such fears, but not having attended service
before for twenty years, he made up his mind
that the sermon was all meant for him, and
was so enraged that he would not even sav
good-bye to the Bishoj».

Another officer in authority, but of a dif-
ferent cast of mind, expressed the utmost
astonishment. " I came out," he said, " as a

LIFE OF UISHOP WILSON. 219

boy of fifteen. I have been many years in
India, and have been tossed hither and
thither. I have been stationed here some
years, and have not heard a sermon preached.
I never heard such words delivered witli
such power. I had no idea in my mind of
such manly eloquence. I cannot express my
feelings."

Before leaving Aurungabad, the Bishop
exhorted the residents to assemble every
Sunday, and let one of their number read
the Church service and a printed sermon,
until some better arrangement could be
made.

When the Presidency of Bombay was
changed for that of Bengal, Archdeacon
Carr returned, and another captain took
charge of the escort. Ilere the Bishop re-
ceived a letter, to which he thus refers :

"The Bishop of Madras has sent me an
earnest entreaty to return to Calcutta by sea
from Bombay, and not venture the journey
to Delhi and the hills. But by this I lose
all the advantage of the last three months.

220 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON".

I turn back upon my steps before any ade-
quate cause appears, I leave the Upper
Provinces to be visited some other time with
increased risk and inconvenience. All here,
however, witli whom I consult, so fully agree,
that I am quite a^ ease in foro conscienticB^
and have resolved to go on, whatever Provi-
dence may appoint for me. I am with
God."

Braving the dangers of an unsettled coun-
try and of deadly disease, the apostolic man
pushed onward, only halting for rest, and for
the performance of his sacred duties at the
stations which he passed. We need not fol-
low him, step by step. Everywhere he en-
deavored to raise the tone of morality and
religion, and to preserve the orderly an-ange-
ments of the Church. At a distant station,
where he found the chaplain about to read
prayers for a Presbyterian minister, who had
announced his arrival and expressed a will-
ingness to preach, the Bishop put a stop to
the irregular proceedings. It was nor, in
this case, the result of an advanced liberality,

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 221

but sprang from ignorance on the part of the
chaplain, and an inability to say "No."
This was not an isolated instance ; and the
recurrence of it was checked by a general
circular to the clergy.

19*

C^a^tcr f cljfntctntli.

JTEPOOR— JOURNEY TO DELHI — MOSQTTES AXD PALACES
— HOLT WEEK AT MEERUT — FOCR THOrSAXD CriRIS-
TIANS — A WELL-SPENT WEEK — CONFIRMATION — VISIT-
ING THE SICK — SUDD'JN ILLNESS — HIMALAYA MOUNT-
AINS — MUSSOOREH — BUILDING A CHURCH DEO ORATIA8

PERILOUS JOURNEY— ARRIVAL AT SIMLAH — FOUR

months' COMPARATIVE REST — i'UEPARING A VOLUMB
OF SERMONS FOR THE PRESS.

AVING performed Divine service
and preached several times at Jye-
poor, Bishop Wilson reached Delhi
on the 26th of March. "After a
journey," lie writes, "of eighty-nine
days, of. which fifty-one were, in
part, spent at the different stations, and
thirty-eight wholly in travelling, I came this
morning within sight of the domes and min-
arets of Delhi. The distant view vorv nnirh
resembled that of Oxford from the Banbury
road. A near approach, however, dissipated
the delusion, as it displayed the h.fty citv
walls, in excellent repair, stretching as far an

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. -2'2o

the eye could reach. We entered tlie fortifi-
cations at about seven o'clock, after fifteen
hours' dak ; and most imposing was the
grandeur of the mosques, palaces, and man-
sions of the ancient monarchy of the world.
The red stone of which many of the build-
ings are constructed is very beautiful. The
wide streets, the ample bazaars, the shops,
with every kind of elegant wares; the ])ro-
digious elephants, used for all purjjoses ; the
numerous native carriages, M'ith noble oxen ;
the children bedizened with finery ; the vast
elevation of the mosques, fountains, and
caravanserais for travellers; the canals full
of running water raised in the midst of the
streets, all gave me an impression of the
magnificence of a city which was once
twenty miles square, and counted two njil-
lions of inhabitants. May God bless the
hundred and thirty Christians, out of the
hundred and thirty thousand Hindoos and
Mohammedans now constituting the popula-
tion."

As the Bishop proposed to make a longer

224 LIFK OF BISHOP WILSON.

lialt at Delhi on his retuni, he only spent the
Sunday before Easter there, at this time, and
then jni.xhed on to Meerut, where Holy Wt-ck
Nvas to be j>a6sed. Here, a noble chiircl.,
eapable of holding two thousand persons,
had been consecrated by Bishop Ileber, in
l>>i'-i. Several fine regiments of English sol-
diers, besides a large body of native troops,
were stationed at ^[oerut, the number of
Christians in the jdace being four thuu>an(l.

Each day of Holy AVeek the church* was
opened for morning j)rayers, each day the
l3i^hoJ) e.\i)0unde(l the (iospel with imikIi
tendernesij, and eacli <luy more than two
hundred persons assembled to receive the
word at his mouth. On Good Eriday and
Ea-ttr Day the whole body of the military
thronged the spacious church. Such a sight
called forth all the Bishoj)'6 })Owers. 'lo ar-
rive in time, he had far (»utstripped the
camp, and his sermons w ere all k-ft behind ;
but he made fresh ones on each occasit)n,
more suitable, perhaps, because written un-
der j>resent impressions.

LIFK OF BISHOP WILSON. 225

Meerut was full of sickness and full of
sad hearts, and deep sympathy had been
aroused for one of the chaplains into whose
house death had again and again entered.
As three dear children were in quick succes-
sion carried to their burial, the hearts of all
were moved, and prepared to receive the
word when the Bishop, on Easter Day, ad-
dressed his crowded audience from 1 Thess.
iv. 13, 14, and spoke of the " child of sorrow
consoled by the fact, the benefits, and the
prospects of the resurrection." It Mas hard
to decide whicli was the more affecting sight
— that witnessed when linndreds were melted
into tears in the great congregation under the
power of his appeals, or that when, the pub-
lic service ended, lie went into tlie house of
mourning, and read his sermon once again
to the bereaved and weeping mother.

The number presented for Confirmation
on Easter Eve had been one hundred and
twenty-two; the number of communicants
on Easter Day was one hundred and twenty.
The evening services, though voluntary as it

226 LITE OF BISHOP WILSON.

respected the attendance of the troope, and
though the Bishop did not preach, were
largely attended; and on Easter Monday
and Tuesday the interest continued unabated.

On Wednesday the Bishop preached in a
pretty missionary chapel, built by the Begum
Sumroo, and under the charge of a catecliist
named Richards. On this occasion, seventy
natives were baptized and contirnied.

On Thursday Divine service was celebrated
on occasion of the consecration of a new
burial-ground; and on Friday one hundred
sick soldiers were visited in hospital, ad-
dressed tenderly, and prayed for. The fine
schools of the Dragoons and l>utis were also
examined.

On Saturday two hours were sj)ent amongst
the native Christians, and two hours more in
earnest and anxious conference with the
chaplains, the mind of one having been long
harassed with conscientious scruples on vari-
ous Church questions.

On Sunday the Bishop preached twice,
with his usual energy, but at length he was

LITE OF BISHOP "SVTLSON. 227

taken dangerously sick. Fortunately, a skil-
ful physician was at hand, and he soon re-
covered and pressed onward. On the 16th
of April, 1836, he was at the foot of the
Himalaya Mountains, the very day arranged
for his arrival there, nine months before ; so
wonderfully had a gracious Providence or-
dered all his goings.

Ilis lirst stopping-place, in the ascent, was
Mussooree, where was neither chaplain nor
church. He preached at Landour, the sana-
tarium for sick soldiers, and announced to
the crowded congregation that he intended
to build a church for them, at the same time
calling a public meeting to make the neces-
sary arrangements. He thus speaks of the
gratifying result :

" Mussooree, Tuesday, April 26, 1836, 6.30 a.m.

"Yery chilly morning; thermometer 44
degrees; driven in from my walk by the
wintry cold. Yesterday also was cold, with
a cloudy sky and rain. My poor torrified
frame, accustomed for four years to excessive
heat, is shrivelled up with this English Janu-

228 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

ary weather. But what a blessing such hills
are! There were twelve new houses built
last season (April to October), and there will
be more this. Kor are we without hopes of
an Enfflish-like country cliurch being built.
I was sitting, about eleven o'clock, with two
or three gentlemen who had called, amongst
whom was Captain Blair, just returned,
along the hills from Simlah, when the two
leading persons at ^leerut, Hamilton and
Hutchinson, came to talk with me al>out the
church of which I gave notice on Sunday.
We soon warmed. Plans, sites, architects,
means of supply were arranged in about
two hours. I promised one thousand rupees
from the Church-building Fund, tw«> hundred
rupees from the Christian Knowledge Soci-
ety, and two hundred rni»ees myself. Three
gentlemen each subscribed two hundred and
one hundred. We ordered our ponies and
johnpons (commonly so called, but properly
char-palkee — a four-legged chair, carried on
two poles by two or more men, and usual on
the hills) on the instant, to go and see the

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 229

three or four places pronounced eligible for
sites. The heavens were cloudy, and no sun
to di'cad. "We were on the grounds from two
to four o'clock, and selected the best spot.
Before night Mr. Bateman, my chaplain, had
sketched an elevation for a church, lifty feet
by twenty-live, to hold two hundred people;
and I had finished mv letter to Mr. AVhitinxr,
the owner of the land. On ]\Ionday we hope
to be ready fur the jmblic meeting. My
church-building experience at home comes
in, and enables me to speak with decision.
Deo y rat las.

"May 4th. We shall have a chureh hero
presently. The beautiful [)lan Mas entirely
approved by the committee here on Monday,
as well as by a scientific oflicer at Saharun-
pore, to whom it was submitted. The esti-
mate is three thousand two hundred rupees ;
and the subscriptions already raised amount
to three thousand three hundred rupees. A
little hesitation remains about the exact site,
because the habitations ramble over a space
of four or five miles ; but we have two in
20

230 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

view, and I hope, before we leave, on May
16th, to lay the iirst stone,

"May lO.h. God he thanked! I have
just returned from measuring out the site
for our new cliurch, to be called Christ
Church, which Mr. Proby has given us out
of his own garden, about une hundred feet
by sixty. This will be the Iirst churcli built
in India after the pattern of an English j)ar-
ish cliurch. It will stand on a njountain like
Zion, ' beautiful for situation.' The tower is
eighteen feet square and thirty-five feet high ;
the body of the church is fifty-five by twenty-
three.

"Monday, May 16th. On Saturday we
laid the foundation-stone of Christ Church,
Mussooree. The whole Christian population
poured out — I suppose four or five hundred
persons. The scene on the gently sloping
side of the hill was exquisite, and the entire
ground aroimd the circuit of the foundations
was crowded. The Himalaya Mountains
never witnessed such a sigiit. I began with
some prayers from the service for consecrat-

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOJS^. 231

ing churclies, slightly varied. Then luy
chaplain read Psalm Ixxxvii. Mr. Proby
read Haggai 1st, and the whole assembly
sang the hundredth psalm. I made a short
address. The senior civilian, Mr. Hutchin-
son, next read the deed of gift. Colonel
Young, political agent (the king, in fact, of
the Dhoon), read a copy of the inscription.
All was now ready, and I descended into the
deep cavity in the mountain, and laid the
stone in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost. The Lord's Prayer
and Benediction closed the service. As we
were departing, the band of the Ghoorka
regiment struck . up the national anthem,
which, echoing and re-echoing amongst the
mountains, was the finest thing I ever heard.
Afterwards I entertained the committee at
dinner. We sat down, twenty-one, in camp
fashion, each one sending his own chair,
knives, forks, plates, and spoons. God be
mao-nified ! The whole celebration was
unic^ue. It will be the first church raised
amidst the eternal snows of Upper India,

232 LIFE OF BISHOP WIIJSON.

and all planned, executed, and money raised
in a single month. Xine months will tin-
ish it."

Tlie journey between Mussooree and Sim-
lah was full of hai-d^hips and perils, but it
was safely accomplished, and on the 3d of
June, at an elevation of seven thousand two
hundred feet above the level of the sea, the
Bishop makes this record :

"We arrived here this morning, attcr a
march of four hours. Judge of my dflight,
■when a packet of seventy-one letters and
papers was placed on my table; and this in
addition to forty-three sent out to me on the
preceding day. But I am -too mucli fatigued
to enter on them. My spirits also are over-
whelmed. The impression, on a first reading,
is thankfulness to the God and Father of all
grace for His goodness to the most unworthy
of His creatures.

"Saturday, June 4th. A calm, delightful
repose of eight honrs, in our nice bungalow ;
perfect quiet ; no jabbering tongues of three
or four hundred natives, at half-past two

LIIK (>!•' li!^iE^O^ WILSOX. 233

o'clock in the morning; no bugle sounding
at four o'clock ; no exliausting march of
three or four hours. AVhen our camp from
below has come up with my books, papers,
and implements of l)usiness, I hope to
sit down for four months' diligent work in
this charming climate. But one hundred
and fourteen letters rather overwhelm me.
1 have been at present only able to take
them, like Hezekiah, and spread them before
the Lord. I have twice done so — expanded
them on mj desk, turned them over, and
prayed for each individual who has written
them, especially for the sixty-six brethren
assembled in Islington, who signed the letter
of January 5th.

" First Sunday after Trinity — June 5th.
Blessed be this holv morn ! All calm, all
inspiring peace and gratitude. I am sitting,
at six o'clock in the morning, in my roonj,
with its windows open all around, and the
sun just making its way over the eastei-n
hills. There is not a sound to interrupt the
moments of communion with the Author
20*

234 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

and Preserver of my blessings. But some-
thing more is wanting than external repose
and opportunities — even Thy Grace, hUss-
cd Saviour /—or the suul cleaves to the dust
still, nor rises ever towards Thyself. Quick-
en Thou me according to Thy word ! Three
of our party are likely to be conliucd from
church from over-fatigue npou the march,
and sleeping for nine days in damp tenths.
They have smart fevers. I owe my own ex-
emption, under God, to the better tents pro-
vided for me, and the less fatigue I underwent.

" But I must break off. 1 have no books,
no robes, no sermons, and am waiting for
their coming up before the time for service."

The Bishop remained at Sindah four
mouths, the quiet being n)ost grateful to
liim after a period of con^^tant labor.

There being no clergyman at the station,
lie celebrated Divine service twice every Sun-
day, assisted by his chaplain, his leisure houre
during the week being occupied in preparing
a volume of sermons for the press, to gratify
the oft-repeated application of his friends.

(LbapUv dEightcciitJT.

AGAIX ON THE MARCH — TRAXSITIOX FKOM COOL TO HOT

TAKES BOAT AT IJOOPUR XO VAIN BOAST THE

WATCH-HOCSE OF LAHORE — JOURNEY TO KURNAUL

FIRST ORDINATION OF A BRAHMIN CONVERT — ROMAN
CATHOLIC PRIESTS SENT FOR IN HASTE — ARRIVAL AT
DELHI— COLONEL SKIXNEr's NOBLE VOW— CONSECRA-
TION OF ST. JAMEs' CHCRCII- IMPRESSIVE SCENE —
AGRA — TRYING WHEEL-CARRIAGES — CONDITION OF
ROADS — NEW YEAR AT BAREILLY — SOWING IX TEARS,
AND REAPING IN JOY — FITTYGHCR — CAWNPORE —

DIFFICULTIES SETTLED— EXTENSIVE CHARITIES FUT-

TEHPORE I'lLGHIM-TAX ABOLITION OF AN EVIL

PRACTICE — DEATH OF BISHOP CORRIE — PASSAGE TO
CALCUTTA — THANKSGIVING.

/f^ X the 10th of October, 1836, Bishop
"Wilson once more began Iiis march.
The change from the cool, bracing,
mountain air to the sultry climate of
the plains was very great, but there
was no alternative. Two days' travel
brought him to Roopur, on the river Sutlej,
where huge boats were in readiness to bear
the party onward.

236 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

"While gliding down the stream, tlic Bishop
was uj^on the deck, and, looking towards the
territory of the Punjab, then scarcely known,
exclaimed aloud, '* I take possession of this
land in the name of my Lurd and blaster,
Jesus Christ." The prosperous condition of
missions in that region now, shows that it
was no vain boast.

Landing at Lodianal (whicii wjis then the
watch-house for Lahore, and tlie frontier sta-
tion on the English side of the livcri, he
found about one iiundred Christians residing
there, for whose benefit ho at once made ar-
ranirements for the erection of a dnirch.
The usual sservices were held, Confirmation
and the Holy Communion administered, and
a lay-reader appointed.

Passing tlirough Sirhind and Kajjxiorah,
the Bishop othciated at Umballah, and came
next to Kurnaul, an important station, with
a large church. Two Sundays were given to
this place, a great impression being made by
the services. More than a hundred soldiera
were confirmed. An ordination was also

LIFE OF BISnOP WILSON. 237

held — Anund Musseeh, a Brahmin convert
of fifreen years' standing, being admitted to
deacon's orders. There seemed but one ob-
jection to this — the fact that Anund Mus-
seeh's wife remained a heathen, and, by the
wise rule of the,«primitive Church, no candi-
date could be admitted to the ministry unless
his whole family had become Christians.
Bishop AVilson ho|)ed for the best. It was
the first na:ive he had ordained, and, indeed,
the first Brahmin ever admitted to holy or-
ders in the English Church. The new deacon
was ajjpointed to labor at Kurnaul, under
the direction of the chaplain. Among the
multitudes that had ai tended ujion the Bish-
op's nlini^trati<lns was a number of Roman
Catholics, who afterwards called to thank
him for his sermons. Some of the more
zeahuis had become so alarmed, that they
sent in haste to Calcutta for a priest, " to
stay the plague."'

The nuxich was resumed on the 14th of
November, and four days afterwards the
company reached Delhi. Here the Bishop

238 LITE OF BISnOP WILSON.

was to consecrate a church, which had been
built at the sole expense of Colonel Skinner
— quite a celebrity in his way. Brought up
in the camp from his earliest years, he had
seen much hard service, and on enterinjr
Delhi, with a conquering army, he made a
vow, while gazing t)n its countless domes
and minarets, that if he ever possessed the
means, he would there erect a temple to the
only true God. Twenty years passed by, but
he did not forget his vow ; and when the
government offered to aid him in his work,
he nobly insisted on doing it all him.<elf.
And now he stood before the Bisho]), a tall,
Btout, dark man of fifty-six, clad in a military
dress of blue, silver, and steel, with a he-avy
helmet on his head, a broadsword at his side,
and a red ribbon on his breast — to sav that
the church was finished, and to beg that it
might be consecrated. Jlis sons were Chris-
tians, as he was, but his wife remained a
Mohammedan, though, as he said with tears,
" a better wife, for more than thirty years, no
man ever had."

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 239

The Bishop instantly drove with him down
to the church. It was a beautiful Grecian
building, in the form of a cross, with hand-
some porticoes at each extremity, three of
them forming entrances with flights of steps,
the fourth closed in and appropriated for
the chancel. The body of the building was
circular, and surmounted by an ornamented
dome, cupola, and cross. The flooring was
marble, and a temporary desk and. pulpit
served for the present occasion. The whole
effect was very chaste and beautiful. The
Bishop was delighted, and, mindful of the
founder, called it St. James, and lixed ^o-
vember 22d for the consecration.

On that day a large congregation assem-
bled, and a very striking and impressive
sermon, going a good deal into detail, was
preached.

After the consecration, the whole European
society of Delhi met at Colonel Skinner's
hospitable abode, and expressed their deep
gratitude to him. They also requested the
publication of the Bishop's sermon as com-

240 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

memorative of the day. A most kindly feel-
ing pervaded every mind.

A Coniirmation followed, and the Colonel,
with his three sons, knelt at the altar to
dedicate himself, as he had previously dedi-
cated his church, to tlie service of God. The
scene was very impressive, and the Bishop's
address moved all to tears. At the con-
clusion, the Colonel himself attempted to
express his acknowledgments, hut words
failed, and he wept silently, whilst the
Bishop prayed that the kindness shown to
the house of his God might be returned
sevenfold into his own bosom.

After a visit of ceremony to the old King
of Delhi, and the transactiou of much im-
portant business, the Bishop proceeded to
Agra, where Sir Charles Metcalfe was now
the permanent Governor. Three weeks were
spent here — a churcli consecrated, a soldiers'
chapel licensed, frequent services held, and
much good accomplished.

By this time the Bishop had become very
weary of the monotony of camp life, and the

LTFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 241

disturbed nights in his palanquin, and on
leaving Agra he resorted to wheeled car-
riages and relays of horses, by which he out-
stripped the slower movements of his large
company. The roads were dreadful, and
Bishop Heber, who had passed over the
same route, compares them to a farm-j'ard
first trodden into deep holes, and then frozen
hard ; and says, that " though a buggy can
go over them, since it can go anywhere, yet
they were never meant for buggies nor bug-
gies for them."

Stopping for service at Allyghur, he trav-
ersed eighty miles more, and came to Ba-
reilly, where the year 1837 dawned upon
him. The attempt to build a church at this
place was violently opposed by the officer in
command, who insisted that the Government
ought to do all this, and he argued the ques-
tion at his own table, in the presence of his
invited guests. The Bishop was taken so
completely by surprise, that he burst into
tears and attempted no reply. God took

care of His own cause, and the party had no
21

242 LIFE OF msiior wir.sox.

sooner left the dining-room tlian a subscrip-
tion was opened, and a handsome sum put
down. Christ Clmrch, Bareilly, was, in due
time, erected.

Another rapid journey of forty-eight miles,
through Furreedpore and Futteligunge- to
Jellahibad, on January 5th, f( (Mowed by
another of equal distance, varied by a pas-
sage across the mighty Ganges on January
6th, brought the Bishop safely to Futtyghur,
where he foimd an excellent chajilain, a good
church, and all things in order. Much
pleasant intercourse toc>k place here witli
friends, wlio were gradually passing down
the country from Sinihili ; ihe germes of mis-
sionary work were watched and encouraged ;
the church and burial-grounds were conse-
crated ; Divine services wei e performeti ; the
Holy Sacrament and Confirmation admin-
istered ; an^ tlion tlie l'i>ln)p rejoined the
camp for a few days' quiet march. The
sportsmen went out and provided the table
with wild geese, as on the other side of India
it had been provided with peacocks.

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 243

On January 14th the Bishop entered the
large station of Cawnpore, and rested in the
cliaphiin'.s iioiise. He seemed himself to be
no worse for the efforts he had made, but all
his company suffered greatly, and over some
of them the shadow of death for a time had
passed. It requires a certain knowledge of
India to understand the effect of these forced
marches, hurried journeys, and constant ex-
posure.

Cawnpore covered an extent of seven miles,
and contained three thousand Christian inhab-
itants, although it had no church building.
The state of society was by no means favor-
able to true religion, and unpleasant dis-
agreements had taken place between the
commanding officer and one of the two resi-
dent chaplains. We can not go into details,
and can only speak of results. The Bishop
went to the bottom of the difficulties and
decided the several disturbing questions with
his usual promptness. Before his visit was
ended, he had preached several times, con-
firmed, visited schools and hospitals, con-

244 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

secrated four burial-grounds, held an ordina-
tion, and laid the corner-stones of two
churches — towards the erection of which he
gave two thousand rupees out of his own
purse. His charities were scattered broad-
cast over India, and he delighted in nothing
more than in helping torward God's great
work in that heathen land.

Leaving Cawnpore on tlic Gth of February,
he officiated on Ash-"\Vcdnesday at Futteh-
poor, and on the 11th inst. was welcomed at
Allahabad, by the Rev. Henry Pratt, the
chaplain. The grand annual fair was about
to close, and immense crowds of ]»ilgrims
were paying their tax of one rupee each.
The Bishop stood for a long time in the
strongly barricaded office, where, by a Chris-
tian hand, this tax was taken and a corre-
sponding ticket issued, admitting the bearer
to tlie margin of the sacred stream. Upon
the production of the ticket another Chris-
tian hand stamped a red signet on the de-
votee's right arm, whicli authorized him to
bathe, and realize its supposed beatitudes.

LITE OF BISHOP WILSON. 245

The Bishop looked upon tlie frenzied mul-
titude, the hideous assemblage of idols, the
town of straw huts raised on the river
banks, the countless flags indicating Brah-
niinical establis' iiients, and the pilgrim, now
shaved, bathed, marked, and jjcnniless, retir-
ing from the scene with a little vessel of the
sacred water to be carried liome — if, indeed,
he ever reached his home.

In the contemplation of all this, he says
that " he was never so affected since, two
years before, he had stood at Juggernaut."

He soon, however, roused himself to etibrt.
He first sought out the despatch of the Home
Government in February, 1S33, absolutely
prohibiting the collection of the tax. He
then obtained one of the tickets which was
really issued, and is still preserved, num-
bered 76,902, and bearing a stamp and an
inscription in Sanscrit, Persian, and English,
for the admission of one Jattree, or pilgrim,
to the stream. He gathered up all the
statistics also, casting the balance between
profits and loss, and inquiring from the best
21*

246 LITE OF BISHOP WILSON.

authorities the probable expenditure of hu-
man life. And upon all this, as a founda-
tion, he raised the superstructure of a strong
personal appeal to the Governor-General.

He wrote, moreover, to th6 Society for
Promoting Christian Knowledge; and his
strong statements obtained immediaie pub-
licity, and the widest circulation in England
and India. Private letters were also written
to Fowell Buxton, the Pev. F. Cunning-
ham, and other influential and philanthropic
friends ; and thus he did his part to overthrow
the evil wliich had been so long and so ably
denounced by others. How far his repre-
sentations may have been eft'ectual in India
does not appear. But before the year was
ended, the tax was abolished.

The station at Allahabad was very hand-
some, the situation agreeable, the class of
residents superior. A cliurcli was rising
effectually, though amidst some strife and
dissension. A long stay was not required.
The usual services were rendered on the one
hand and fully appreciated on the other ;

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 247

and then the Bishop took his passage in the
steamer, and dropped down the river on his
way to Calcutta. Two dajs afrerwards lie
heard of the deaili of Bishop Corrie, of
Madras.

"How can I describe my feelings?" he
says. "I have this morning heard of the
sickness and death of my honored and be-
loved brother, Bishop Corrie. Oh, what will
become of India! Here I am again left
alone, with three dioceses on my single hands.
Dearest, dear Corrie ! Only one year and a
quarter in his diocese! It was on the 6th
of February that the lamented event took
place. Blessed man I he has entered into
rest. Never was there a more exalted, meek,
consistent Christian. No one — not even
Bishop Ileher — has filled a more important
station in the general propagation of the
Gospel in India. All Hindoostan loved him.
He inspired universal confidence. There
was a gentleness of chai-acter, a quietness of
spirit, and a boldness in the profession of
Christ, which are rarely combined. Well, it

248 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

is the Lord. His ways are in the deep, and
His judgments past finding out. He can
raise up instruments at His pleasure. May
he be graciously present witli his widowed
Church."

Mirzapoor and Chunar, the scene of Bishop
Corrie's earlier labors, were next visited.
Four days were given to the wonders of
Benares and the interesting labors of the
Church missionaries.

Ghazecpore, Buxar, Dinapore, Monghir,
Bhaugulpore, and liampore Bcauleah were
successively touched at. " Of all these
scenes," the Bishop says, " Hebcr's descrip-
tion is perfect and most lively. He was
then new to tiiem. They met him early.
We come to them with minds satiated with
sights, and bodies exhausted with heat."

On the 13th of Maivh tlie Bishop reached
home, having spent two years and a lialt" In
his visitation. "I cannot enter upon any
one duty, this first morning aftei- njy arrival
in Calcutta," he writes, "without humbly
ofifering my praises to the great Giver of all

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOK- 249

o-ood for the preservation vouchsafed to His
unworthy servant. Thirteen thousand five
hundred miles have been traversed, and the
whole diocese of India visited, though not in
all parts ; and now I return in safety and, I
can thankfully add, in perfect health. I feel,
in truth, far better this morning than when
last 1 left Calcutta. Oh, for internal, spirit-
ual, ecclesiastical, domestic, personal peace
in Christ Jesus, amidst the changes and
trials which I must, and do, and ought to
expect."

Chapter ^incttcntlj.

HOME WORK ONCE MOEE — FCNERAL SERMOX FOR BISII01:»
CORRIE — A FEW WEEiIS WELL FILLED UP — SHORT MIS-
SIONARY TOUR — CITY OF KRISHNA — THE FAITHFUL

WEITBRECHT SCRIPTURAL NAMES AN ELEPHANT

TEACHING A LESSON OF PATIENCE LOSS OF FRIENDS

THE BEGINNING OF 1838 PREDICTION COXCEKXINO

THE " OXFORD SCHOOL" OF THEOLOGY — SERMON BY A
BRAHMIN CONVERT — IGNORANCE OF DECORUM — RE-
FLECTIONS ON EASTER DAY — ENTERING UPON HIS
SIXTY-FIRST YEAR.

f^\ OME work began once more. The
Mj) usual Lent services were going on
^ at Calcutta, and Bishop Wilson
'^i^ availed himself of one of tliese oc-
casions to deliver a iuneral sermon
for good Bishop Corrie. " All India
mourns," was its opening sentence. " We
have lost one of the gentlest, meekest, most
exalted Christians that our Church has ever
known. We have been deprived, for the
fifth time, of a chief pastor of our flocks,
after a brief, though most honorable and use-

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 251

fill Episcopate. We have lost liim at the
very instant when his presence was required
for the solemn office of consecrating a brother
Bishop, and thus settling for the first time
our Anglican Apostolic Church in India,
with her appointed pastors.

An immense congregation filled the cathe-
dral, to sliow their respect for departed worth.
The Bishop delivered addresses in each of
the city chui'ches, confirmed five hundied
young persons, and held an ordination, be-
sides attending committee meetings of vari-
ous Churcli societies, visiting schools, and
performing other work

The summer proved to be extremely hot,
and Calcutta was one huge vapor-bath ; but
his labors did not stop. In July he made a
ishort missionary tour, to visit a few points
which had been passed over before-
Interesting letters describe what was done
at two of them.

'* KKISHNAGHtJK,130 MILES FEOM CALCUTTA,

Jidy 24, 1837.

"We arrived on Saturday at this bigoted

252 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOX.

centre of Hindoo idolatry— the city of Krish-
na. Two pious missionaries of tlie Church
Missionary Society have made a little begin-
ning. I have visited their schools, and
examined the children in the Gospels, sur-
rounded by hundreds of heathen spectators,
full of curiosity. The children are not Chris-
tians; but they replied to my questions with
a quickness and decision (juite delightful, so
that all the crowd iR-unl the word o\' the
Gospel. Besides the schools, the missionaries
have small chapels, where they confer daily
with the people and i)rcach. Sometimes two
or three hundred are collected. The ' lewd
people of the baser sort' at times disturb, but
none dare injure them. They have no adult
converts as yet. We are doing all we can
to encourage Christianity and help on this
blessed cause."'

'•BcRDWAr, AuffustGth, 1837.

"There is a little church here, very neat

and appropriate. Yesterday we spent four

or live hours at the mission-house, which is

about a mile from the town. I have e.xam-

LIFE OF BISHOP ANaLSON. 253

ined a hundred and fifty native scholars from
the villages around. Kothing could be more
deliglitful. Indeed, what I have seen of Mr.
and Mrs. Weitbrecht gives me the highest
iiiipiessiun of their talents, character, exalted
piety, excellent sense, and simplicity of heart.
I am charmed and edified.

" There is a little Christian village attached
to tlie premises, of about eighty souls. I
visited it. A neat row of cottages, raised a
little from the earth, gardens for each family
in front (Mr. Weitbrecht is gardener, archi-
tect, and every thing), a fine tank before the
gardens, three rooms in each cottage, a little
nice furniture, beds, tables, chairs, and writ-
ing-desk. A picture of Robert Hall adorned
one of the walls. The men and women came
out as we passed, and I asked, What is
this child's name? Theophilus. And this?
Abraham. And this? Sarah What are
your several occupations ? I am a carpenter.
I am a tailor. I am a Hurkaru.

"Thus the cleanliness, comfort, purity,
diligence, and honest employments of En-

254: LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

glish villages begin to appear. I do nof, of
course, speak too contideutly ; but if life is
spared, and, instead of six yeais, Mr. Weit-
brecht continues forty, there is nothing I
should not hope. I confirmed nine baptized
adults yesterday— all hopeful, and most of
them decided Christians.

"Tell my grandchildren that an elephant
here had a disease in his eyes. For three
days he had been completely blind. His
owner, an engineer officer, asked my dear
Dr. Webb if he could do anything to relieve
the poor animal. The doctor said he would
try nitrate of silver, which was a remedy
commonly applied to similar diseases in the
human eye. The huge animal was ordered
to lie down ; and at first, on the a[)i)lication
of the remedy, raised a most extraordinary
roar at the acute pain which it occasioned.
The efl:ect, however, was wonderful. Tiie
eye was, in a manner, restored, and the
animal could partially see. The next day,
when he was brought, and heard the doctor's
voice, he lay down of himself, placed his

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 255

enormous head on one side, curled up his
trunk, drew in his breath — just like a man
about to endure an operation — gave a sigh
of relief when it was over, and then, bj trunk
and gestures, evidently wished to express
his gratitude. What sagacity ! What a
lesson to us of patience !"

Soon after his return from this tour, the
Bishop lost two of his friends and associates,
Dr. Mill, the Principal of the College, and
his private chaplain, Mr. Bateman, both of
whom were obliged to go to England for the
benefit of their health. A third (Sir Benja-
min Malkin), no less dearly loved, was
stricken down by death. " I never had such
a blow (he writes) in ihe loss of a friend.
Thank God for his religious character ; liis
inward piety (which I doubt not far exceeded
wliat his modest and silent carriatre allowed
him to speak of) ; his constant attendance,
twice on the Sunday, at cliui-ch ; his delight
in religious conversation and family prayer.
Yes, I doubt not he is now in the presence
of his Redeemer, a glorified and happy

256 LIFE OF BISHOP ^^^LSOK.

spirit. But we are indeed left desolate.
Calcutta is desolate ; his family and circle of
friends are desolate ; the many religious and
benevolent institutions he nourished, are
bereaved of one of their purest, ablest, sweet-
est, and most valuable members. Oh, that
I may ' hear the rod, and who liath appoint-
ed it !' My daughter gone — my son and
chaplain gone — Dr. Mill gone — my most
intimate friend now gone ! Blessed Jesus ! be
Thou All to me — daughter, son, chaplain,
adviser, friend. Thou all-sutticient Saviour,
whose self-existence and intinitc fulness for
the suppl)' of those that trust in Thee are
declared in Thy name — • I am Th.\t I am' — be
Thon my refuge."

The beginning of 183s found the Bishoj)
at home, and rejoicing in some evidences
that his efforts for India were beginnini; to
bring forili fruit.

The caste question wa-^ <piiet, for a timi'
at least, and seventeen mi&sionaritti were oc-
cupying the field where lie had found but
two.

LITE OF BISHOP AVILSOX. 257

About this period, the Bishop examined
the writings of Mr. Newman, and others of
his school, lie writes : " Kewman's Pro-
phetical Distpiisitions are, as a whole, wrong
— grossly, glaringly, dangerously, incon-
sistently wrong. ' An enemy hath done this,'
may be written over the title of his volume,
AVa5 ever anything so impudent as the con-
demnation he passes on Hooker, Jewell, and
all the leaders of the Reformation, till he
comes down to Laud ! ' My soul, come not
tlinu into their secret; unto their assembly,
mine honor, be not thou united.' No; if
we cannot stand against the reproduction
of these school suldleties, we are unworthy
of the name of Protestants. If no one
brother will unite with me, I am ready to
l»rotest alone against this egregious, drivel-
ing Fatuity."

A few gleanings from Bishop "Wilson's
journal will furnish the most interesting
account of this period.

" Shalimar. Epiphany, January Gth,
1S3S. On Thnrsday evening I had the sin-

258 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

gular delight of hearing Krishna Mohun
Banerjea, my Brahmin convert, preach, for
the second time, in English, in the old
church. It is an extraordinary thing, surely,
that a Hindoo college student, only live or
six years ago rescued from the gulf of infi-
del metaphysical Pantheism, should not only
have embraced, but be able to expound and
teach, in a very competent manner, the
Christian religion. Ilis amazing extent of
English knowledge, his good style and
propriety of accent, augment tli(> surprise.
May God preserve liim steady, humble,
dilisrent. I tremble.

" Calcutta, Easter-Eve, April Uth. I
have just had three ofiicers of the fleet with
me, to beg me to patronize a i>l:iy to be got
up for the faniine fund. 'No, gentlemen,'
said I, ' that is impossible. You could not
wish me to undo all I have been doing my
whole life ;' and 1 bowed them out. "NVliat
a profound ignorance, even of decorum !

" Easter-Day. April 15th. May we rise
to greater newness of lite with our triumph-

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON, 259

ant Lord ! This is my sixth Easter in India.
Soon it will be said, 'His bishopric let
another take.' Oil, to end well ! I am
jealous over myself. (1) I would examine
my heart. (2) I would search into my
administration of this vast diocese. (3) I
would suspect myself, especially on two
l^oints — where the natural selfishness of man
blinds his judgment of his own actions — and
as to sj^iritual affections, where decays of
grace begin. Lord, raise me up with Christ.
" Calcutta, July 1st. I close to-day the
sixtieth, and enter, please God, to-morrow,
the sixty-first year of my age. My sermon
at the cathedral is from Gen. xxxv. 1, 3. I
am, as it were, about to go up with Jacob,
and build an altar to the God that appeared
to me in the day of my distress, and kept
me in the way which I went. How import-
ant are the denunciations of Scripture against
the world, worldliness, secularity, the name
to live when we are dead, leaving our first
love, being neither cold nor hot, under the
highest professions of knowledge and faith I

260

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

These are the dangers I feci, because they
creep insensibly on the unconscious heart,
and because public life now for forty years
has been wearing away the gloss and bloom
of internal piety, and rendering the revival
of them more difficult. Simplicity once
gone, how hard to restore I In this view I
look upon the trials sent me as memorials of
mercy, warnings, voices, compensating dis-
pensations, needful medicines for the soul,
the chastisements of a heavenly Father."

apttr flucntittl).

ANOTHER CHARGE TO THE CLERGY — " THE TRACTS FOR
THE times'' — SETTING OUT ON A SECOND VISITATION
— REMARKABLE ANSWER TO PRATER — A NEW FRIEND

GRIEF FOR THE DEATH OF SIR BENJAMIN MALKIN —

STATE OF CHURCH AFFAIRS AT MALACCA — GOD's UN-
SEARCHABLE JUDGMENTS — SINGAPORE — A WHOLE COM-
MUNITY "COMING round" CHITTAGONG SIR WILLIAM

JONES AERIVAL OF A NEW CHAPLAIN — THE BISHOP

EESUMES HIS OLD COLLEGE DUTIES — COURSE OF LENT
LECTURES — PLANS FOR BUILDING A NEW CATHEDRAL
"my LORD, IT IS ALL YOURS" LAYING THE COR-
NER-STONE — THE GREAT WORK BEGUN.

j^^X the Oth of July, 1S3S, Bishop Wil-
son delivered a ciiarge to the assem-
^\2J^■ hied clergj in Calcutta. Besides
y^^ giving a full account of his visita-
tion, and the general condition of
mir^sions in India, the charge con-
tained his solemn protest against all doctrines
and practices tending to undo the work
which cost Cranmer and his fellow-sufferers
their lives. The Bishop embarked immedi-
ately afterwards, with his good friend Cap-

262 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

tain Clark, of the brig Ilattrass, and set out
on his second visitation.

On 'the 26th of August he thus records
God's merciful providence towards them :

"I have been returning grateful tlianks to
our Redeemer for Ilis answer to our prayers
on Friday last. On that morning I com-
mended our ship to the Divine mercy, en-
treating favorable winds, and bciririnir that
the judgment of the captain might be guided
what to do ; for our stores were falling short,
and it seemed almost necessary to return
upon our track, tlie wind was so directly and
obstinately adverse. Not an hour had passed
afterwards, when the wind changed, we ran
by the island of Junk Ceylon, and, instead
of putting back, we have been going on
steadily for two days. Surely a more re-
markable, and, as it were, tangible answer
to prayer has seldom occurred to me in the
whole course of my life. Accordiu'Hv I
have composed and delivered a sermon to-
day on Ps. cxvi. 1, 2, subject, ' Affectionate
gratitude to God the dutv of those who have

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 263

been delivered in answer to prayer,' The
divisions were— First : A state of distress
supposed. Second: Deliverance in answer
to prayer commemorated. Third: Resolu-
tions of grateful love. Application : The
happiness of religion, which works chiefly
by gratitude to God, the fountain of good.
The misery of sin, whicli consists of ingrati-
tude and neglect of God, the only source of

joy."

Having followed the Bishop so closely in
his first visitation, it will be needless for us
to do this now. AVc 'f>lnill only refer to the
most interesting incidents. At Penang, he
found in the Jiew Recorder, Sir William
]!^orris, an excellent friend; but (he loss of
Sir Benjamin Mulkin weighed heavily upon
his spirits. The Hatirass carried down to
the island the first jiews of liis death, and the
grief was universal. In the charge recently
delivered in Calcutta, the Bishop had publicly
borne testimony to his worth; and he at-
tempted to read the extract when addressing
the congregation on the first Sunday morn-

264- LIFE OF BISHOP 'WILSON.

ins. But the whole audience were in tears,
and his own feelings were so overpowered
that lie was obliged to call the Archdeacon
np into the pulpit to finish the quotation.

At Malacca he found the Dutch church,
which had been resigned to him, fitted up
with all suitable conveniences. A reading-
desk was provided, the pulpit was removed,
the communion-table inclosed, a vestry built,
and new pews erected, so as to iiiciease the
accommodation. Porch and belfry were also
added, and every thing prepared for him.

Moreover, another of the missionaries con-
nected with the Chinese College and the
London Missionary Society, a !Mr. Evans,
applied to him for admission into holy orders.
The decision in his case was j>ostjx)ned, as it
had been in the case of Mr. Hughes, till the
Society had been communicated with, and
had bidden him " God-speed." P>om that
quarter there w;is no difficulty. But it is sad
to record that, when all hinderanceci were
removed, and the way made plain for the
reception of these two excellent men, and

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 265'

the fulfilment of their conscientious desires,
lliey both died of cholera within a very short
period of each other. The Eishoji refers to
this melancholy bereavement on January 9tli,

1841:

" Conceive my distress at receiving a letter
from the Governor of Singapore, dated De-
cember 7th, conveying the melancholy ac-
count of the death of both Mr. Hughes and
Mr. Evans by cholera — the first on November
25th, the second, after interring his friend,
on Xovember 2Sth. Ko particulars. Each
seems to have been seized unexpectedly, and
to have died within four hours. Oh, n)y
S9,viour! how unsearchable are Thy judg-
ments! Two of the best men in India cut
ofi' in the prime of life and health, and just
at the moment when plans of usefulness were
opening before them. Kever since I have
been in India has the Church suflTered a
greater loss. For themselves the change
was blessed, but for survivors, alas ! the blow
is most severe. Still it is the Lord ; let Him

do what seemeth Ilim good."
•rA

266 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

At Singapore, he found the church whicli
had cost him so nuicli care and pains on his
former visit, completed and ready for cor.so-
cration. But it was chiimed by a })ortion of
tlie subscribers, who were not members of
the Church of England, as their own j>rop-
erty ; and a protest against its consecration
obtained sixteen signatures, and was j)re-
sented to liim. lie never had a harder task
than to arrange this matter of common hon-
esty. But he dealt very gently with it.
The Governor was iirm, and the result good.
A public meeting was held to consider the
matter, at which the whole case was so
clearly explained, that the protest was with-
drawn, and tlie petition for consecration
signed by fifty-one persons. All were eon-
ciliated. One opponent offered to collect
money for an organ; a second undertook to
raise a tower ; the Archdeacon gave a bell ;
the Resident, a clock. " 1 never saw a whole
community come round so well,*' says the
Bishop. " To God be the praise !"

Chittagong was now visited, lliis was a

LU'E OF BISHOP WILSON. 267

new station to the Bishop, and the fallow
ground had to be broken up. Situated on
the coast of Arracan, the novelty of every
thing and the exquisite beauty of the scenery
charmed him. iiut there was no church,
no Divine service, no Sunday observance, no
charitable institutions, no exhibition of Chris-
tianity. An occasional visit of the chaplain
from Dacca aft'^rdcd tlic only means of
grace.

Plans were at once set on foot to remedy
all this. A puhlic meeting was called, and
it Wits determined to erect a church. Sixteen
hundred rupees were contributed on the spot.
The iJifchop gave live hundred for himself,
and five hundred from the Christian Knowl-
edge Society. An application to government
and a grant from the Church-building Fund
completed the five thousand rupees required ;
and, as in so many other cases, a church was
reared at Chittagong.

A house in the immediate neigliborhood,
frequented by the celebrated Sir "William
Jones, was visited with much interest. It

268 LITE OF BISHOP "WILSON.

stood upon the summit of a hill commanding
a magnificent view of tlie sea on one side,
and the mountain range ujjon tlie other, and
was called Jaffierbad. Ilis sturly was pointed
out ; l)Ut all Avas falling into ruins.

The various leligious services connected
with the visitation were thoroughly appreci-
ated. Not a soul was absent on any occa-
sion. "Never Avas there a station," says the
Bishop, "M-hich needed a visitation more;
and never one where we succeeded more
completely in the great ends in view. Our
host was Mr. II. T. Eaikes, sou of the excel-
lent chancellor of Chester."'

On November 21st he left Chittajrons,
and on the 23d arrived safely in Calcutta.
" I have hardly yet turned round," he says,
on entering the palace ; " but gratitude for
the Divine meicy should. swell in my heart,
when I consider four months of absence
without any one calamity."

In January, 1839, the Bishop was cheered
by the arrival of the Rev. John H. Pratt,
his new domestic chaplain, the son of his

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 269

old tutor and dear friend, the Rev. Josiali

Pratt.

About this time, two of the Professors
of Bishop's College being obliged to leave
their pos s, on account of failing health,
Bishop Wilson came forward, and once
more assumed the otiice of Tutor and Vice-
Principal, thus adding greatl}^ to liis labors,
but recalling, very pleasantly, his earlier

days.

A course of Lent Lectures, this season, on
"The Lord's Prayer," attracted very large
congregations; indeed, the church was so
crowded that he began to think the time had
come for building a new cathedral. The
su"-o-«stion was so' favorably received, that
at the -last of the Lent Lectures he an-
nounced his intention to the twelve hundred
persons present. "I thought," he said, "I
should never have such a favorable oppor-
tunity again ; and that, to express' a firm
purpose on my part, was one step towards
success, amidst the timid, vacillating, shifting

population of India."

23*

270 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

The Bishop entered upon this work with
the utmost enthusiasm, as may be seen from
the frequent mention of it in his journal..

Having applied to Colonel Morrison, the
Governor of Bengal, to grant him a suitable
lot for the cathedral, his request met with
the kindest reception. The Bishop makes
this note on the 14th of June : " I wrote on
the morning of the 12th to the Governor of
Bengal, and begged him not to resign me to
the Military Board, but to put me at once in
possession of my ground, and let me mark it
out the same evening. He did so. He
wrote a note from Council to Colonel Mac-
leod. At six o'clock in the evening of that
d^y? yo" would have seen me standing on
the ground — about one thousand feet by six
hundred — and have heard Colonel Macleod
telling me, ' My lord, it is all yours. Choose
whatever part you prefer for your cathedral.'
I seemed to myself like Moses surveying
from Mount Pisgah the promised land. I
figured to myself my beautiful spire, rising
up two hundred and twenty feet — the finp,

LITE OF BISHOP WILSON. 271

deeply-buttressed Gothic nave, chancel, and
transepts, marking the massive grandeur of
the Christian religion, the magnificent organ,
sounding out, ' Thou art the King of glory,
O Christ !' — my native presbyters, in th^ir
snow-white vestments, walking down the
aisles, the Christian neophytes responding in
the choir, and Jesus acknowledged as the
Lord of all.

" But, hush, my foolish heart ! All future
things are with thy God and Saviour, who
oft abashes human projects, and dashes
them to pieces like a potter's vessel. God's
will be done. I liave called the cathedral
St. Paul's, to denote the doctrine which will
ever be proclaimed by its ministers, and llie
example* of tenderness and fidelity which
they will ever exhibit. I have fixed June
ISth for issuing my proposals, because it is
the anniversary of my leaving England, and
completes my seventh year ; and because it
is the anniversary of the victory of Waterloo,
emblematical, I hope, of the spiritual victoiy
of Christ in my cathedral. The next step is

272 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

to see and get the plans drawn and arranged.
I wish I were an architect. But I am not."
The Bishop saved every rupee he could,
towards the carrying out of his noble design,
and spared no pains to interest his friends,
far and near, in the work so dear to his
heart. On the 9th of Octol)er, the first stone
of St. Paul's Cathedral was laid, with solemn
ceremonies and an appropriate address. All
preliminary measures having been arranged,
the work jjroceeded as rapidly as could be
expected.

A MACEDOXIAX CRT — WONDERFUL AWAKENING AMONGST
THE NATIVES — PUTTING THE SICKLE INTO TUE HAR-
VEST TUE BISnOP GOES HIMSELF^ TO SHARE IN THE

GLORIOUS WORK — SEYENTY-TWO NATIVE VILLAGES IN
ONE MISSIONARY CIEOUIT — THE BAPTISM AT ANUNDA

BASS " WE RENOUNCE THEM ALl" — THE BISHOP GOES

ON HIS WAY REJOICING — A CITY SET ON A HILL — QUIET
REBUKE AVHICH ACCOMPLISHED ITS PURPOSE — LAND
MARCH BEGUN — TWO CHURCHES CONSECRATED AT
CAWNPORE— THE SAME DUTY PERFORMED IN OTHER
PLACES — '• FAINT, YET PURSUING" — A LONG JOURNEY
SAFELY ENDED.

//iSl.NE day, toNViirds tlie close of the year
1S3S, a native, of courteous address
and tine bearing, brought the Bishop
a message fiom the niis.sionaries of
Krisluiaghur, informing him of a
gL'iieral movement amongst the na-
tives towards Christianity. Hundreds were
seeking for instruction; many were anxious
to be baptized, and there were only two
missionaries on the spot, to put the sickle
into the ripening harvest.

274 LIFE OF BISHOP "WILSON.

After a little delay, Archdeacon Dealtry
and the Rev. K. M. Banergee were sent
down to Krislinaghur, and were met there
by two other missionaries. They found the
inhabitants of fifty-two villages exceedingly
interested in regard to their salvation, and
after making all due allowance for worldly
and selfish motives which miffht influence
some, there were thousands who seemed to
be sincere and earnest.

In February, 1830, the Bishop baptized
one hundred and thirty-five native converts
at Banipore, and confirmed sixty who had
been baptized before his arrival.

Reports coming to him from various
quarters conceining the progress of the great
work, he soon afterwards left Calcutta, pro-
posing to make an extensive circuit.

He found that the mission in Krishmiirhur
had already assumed a distinct form. Sev-
enty-two villages were embraced within its
circuit, seven hundred converts having been
baptized, and several tliousand being under
a regular course of instruction. Tlie Bishop

LIFE OF BISnOP WILSON. 275

went from station to station examining,
preaching, encouraging, and confirming. He
visited Krishnagliur, Solo, Ruttenpoor, An-
unda Bass, and Ranobunda ; and said lie could
hai-dly sleep, from agitation, joj, and anxiety
to direct everything aright. He describes
the baptism of one hundred and fifty con-
verts at Anunda Bass as follows :

" Xever did I feel the beauty of our bap-
tismal and confirmation services so much as
this morning — the prayer of thanksgiving of
the first, the laying on of hands and suppli-
cations of the second. It was the sign and
seal and first day, in the eye of others, of the
new birth by water and the Spirit. It was
the descent of the sanctifying grace of the
Holy Ghost.

"We began witli examining the candidates
for baptism. ' Are you sinners V ' Yes, we
are.' ' How do you hope to obtain forgive-
ness V ' By the sacrifice of Christ' ' What
was that sacrifice?' 'We were dinners, and
Christ died in our stead.' ' How is your
heart to be changed V ' By the Holy Ghost.'

276 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

'Will you renounce all idolatry, fcasrs, poo
jahs, and caste?' 'Yes, we renounce tlicin
all.' 'Will yon renounce the world, the
flesh, and the devil?' 'Yes.' 'Will yuu
sufi'er for Christ's sake ?' ' Yes.' ' Will yon
forgive injuries?' 'Yes.' Jn a word, T went
over all the branches of Christianity with
the candidates, and finding from Mr. Deerr
that they had for a year or more been under
instruction and walking consistently, I begged
him to read the baj»tismal service.

"When we came to the questions, I paused
to tell them of the seriousness of the en^ajre-
ment, and I asked the whole congregation of
the baptized if they would be witnesses and
godparents to these candidates. They shout-
ed out tluit tliev would.

"The sight was most touching — one hun-
dred and fifty souls al)ont to enter tlie Chris-
tian Church, and the whole of the Christian
village standing sponsoi-s for them I Baptism
was then administered ; and I stood in the
midst, and received them into the ark of
Christ's Church. You cannot imairine the

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 2Y7

intelligent, anxious eyes of the assembly as
this was iroino' on."

At Kanobuuda, two hundred and fifty
were baptized in the same manner ; and
these additions to the Church raised the
whole number to above one thousand.

Tiie foundations of the requisite missionary
buildings were next laid, a sub-comuiittee
was ajDpoiuted, tiie four missionaries now on
the iield were counselled and encouraged ;
and then, on November 1st, the Bishop went
on his way rejoicing. "A good and great
work is evidently going on," he says. " But
to oppose this, there is cause to fear — 1. Tem-
poral motives. 2. The effect of the relief
granted at the time of the inundation. 3.
The countenance and presence of so many
Padres and ISahibs. 4. The influence of ex-
ample and popular movement. 5. The insta-
bility of the human heart. 6. Satan's infinite
craft. But .... Time will show who
are tares and who wheat.''''

A certain measure of reaction followed, as
it always does ; for in the spiritual, as in the
24

278 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

natural world, tlie blossom far exceeds the
fruit. It proved so at Krishnagliur. The
gathering did not equal the ]»roiuise ; yet a
great work had been wrought. A true
Church was gathered out of the world of
heathenism ; and it still stands, like a city set
upon a hill.

The Bishop pursued his journey through
Berhampore, stopping at Mourshedabad, and
then passing ou to Beauleacli, Patua, Gyah,
and Hazeerabagh. At the last-named place
he spent Advent Sunday, and administered a
quiet rebuke to those wbo liad suticred ihe
church to remain two year- in an untinished
condition, by holding Divine service withiu
the four walls, which had neither roof nor
floor. The lesson was so salutary, that a
pledge was given that the building should be
completed in two months.

He preached and performed the usual ser-
vices at Ghazeepore, Jaunpore, and Benares,
and ofliciated on Christmas at Allahabad,
where the river was left and his laud march
began. Captain Hay, a gentlemanly otiicer,

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 279

commanded the camp, which numbered more
than two hundred souls — tlie Bishop travel-
ling S(jnietimes in a h'.tle phaeton, and some-
times on his old whit.- '' ghoon." or liiU-pony.

On the 4th of Jai.uary, 1840, the company
reached Cawnpore, where two churches were
consecrated, and thence the Bishop proceeded
to Lucknow and Bareilly, where the same
agreeable duty was performed.

At Meerut tlie services were extremely
interesting, being at;cndeJ by a large num-
ber of soldiers just returned from the first
prosperous campaign in Ati'ghanistan and
Caubul. After a short visit to Delhi, the
camp moved to Ahmorah, on the mountains,
wliere the corner-stone of another bill-church
was laid. The Bishop, although much worn
by his travels, continued on his w&y across
the mountains, and on the 24th of April ar-
rived safely at Mussooi ee, where he remained
three weeks. Here, also, a new and beautiful
church was consecrated.

From this point he parsed on by the lower
route through Xahun, to Simlah. His brief

280 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOX.

sojourn here was characterized by incessant
activity. Bidding it adieu, witli a devout
aspiration for God's blessing upon it, he set
out on his return to Calcutta — consecrating
churches, and performing other important
duties as he went — and reachinsr home on
the 3d of April, 1841. "May God be for-
ever praised and magnitied,'" he says, " for
all His goodne.-s and meiev dui-inir a year
and a half. I have attended church once
more, though I took no duty. It will require
a few days for my mind to calm down to
regular occupations. Oh, for grace, wisdom,
power, victory over self, real si)irituality,
meekness, preparation for sufleriug!''

Cl)a|)ter f;iucn(i)-Sctoiiir.

A FEW TROUBLES TO DISTDKB THE SMOOTH CURRENT OF
EVENTS — OXFORD THEOLOGY AGAIX — THE PLYMOUTH
BRETHREN MAKE A CONVERT — EFFORTS TO BRING BACK

THE WANDERING SHEEP WATCHING THE CATHEDRAL

ALL CALCUTTA MAD AFTER THE WORLD — A SHORT

VISITATION SUNDAY AT SYLHET IIIDING IN BOATS

AND ON ELEPHANTS CHIRRA POnNJEE — SUPREMACY

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES DEFENDED — FIRST METRO-
POLITAN VISITATION DOINGS AT MADRAS CASTE

DIFFICULTIES — MOVING ONWARD HHEXIA's TOMB

SYRIAN CHURCHES DISAPPOINTED HOPES AT BOMBAY

THANKSGIVING SERMON ON REACHING HOME.

ISHOP WILSOX found enou-^rh to
oociipj hiin, upon his return to Cal-
cutta, and some things which trou-
\§^^ bled him not a little.

A professor had been sent out
from England to fill a vacancy in
the college, whose theological opinions were
too much in harmony with those of the
Newman school to please him, and he en-
deavored to have him recalled. This request
was refused.

24*

282 LIFE OF BISHOP "WILSON.

Another anxious matter had reference to
Mrs. Wilson, who liad done a great deal for
the promotion of female education in the
East, Leaving Calcutra (where she had
succeeded admirably), she removed to Au-
gurpara, fourteen miles distant, to take
chai-gc of a large orphan asylum Here she
Avas cut off from the i)rivileges of the
Church, and fell in with a denomination
called " the Plymouth Brethren," who spared
no pains to make a proselyte of her; and,
sad to relate, they succeeded in their cflbrts.
The eflect of this upon the Bishop's mind we
prefer to give in his own words.

" Alas ! Mrs. Wilson, of Augurpara, is
determined to secede from the Church, and
join the Plymouth Brethren. You start !
But it is too true. I derermined, instantly
I heard it, to go down with the Archdeacon
and ]\Ir. Pratt, and see what an interview
Avould do, under God's blessing. We con-
versed with her for two or three hours with-
out the least effect. Yesterday I recapitu-
lated the conversation in an affectionate

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 283

letter, and offered to paj for the support of
a missionary at her station, if the Church
Missionary Society would not. All was in
vuin. We must now endeavor to save the
mission and orphans if we can ; for this is
only the beginning of the fall. My com-
fort is to cast myself on my Lord Christ, and
submit to His righteous will in this sharp
affliction. Her apostasy is like a standard-
bearer's fainting; and all aggravated by
opposite errors. Never was I in such a
plunge. Xever ! But now faith must have
her triumph, faith in the power and grace
of Christ, faith in Ilis love and wisdom."

The following exti-act from his private
journal will show that his annoyances did
not end here :

I "April Sth.. Every moment is occupied.
1 have been five days in Calcutta, and four
times to my new cathedral. I ride round
the scaffolding and framework of the build-
ing every morning on my ghoont (as Nehe-
miah, on his beast, around the desolations
of Jerusalem), and watch the progress mak-

284 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

ing, and the different views the cathedral
will present. The sun will not allow me to
visit it whilst the men are at work.

" Easter-Monday, April 12th. Yesterday
we celebrated onr Easter. The Governor-
General and his family not present ; neither
were they last Sunday, nor Good Friday.
The collection was o;dy one thousand and
fifty rupees, instead of live or six thousand,
when Lord William and Sir Cliarlcs wore
present. The Governor-Generarf non-attend-
ance encourages ihe judges, members of
council, commander-in-chief, and higher civ-
ilians to a])sent themselves. AVe had only
about live hun«h-ed in church. All Calcutta
is mad after the world. French plays are
acted at Government House, a new theatre
is built, two Sunday papers desecrate the
Lord's Day ; ifll is rushing backwards, as to
morality and religion, with a refluent tide.
I must see what I can do. r>ut tlie Loid
Christ and His Spirit can alone awaken a
torpid world like that of India. We must
wait and pray."

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOIT. 285

On the Gth of October, the Bishop left
Calcutta, proposing to visit a few stations
hitherto omitted, and having spent a short
time at Barrackpore, Bnrdwau, and Chin-
surah, he embarked on a 8:eanier and pro-
ceeded to Sylhet and Cliirra Poonjee.
"Writing of Sylhet, he says (under date of
Sunday morning, IS^ovember 7th), "I ad-
dressed, pretty strongly, a party of sixteen
here, at family prayers, last night, and am
now thinking what sermon I can best select
for a station where a chaphiin has not been
for a single day for three years, and where I
shall preach only once. I think St. John v.
24, will give me as much scope as any ;
'These things I say, that ye might be saved.'
May the Lord help me !

" Mr. Sealey's house, in which I am, is
perched, like a bird's nest, on the top of a
little hill, perhaps one hundred and twenty
feet hi^h. But, as it is a cone, the whole
circuit of the ])lains, covered with verdant
and thick vegetation, stretches around to the
horizon with its green mantle. Tlie contrast

286 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

with the heats and mosquitoes is inex-
pressible."

Concerning the other new station, the
Bishop tlins writes : " Chirra Poonjcc. We
are four thousand feet above the plains. The
thermometer in the garden, at six o'clock in
the morning, is 56^ ; iii the house, and with
a liro, at eight o'clock, it is 67\ A wild
kind of jonrney of fourteen hours brought us
here. We went fiffoen miles in a covered
boat from Chuttaek : then mounted ele-
phants ; then I got into a tonjon with bear-
ers ; and Mr. Pratt rode on a ]>ony. The
place is very Itleak ; and though doubly and
trebly clothed, and sitting by a fire, I am
not warm. I have now visite<l all the hills
but Darjeeling.

" Chirra Poonjee is not mucli frequented,
for the water is bad, and the climate a per-
petual rain. The distance from Calcutta is
only three hundred and s-ixry miles, but the
access is difficult. Sometimes more jrood is
done in these desolate places thau in much
larirer ones.

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 287

"At Chuttack (Mr. Inglis') we liad a
family of seven, and many in tears durino-
the service. Three were confirmed, and the
whole seven partook of the Holy Sacrament.

" We are on the south-eastern frontiers of
our Avonderful empire. Tiie hill people are
from Thibet and China. They raise rude
altars on the tops of mountains, and offer
goats in sacritice. "We had Divine service
on Friday ; congregation only fifteen, hut so
attentive, it was delightful to observe them.
On Sunday there were two services, and
Holy Communion."'

On the 24th of August, 1842, tlie Bishop
delivered another charge to his clergy, in
M-hicli he strongly defended the supremacy
of the Holy Scriptures. The same evening
he set out on his first metropolitan visitation,
proceeding first to Moulmein, Malacca, and
Singapore, and then stretching across to
Madras, where he landed on the 23d of
November.

Before proceeding further, it will be suffi-
cient for us to explain that a Metropolitan is

• 288 LIFE OF BISnOP WILSON.

one who presides over the other bishops of a
province It will readily be perceived that
this office was one mo^t difficult to be exer-
cised, and whicii reciuired a hirge measure of
j;rudeuce.

Dr. Spencer was the Bishop of Madras-
and it was in his diocese that Bishop Wilson
began his labors as Metropolitan. Many
matters of anxiety had to be discu.-sed, many
ditHcult questions settled, niuiiy wounds
liealed. lie stayed twenty days, delivered
his charge, preached many times, performed
a modilicd course of duty, and then deparied
for Ceylon. ":Never,'' he say.-, "had I a
more difficult series of ilnties to discharge
since I came tu India. Tiie office of Metro-
j)olitan is indeed more im})ortant than I
could have conceived.''

The Bishop of Madras was himself <n
visitation, and the sliij) (^hiviiig landed the
Metropolitan at Xega[>atam, on the coast)
carried him on hi.s way to Trincomalee.

yroin Negapatiiiii, tlie journey to Tanjorc
was performed by land ; and «;n Decendjcr

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 289

ITth the Bishop of Calcutta found himself
once more received into the same Eesidency
(though, alas ! death had entered it, and
changed tlie residents), as in former years.
To animate these missions, aad confirm as
Metropolitan tlie decision he had passed as
Bishop, was iiis great object. He found the
mission much strengthened ; hut caste was
not destroyed. Bishop Corrie dealt gently
with it; and Bishop Spencer had to learn its
evils. Tiic present visit, therefore, was not
ill-timed ; foi* seven years had weakened the
impression made by the former one in 3 83G.
The venerable Kohllioff still survived, in his
eighty -first year ; and the native priest,
Nyanapragasen, in his ninety-third.

The native Christiaiie flocked in crowds to
church from Tanjure and all the surrounding
villages, and were startled by the determined
and uncompromising condemnation of caste
to which they listened. " On its being hon-
estly and irrevocably abolished," said the
Bishop, " the life of these missions depends."

On Christmas Day, services were held for"
25

290 LIFE OF BlSriOP WILSON.

both Europeans and natives, and four hun-
dred native communicants assembled roinid
the Lord's table. jS^o Cunfiiniation was ad-
ministered, nor any conference lield, because
of an unwillingness to interfere in iiny way
with the functions of the diocesan.

A hasty visit was also paid to Trichinopoly ;
and after live nights' travelling and nine
times preaching, in sixteen days, the Bishop
returned to Negapatam, and tinding his ship
ready, sailed for Trincomalee. Here, " being
almost worn out," he rested for six days, and
was refreshed by the intercourse and friend-
ship of his brother of Madras.

On the 5th of .luniiary, 1843, Bishop Wil-
son embarked at Trincomalee, and, having
narrowly escaped shij«wreck, arrived t-afely
at Colombo. Here tlie charge was a.-ain
delivered, and a clause introduced interdict-
ing the clergy from coffee plantations and
specidations. The several stations having
been duly visited, the vessel's head was
turned towards Tutocorin, whence the south-
ern missions of Tinnevelly, Palamcotta, and

LITE OF BISHOP WILSOX. 291

Kazareth (not liitlierto visited) were access-
ible. But wind and weatlicr forbade; and
after much difficulty, a landing was effected
at a desolate spot called Poovera, about
twenty-five miles from Cape Cumorin.

No food, no shelter, no means of commu-
nication presented themselves for some time.
At length a Roman Catholic priest appeared,
and a very slender knowledge of La! in en-
abled him to provide the party with food
and bearers. At each halting-place a friend
appeared in the shape of a missionary of the
London Society ; and at length, af;er great
fatigue, Palamcotta was reached, in the night
of the 29th January, 1843. Seven missiona-
ries were at hand to welcome the Bishop.
He at once pronounced the " peace" enjoined
by Christ, and then knelt down to return
thanks for the preservation and guidance
vouchsafed.

Most interesting services commenced the
next morning. At dawn of day, one hundred
catechists and schoolmasters delivered to him
a poetical composition in Tamul, congratu-

292 LIFE or BISHOP WILSON.

lating him on liis safe arrival, and on the
joj caused by the sight of " his noble face."

Rhenia's tomb was visited, on which ap-
pear the words, engraved at his reqiu-st,
" My judgment is with the Lord, and my
work with my God.'' These words, and the
tender feelings excited by the visit, were
referred to by the Bishop when di'livt-ring
his charge to twelve missionaries of l>oth the
Church societies next day. Station after
station was then visited — missionary after
missionary conferred with.

"There are glorious heginnings here," he
said, "and it is delightful to talk with such
calm, well-educated, }»iou8, devoted, 8cnsil)le
men, who know what thry are about. I
have written to the Bishop of ifadras, to
express my wonder at these blessed mis>ions,
and to say that there iiuist be twenty-four
more missionaries sent out — twelve from
each society ; for now the harvest languishes
for want of reapers. What is England about,
with her drivelling controversies, whilst India
is in vain stretchiniir out her hands to God V

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOX. 293

He went about everywhere pleaching —
now in tinislied, now in \iniiuished churches
— now in tents, and now in the open air ;
but he held that his chief work lay with the
missionaries themselves ; and when, on the
last day of his visit, he found ten suriound-i
ing him, he made them a farewell address,
condensing the advice he had previously and
occasionally given them. In the evening,
after Divine service and a sermon by Mr.
Pratt, they presented a touching and beau-
tiful address, acknowledging the Bishop's
kindness and entreating liis prayers.

He turned now to the Syrian churches ;
and a journey of fourteen hours from Tri-
vandruni brought him lirst to Quilon, and.
thence to Cottayam. The reader will not
have forgotten what passed at the previous
visit. But he has now to learn that -all the
measures then suggested for the improvement
of that ancient Church — for the extension of
education, the elevation of the clergy, the
eradication of error — had been absolutely
rejected. Even the very donation left by

9n*

294 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

the Bishop, which was a kuid of first-fruits
of an endowment for the Church, was treated
as a bribe, and refused. The moment he hud
retired, the bow returned to its usual bent.
The Metran was again in the ascendant, and
the Church had sunk too low to desire or to
compel a refoi-mation.

So far had this gone, that a covenant was
entered into, to forbid all further intercourse
with the missionaries, and to withdraw all
deacons from the college. "What sinister
influence might have been at work did not
appear. One unworthy clergynian, a chap-
lain of the company, had travelled through
the country, telling the people that crucifixes,
and prayers for tliu dead, and all the super-
stitions learned from Rome, were right ; and
that the missionaries and their doctrines were
all wrong ; but his visit had been short, and
he had been forbidden to repeat it.

It needed not this to unveil the matter.
Further acquaintance with the Metran and
the leading men had developed deep-seated
evils, and explained the distaste for any

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 295

change. And the only course apparently
left open was, to set up an open mission.
This course had been accordingly adopted
by the missionaries, and sanctioned by the
Bishop of Madi-as, under whose license they
were now acting.

A great change was thus produced. Hand-
some churches were in the course of erection.
The propeity attached to the college, which
had been jointly held, was now divided.
The old l.iuildings had been left for the
Syrians, and new ones, already containing
seventy pupils, had been raised for the mis-
sionaries. Primary schools were multiplying
on all hands, and about seven hundred chil-
dren were under instruction, so that there
was good promise for the future. But it was
still mingled with regret. It was pleasant to
see the light shining in a dark place; but it
would have been pleasanter to say of that
ancient Church, "Thou hast the dew of thy
youth." This regret, however, was unmin-
gled with self-reproach. Our Church had
" done what she could." She had held out

296 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

the right hand of fellowship to the Syrian
Church, and been refused ; and she could do
no more.

At Cottajani, seven missionaries were
assembled to receive the Bishop's charge.
Divine service was celebrated, the Holy
Communion administered, the new college
examined, and then he passed on through
Allepie to Cochin, and on February 17th
embarked for Bombay.

The voyage was long and weary, and he
did not arrive till the 13th of March.

"Hurry, pressure, contusion'' — sucli is the
first entry in the juunial at Bombay. "The
Bishop is an ' angel' — so sweet, humble, and
spiritually minded ;'' such is the second en-
try. The charge was t»nee again delivered ;
a controversy was settled about the erection
of a memorial to the troops who fell in
Affghanistan ; an address was delivered on
laying tKe foundation-stone of a college in
memory of Sir Robert Grant ; much pleasant
intercourse was held with the governor. Sir
George Arthur ; all the places endeared by

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 297

former recollections were revisited ; and then,
on April 3d, the Bishop once more embarked,
and, after calling at Goa on his way, reading
through a volume of St. Augustine, and suf-
fering from an attack of gout, he' reached
Calcutta in safety on Saturday, May 12th.

Thus ended a journey, by land and water,
of eight thousand seven hundred miles. On
Sunday he preached a thanksgiving sermon
from Psalm Ixxi. 14, 16, and on Monday he
writes :

'* I luive not yet been able to compose my
mind, the change is so great. But, oh ! may
God give me wisdom and understanding to
go in and out before this so great people ;
and especially to stand tirmly and unmoved
in defence of the Gospel ! I have preached
eighty sermons during my absence."

r ^tocntn-Tbirlj.

ON BOAED SHIP — WORKS OF FAITH AKD LOVE — 8EBIOITS
ILLNESS — CONSECRATION OF CHURCH AT AI.MORAH —
PREPARING A BOOK FOR HIS DIOCESE — FAREWELL TO
SIHLAH — ANOTHER SEVERE ATTACK THE BISHOP RE-
TURNS TO CALCUTTA DEPARTURE FOR KNMJI.AND^

SUMMARY OF THIRTEEN YEARs' LABOR ONCE MORE

AT ISLINGTON — WHAT WAS AClOMPLISHKD DURING
HIS VISIT — A LAST FAREWELL — ARRIVAL AT CALCUTTA
" I MUST GO softly" CONSECRATION OF THE CATHE-
DRAL — ''DYING charge"' — A NEW VISITATION BEGUN.

,X the 17tli of October, 1S43, Bishop
Wilson was again on board a steamer
bound for Ghazeepoor. When this
jiuint was reached, he left the river
and resumed liis tent life, jourm ying
through Gornackj)oor, licnarch, Al-
lahabad, and Futtehpoor. At the last-
named place he closed the year.

Passing onward, through Futtehgur and
Bareilly, he came to a new mountain station
called Nynee-Thal. Tiie visit to this point
was too early in the season, and not a single

LITE OF BISHOP AVILSOX. 299

European was in residence. Here the Bishop
was taken very ill, and was with some diffi-
culty removed to Almorah, where he was
confined to the bed for several days. Rally-
ing again, he consecrated a little churcii,
then passed on to Moradabad, Shahjehan-
poor, and Meerut ; halted for Passion Week
and Easter; and then proceeded to Deyrah
Dlioon, Landour, and Mussooree. "Want of
tents for the hill route delayed him till May
14th; and it was not till June 1st that he
arrived at Simlah.

" Simlah, June \st, 1844.
" Blessed be my God and Saviour for
bringing me once more, after four years, and
after a journey of seven months, to this sta-
tion, and to the same comfortable house
which I occupied in 1840. May God assist
me during the four or tive months of repose.
I want to print a volume for my diocese,
after eight years — experimental, simple, ec-
clesiastical, Indian, aflfectionate, final. It is
clearly ' now or never' with a poor, hurried,
overwhelmed bishop, like myself Lord,

300 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

revive Tliy work in the midst of the days.
As nature sinks, may grace wax stronger and
stronger."

While remaining at Simlah, besides pre-
paring the vohime just referred to, he en-
couraged the erection of a new and larger
church, and on the 9th of Sei)tember laid the
corner-stone. Un the 17th of October the
Bishop left ISimlah, to return iiu mure.
While tarrying at Umballah, he again be-
came alarmingly ill ; and although he lioped
the illness would prove to be but a temporary
attack, it became indispensable to take a
voyage to England. As soon as he was able
to move, he turned his face to Calcutta,
where he arrived on the 26th of April.
Meeting Colonel Forbes at the cathedral, he
ofiered humble thanks, and dedicated the
edifice, the architect, and himself to Al-
mighty God. The examination ot the can-
didates and the ordinations followed. Two
hundred young persons were contirmed.
Affectionate addresses were presented to
him, both from the clergy and laity of Cal-

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 301

cutta ; and he was requested to sit in Eng-
land for a marble bust, to be placed in the
cathedral library.

His fourth visitation was held ; a last let-
ter was written to his children, announcing
his departure, and laying upon them a sol-
emn charge not to attempt, either by word
or deed, to influence his mind, or persuade
him to relinquish his conscientious purpose
of returning to India; and then, on May 3d,
accompanied by his chaplain, he embarked
on the Precursor steamer for England, via
the Red Sea. He had. been in India nearly
thirteen years, and every power of body and
mind had been consecrated to God's service
there. Fourteen hundred times had lie
borne witness publicly to Christ. His sub-
stance had been laid upon the altar of sacri-
tice. lie had done much to give tlie exten-
sion of the Ejuscopate a right bias, and three
bishops were now in the field. Tiie control
of the Metropolitan was recognized. His
relation with the Government was far better
understood. Nothing of an ecclesiastical
2G

302 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOX.

character was done without liis cognizance
and approval.

Bishop Wilson reached En<,'land on the
25th of June. Once more he was in Uie
hosom of his loving family, and in his old
home at Islington. Friends flocked to fteo
him from all quarters, and every attention
was paid him which the higheat respect for
his character and services could suggest.
Although threatened now ;ind thru with a
return of his disease — the terrible jungle
fever — he was enabled to attend to much
important Church business, and occasionally
to preach. Queen Victoria presented him
witli an elegant coniniunion si-t for his cathe-
dral, and friends sent in their contributions
towards the missions in his vast diocese.

But now the time drew nigh when he
must bid a last farewell to Ids dear native
land. The romance of India had loner since
passed away, and he knew all that awaited
him there, in the shape of trials, and sac-
rifices, and labors. But none of these things
moved him, and having preached bis last

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOX. 303

sermon at Islington on the 30th of August,
1846, he took an affectionate leave of all who
were dearest to him on earth, and with
invigorated strength went forth to finish the
work which God had given him to do.

Landing at Calcutta, on the 14th of De-
cember, he drove to the cathedral, where all
the clergy of the city had assembled to wel-
come his return, and lie offered up witli them
a devout thanksffivinjr to God.

From this period we must not expect to
find the venerable Bishop as active as
in earlier years. " I must go softly," he
said. " I must take in sail." And so he
did. But still the gradual lessening of effort,
the contentment with daily duties, and the
general superintendence of the Ciiurch were
varied by many novel incidents and vigor-
ous movements ; so that, with chastened
expectations, the sunset will be found the
pleasantest part of the day.

Eight years had elapsed since the first
stone of the new cathedral had been laid,
and early in October, 1847, it was ready for

304 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

consecration. It was designed to answer a
threefold purpose. First, it was to be a
parish church for a large district of Calcutta ;
secondly, it Avas to be served by a body of
clergy who, under the designation of a dean
and cliaptor, were to bear a missionary char-
acter and to cari-y out missionary objects ;
thirdly, it was to be the cathedral of the
Meiropolitan See of Calcutta— the Bishop's
sear being transferred to it, and all i-piscopal
functions performed in it. For the com-
mencement of the second of these designs a
large endowment fund, amounting to nearly
£30,000, had been raised, and for the com-
pletion (»f it a similar amount was still re-
quired. The annual income thus accruing
would have sufficed for the maintenance of
six missionary canons, who, with the addition
of the archdeacon and six honorary cant>ns,
would have constituted the dean and chapter
of the cathedral.

But the failuio in obtaining the Act of
incorporation frustrated this part of the
design ; and the funds were eventually dis-

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 305

posed of in ii way whicli will be told in its
place. For this failure, and the disappoint-
ment consequent uju»n it, the Bishop was in
no way responsible. He had done what he
could. But the reluctance of the East India
Company Avas not to be overcome. The
" better times" for whicli he waited are yet
future.

Of course the consecration of the cathedral
was a grand occasion. The Bishop preached
for an hour from 2 Chrojiicles vi. IS. We
must allow him to describe the scene. " It
was a wimderful siglit for India. As I drove
to the cathedral at ten ox-lock, the whole
space around it was rilled witii carriages of
all descriptions, in the most picturesque
groupes. The clergy and laity were waiting
my arrival, 6nrroun<le(l with multitudes of
spectators. I made my way through them
with verger and pastoral staff, and then pro-
ceeded up the middle alley to the commu-
nion-rails. The petition for consecration was
then read. I assented ; and then the j)ro-
cession began, repeating, as usual, the
20*

306 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

twenty-fourth Psalm. The other forms hav-
ing been gone through, the morning service
commenced, the organ leading superbly in
the chants. Colonel Forbes was sitting near
me. I turned to him and >aid, ' ir<>w huau-
tifully the voice is heard I' When I ascended
the pulpit, there was all around me a sea of
heads, reaching to the doorway and outer
steps. At the communion, the thirty-five
clergy kneeling at the rails, and tlie live
ministering within, presented to my mind
an overwhelming sight. AVe retired at iialf-
past three o'clock, praising and blessing
God for all we had heard and seen. The
dinner subsequently went nil" udmirably
well. The Governnr, members of council,
secretaries, clergy, etc., were full of kindness
and love. Can I wonder that the Lord sent
me a ' thorn in the flesh,' a ' messenger of
Satan to bufl'et nio C X<». I rejoice in His
chastening hand."

The Bishop, in his. journal-letters to his
children, relates many things which hajv
pened, day by day, but these, though cer-

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 307

tainlj interesting, can hardly be considered
of sufficient inqiortance to be permanently
preserved in a biography.

In the autumn of 1848, after delivering his
"Dying Charge," as he called it, he^m-
barked for Bombay, to enter uj)on his second
visitation as Metropolitan, and his fifth gen-
eral visitation.

«^ %t.

Oapttr ftucntii-iourtb.

KEOEPTION AT BOMBAY COLOMBO OVERWORK AT MAD-
RAS — ILLNESS — Oi.UERED TO SEA — NEW PALACE —
VISITATION RESUMED— TIIIRTT-SIX DAYS FULLY OCCU-
PIED CONSECRATION OK A CllUmil IN IIORNKO SICK-
NESS OF PROFESSOR STREET— THE DIFFERENCES UE-

TWEEN GOOD MEN FADING AWAY IJROWINO OLD

ANOTHER FAITHFUL CHAROE PICTURE DRAWN BY THE

BISHOP OF VICTORIA — ARRIVAL OP A GRANDSON —
INAUCJURATION OF THE EAST INDIA RAILWAY CON-
SECRATION OF THE HISHUP OF LABUAN.

ISnOP WILSnX iraclK'd r.ombay
early in Dcceinl er, 1S4S, l>eing
warmly received liy Bishop Carr
^??¥^ and his cK-rjiy. Hero he delivered
his charire, and jH-rformed various
duties belonging to his office as
Metropolitan, and then proceeded to C'oloin]>o,
in Ceylon. On his way thither, he narrowly
escaped death, from tailing through an open
hatchway on the lower deck. At Colombo
he was overwhelmed with kindness, and fin-
ished the year by preaching in the cathedral

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 309

before the Governor and a large congrega-
tion.

On the first of February we find liim at
Madras, now left destitute of a bishop, good
Dr. Spencer luiviiig returned to England
with a constitution much shattered by the
climate.

Bishop "Wilson forgot that he was getting
to be an old man, and labored with so little
regard to strength, that he was attacked with
a low fevei-, and was hurried ofi' to sea by
his physician, although he begged to be per-
mitted to remain long enough to administer
Confirmation to several hundred persons who
were waiting to receive it. Once more at
Calcutta, his recovery was rapid, and he was
able to discharge his duties as usual.

Early in September, 1849, he took j^osses-
sion of a new mansion which had been pre-
pared for him, and he thus refers to it in his
journal :

"'This is the first day I have come over to
study, and write, and meditate. I sit in the
third story. The prospect is exquisite. The

310 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOX.

cathedral adjoin? the compound; the espla-
nade stretches unobstructed to the south and
south-east; the air is delicious. We sliall not
come to live here, most likely, till <»>ir retuin
from visitation ; lor we start a^^ain, please
God, on September 21st. Now I desire to
dedicate this new abode to Thy glory, O
Lord! May every succeeding bisljoj) live
and preach Thy Gospel more and more
clearly; ni;iy every r«Kiiii have its alUir of
prayer aud praise ; and may this change 1x3
for tlie comfort and usefulness of Thy serv-
ant's successors, and the glory of Thy great
and holy name."

On the 21st of the m(»nth his visitation
was resumed ; and in the usual accommoda-
tion boat the Bishop ascended the river to
Allahabad, and then droj)j>ed down, stopping
at the various stations, and performing the
required duties. With these stations and
duties the reader is now familiar, so that it
will be sufficient to state that the journey
was performed in safety, and Calcutta re-
gained on January 22d, 1S50.

LIFE OF BISIIOI' WILSON. 311

In Auirust of this year he made another
circuit, a summary of his hil)ors being thus
given by hiniMlf : "In tliiriy-six days I have
2)reached eighteen times. The good seed
sown in tliese visitations is of the last import-
ance. 1 am satisfied a Bithop does notiiing
more usefuh The tone of religion is raised.
Individuals are touched. The clergy are
roused, liut I shall be glad of rest now,
after a journey of two thousand miles, and
eierht stations, with about a thousand Chris-
tians altogether. Most of these have never
been visited before. Jiesides preaching, I
have held four conlirnuiiions, have conse-
crated one church and cemetery, and opened
two others. Eben-Ezer I Hitherto the Lord
hath helped us. Fine weufther, a favorable
entrance amongst the peojde, grace sufficieni.
good health, our beloved Church strength-
ened, error denounced, Christ alone exalted,
many souls, I hope, blessed forever — the~e
have been the characteristics of this visita-
tion."

The Bishop had hardly got rested, after

312 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

this journey, before he received a letter from
the Bishop of London, begging him to pro-
ceed to the ishmd of 13<»ine<», and consecrate
the new church recently erected by Sir
James Brooke, the liajuh of Sarawak. A
voyage of fourteen weeks and a journey of
four thousand miles was thus suggested, by
the stroke of a pen, to a Bishop in his
seventy-third year! For a moment his heart
sank wiiliin him; but he had never vet de-
clined the call of duty, and his courage soon
revived. lie communicated with the Gov-
ernment, and no obstacle juvsenting itself, he
resolved to go.

Setting sail on tlie llih of November, and
preaching and contirming at various stations
by the way, he Reached Borneo on the 18tb
of January, l>ol. The church, though not
quite covered in, was consecrated amidst an
imijieiise assemblage of Chinese, Malays, and
Dyaks, from all i)arts of the island. It was
built of iron- wood and the pahn- ree, and
was a handsoujc structuie.

"Never," said the Bishop, '' did I feel such

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 313

delight in consecrating a church. The site
of it, two years ago, was covered with thick
jungle; and Sarawak itself, ten years ago,
was desolated by pirates. The whole is next
to miraculous ; and if the evangelical spirit
govern the mission, and strong, heroic men
can be sent forth, full of faith and love, glo-
rious things may be anticipated in fuaire
years."

Many services were performed by the
Bishop on his return to Calcutta, where he
landed on the 14th of March.

We referred in a former chapter to the
appointment of a j)n.fL'6sur in the College,
with views which gave the Bishop much
unea iuess. A few days after his return from
Borneo, word M'as brought that Professor
Street was very ill, and desired to see liiuL
lie went without delay. '' His appeaiance
[says the Bishop] was death-like ; and though,
from the spasmodic action of the throat, he
could not speak, yet his intellect was clear.
I simply directed him to the bleeding Lamb,
and His one ottering for sin, in a few strong
27

314 LIFE OF BISHOP ^VII.-«^.

words, and then made a short prayer lo tl.u
same effect, mentioning; tlie righteousness of
Clirist ahjue for justification, and the influ-
ences of the Holy Spirit for sanctification.
I then kissed liim, pronounced tlie benedic-
tion, and retired."

As the Bishop was leavin":, the dying man
raised himself in his bed, and with a great
effort said, "God bless your lonhiiij).'' This
was tlu'ir hist iiitcrvirw. Tia- Professor died,
and the Bishop officiated at the funeral.

Thus do the differences which divide
Churclimen fade away as they approach the
borders of that better wurhl where tiie spirit
of controversy and (li^c^»rd can never come.

The Bishop's own health had become so
feeble, that wiien the time for his visitatittn
to the upper provinces returned, he com-
missioned the ArchdeacMtn to go in his j)lace
and look after ihe atlairs of tlie churches
there. Before the Aiehdeacon's departure,
another faithful ciiaige was delivi-red lo the
clergy.

In January, lbo'3, the Bishop of Victoria,

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 315

who liappened to be in Calcutta at the time,
attended his hundred and twenty -second
clerical meeting, and thus describes the
Bishop of Calcutta as he then appeared :

" It is one of the most noble, as well as
one of the most affecting spectacles I have
ever witnessed, that of an aged man like
him, voluntarily separated in his last years
from his beloved family (and my presence
when he read his last letters from his chil-
dren enabled me to perceive how greatly he
loved them), and waiting for his sunnnons in
humble faith and love. T never before saw
him. I shonld inuij^ine that he is {jrettinj;
feeble in body, but he retains a wonderful
amount of mental energy and vigor, and sits
up nuiny hours in the day to his desk, read-
ing or writing. The voice fails him most, so
that he does not now preach so often, but
gives most powerful expositions at morning
and evening family devotions."

In the autumn of 1854, the Bishop's eldest
grandson, Daniel Frederick Wilson (with his
wife), arrived in Calcutta. He was gladly

316 LIFE OF BISUOP WILSON.

received, admitted into Holy Orders, and,
during the short period of his visit, attached
to the catliedial.

At the counnencement of the year 1854 a
short visit was paid to the missionary stations
of Ki-ishnaghur and Buidwau ; but the more
lensthened visitation was reserved for the
autumn, when, with Mr. and Mrs. Bloom-
fiehl as liis comj)anions, tlie Bisliop ascended
the river i<» Alhihal»:id, as in former times.

Here he stayed a week, performing the
customary duties, and liohling an ordination
for three missionary candidates, one of wliom
was Daoutl Singh, of Umritsir, who iiad
nuiintained a steady Christian character lor
nine years, Tiien droi>ping down the river
quietly, he performed, without fatigue, the
duties of each !«uecessive station, and havijig
" set in order the things that were wanting,"
he arrived in Calcutta at the close of the
year lS5i.

A few extracts from the Bishop's journal
must suffice for the following year.

" February oth. On Saturday the East

LIFE OF BISnOP WILSON. 317

Indian Railway was publicly inaugurated
by the Governor-General. Alcoves with
flowers formed a covered way from the Ghat
to an ornamented steamer ; the orher alcoves
led np to the station-house. At nine o'clock
the Governor-General arrived, and I read a
prayer, in my church robes, before the train
started. Mr. Fisher, who was acting as
archdeacon, and Mr. Bloomfield, in their
surplices, read some jwrtions of Holy Scrip-
ture. Twenty-four carriages then carried
six or seven hundred gentlemen to Burdwin,
a distance of sixty -seven miles, in three hours.
There a breakfast was prepared, and a number
of excellent speeches were afterwards deliv-
ered. I reached home by half-past seven,
after eleven hours of great heat and fatigue."
, Dr. Macdougal, of Borneo, having been
appointed Bishop of Labuan, his consecration
took place at Calcutta. Bishop Wilson thus
refers to it : " Oct. 13.— Things are moving
on. The Bishop-elect of Labuan arrived last
week ; Bishop Smith (Victoria) on the 10th ;
Bishop and Mrs. Dealtry (Madras) are ex-
27*

318 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSOX.

pected to-morrow. Dr. Macdoiigal, with liis
buoyant spirits, fine health, and romantic zeal,
is very much liked. All the gentry are asking
him to dinner. I have promised him the
offertory on Thursday, and a sermon on the
2Sth, for the benefit of his Sarawak mission.''
" Monday, October 22d. The consecration
took phice with wonderful success on Thurs-
day. Bishops Dealtry and Smith only just
arrived in time. Dealtry preached a glorious
sermon, which will be printctl. The cathe-
dral was crowded. Hundreds crammed
themselves into every corner ; but liundrcds
could get no admission. Tiie sight of the two
assistant Bishops conducting the Bi5;h(»j)-elect
in his rochet from the distant vestry and
presenting him to me was most affecting;
and when, having returned to robe himself,
he kneeled at the communion rails, the con-
gregation seemed overwhelmed. The j.res-
ence of three Bishops, in thi' heart ol' luatlicu
India, setting apart a Missionary Bish..p fur
the immense field of Borneo, was an event
almost miraculous."

Chapter f lucntn-liftfr.

LAST CHARGE TO THE CLERGY — SEVENTH VISITATION

BRAVE OLD MAX — FAILING STREXCJTII — HIS RESOLUTION
TO DIE AT HIS POST — THE INDIAN MUTINY — TRYING
THE EFFECTS OF SEA AIR — LAST ORDINATION — CON-
FINED TO THE BED "l AM TALKIN(i IN MY SLEEP" —

ALL IS PEACE ITNEHAL SOLEMNITIES BRIEF EPITOME

OF HIS LABORS CHARACTER — HIS BENEFACTIONS

PECULIARITIES.

N tlie 23d of October, 1855, Bishop
Wilson delivered his last charge to
his clergy. It was founded upon the
address of St. Paul to the presbyfers
of the Church at Epliesus, and was
full of wholesome and fatherly coun-
sels ; and then, though seventy-eight years
of age, the brave old man set out on another
visitation, liis seventh and last. It will be
needless to go much into details. The
ground passed over was, for the most part,
what we are already familiar with. The last
Burmese war had, however, greatly enlarged
the British possessions in India, and when-

320 LIFE OF BIS nop WILSON.

ever the Bishop visited any new points, he
manifested his accustonied enemv in having
churches establislied, and otlier imj>oitant
agencies i)Ut in motion. His route includttl
both Madras and Ceylon. He was now sub-
ject to more frequent attacks of sickness, and
early in the year 18.57 lie had a fall, which
fractured his ihigh-bone ; but, through the
mercy of God, lie recovered much more
speedily than cuuhl have been expected at
his advanced age.

IJ.is children became more farncst than
ever that he should retire from jmblic dut}'
and spend his last days in the bosom of his
fa.iiily. lie still insisted, however, that a
Bishop should die at his post, and he accord-
ingly remained where he was.

About this time the terrible Indian mutiny
began, but this is no place to detail it* hor-
rors. While all about him were bi'wildered
and alarmed, the Bishop was calm and col-
lected, and called upon them to look to God
for help. Calcutta was crowded with fugi-
tives from the upper provinces, who had

LIFE OF BISHOP AVILSON. 321

barely escaped with their lives, and he cheer-
fully bore his part towards the relief of their
pressing wants.

Towards the last of October his health
became so feeble, that lie was once more
urged to try the eflects of a short sea-voyage.
On his return to Calcutta he was able to
hold an ordination in the cathedral. As the
Bishop expressed it, when speaking of liis
failing health, " Tlie old building may be
patched up a little, bnt it is worn out. The
order of nature fixes its speedy dissolution,
and the purposes of tlio ' only wise God'
will direct the time and tlie way."

Again, at the repeated requests of his
friends, he went out to the receiving-ship,
cruising around the sand-heads, that he
might breathe the sea air, but he expected
little benefit from the change. His antici-
pations proved true. He preached to those
on board until the 27th of December, when
he became so weak that he told those present
at Divine service that they would hear his
voice no more. He was barely able to reach

322 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

home. His last dajs were spent in devo-
tional exercises, deeds of charity, and in set-
ting his house in order, for his departure
hence.

As his kind physician sat by his bed-side,
on the night of Januar}'- 1st, 1856, the Bishop
said to him, " Now you had better go ; I
only thought I should like to see you once
again before you retired." lie was asked
to send a summons at any time during the
night if he wanted anything, and was then
recommended to compose himself to sleep.
"Sleep." he replied, "I am asleep already.
I AM TALKING TS stY SLEEP." Remarkable
words ! Death in his case wa.s felt without
being realized. It was the " Sleep of
Death."

As the Archdeacon was rising early in the
morning to visit the sick-room, a servant
came running to call him. Tlirough the
night, it appeared, the Bishoi) ^>»d ^een some-
what restless, as aforetime. At half past five
in the morning he had his usual cup of tea;
and the bearer, at his wish, combed the few

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 323

thin, white hairs which were to him " a crown
of glory." He then lay down again, and
seemed to fall into a doze. His old and
faithful Sirdar, the man who had assisted
him when liillen in the verandah, the year
before, sat with the other servants, just in-
side the door, waiting and watchino-.

As time passed on, they were all struck
with the unusual stillness. Kot a sound was
heard — not a movement made. All was
silent and motionless. At length they be-
came frightened, and one ran for help. The
Archdeacon hurried to the room, and found
the Bishop lying calm, and apparently un-
conscious. Doubttul wla-tiier what he saw
was life or death, and unwilling to utter a
disturbing word, he instantly knelt down
and oflered up the prayer appointed for a
departing soul: "Wash it in tlie blood of
that immaculate Lamb that was slain to take
away the sins of the world, that whatever
delilements it may have contracted in the
midst of this miserable and naughty world,
through the lusts of the flesh or the wiles of

324 LIFE OF BISHOP "SVILSON.

Satan, being purged away, it may be pre-
sented pure and witliout spot before Tliee."
Then, rising from liis kiiocs, ho kissed the
pale, coM cliet'k, and souglit lor any linger-
ing signs of life, But none a])i)eared. With-
out a struggle or a sigh, the soul had loft its
earthly tenement, and in that hour the Mas-
ter liad fultilled the oft-repeated prayer tiiat
his servant might ** End well."

Soon a little group of mourners stood
around the lifoloss body. It lay upon a
couch in the study where so many hours had
been passed, surrounded by books and papers,
the eyes closed, the features calm, the hands
gently crossed upon the breast. Dn a table
by his sido stood the desk so lately opened
by his trembling hands. There, also, lay the
broken watch, the unfinished letter, and the
oft-read Bible. It was a ^ight inexpressibly
aflfecting to those loving friends, and sent
them at once to the throne of grace and the
God of all comfort. Thanksgivings mingled
with their prayers. They thanked (iod for
liaving taken t<» ]lim^t•]f tlio sold of thi> do-

LIFE OF BISEIOI' WILSOX. 325

parted in such perfect peace, and prayed that
they iiiiglit follow liitii as he had followed.
Christ. Then, rising from their knees, they
went to duty. Bishoj) AVil<on's funeral took
place on the 4th of January, and one of the
Calcutta journals gives this account of it:

"The mortal remains of this venerable
prelate were consigned to their last resting-
place at St. Paul's Cathedral, which was in
deep mourning, on Monday evening last.
At about a quarter after four, p.m., the cof-
fin, whieh w:i> ot" mahogany, covered with
silk velvet, and suitably adorned, was re-
moved from the Bishop's palace to the ca-
thedral. It was placed on a large bier, borne
by twelve English sailors — picked men, of
good repute, from 11. M. S. Hotspur, then
lying in the river — and was followed by the
Governor-General, the Lieutenant-Governor,
the Members of Council, the Judges of the
Supreme Court, the Secretaries, many civil
and military officers, almost all the clergy
and missionaries, and a large concourse of
people of all classes, male and female. In
28

326 LIFE OF BISnOP WILSOX.

this order the solemn procession arrived at
the gate of tlie cathedral, where it was pre-
ceded hy the Reverend Messrs. Moule and
Burney, the former reading a portion of the
burial service, till they entered the church,
when the rest of the service was gone through
by both of the clergymen above named.
The doleful peals of the organ, at the conclu-
sion of the service, added to the solemnity
of the occasion ; and though the cathedral
was crowded to sutFocation, the quiet main-
tained throughout was admirable. Every
one vied with his fellow to have a last part-
ing look at the place where the venerable
divine's remains were laid, and all seemed
impressed with deep sorrow for the loss they
had sustained. The coffin is laid inmiediatc-
ly under the communion-table, in a vault
constructed for the purpose. The bells of nil
the Established churches sounded their sol-
emn knell from three o'clock to the hour of
burial. Thus ended the career of this pious
and faithful servant of Christ. Overwhelmed
with the care of his flock, he spared neither

LITE OF BISHOP WILSON. 327

health nor comfort, at the advanced age of
eightj, to watch over then- spiritual interests,
even to the last moment of his existence.
His charitable disposition and kindness of
heart will ever be remembered with feeline:s
of deep and lasting gratitude. His end was
peace. AVell may he have said, with St.
Paul, 'I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown
of righteousness, which the Lord, the right-
eous Judge, shall give me in tliat day.' "

"The Church of England in India," says
another newspaper of the day, " when Bishop
AVilson arrived, had i'ew chaplains, few
churches, imperfect organization, and no in-
fluence beyond that which had been gained
by Heber, Corrie, Martyn, and a few more,
in a comparatively narrow circle. He saw
the whole aspect of things changed, and the
energy of the Christian community expand-
ing with the increase of the diocese. His
preaching in all parts of India, contributions
to religious purposes, the example of his zeal,

328 LIFE OF BISHOP "WnLSON.

his firmness in resisting doctrinal error, his
growing catholicity of sj^irit, and his piivate
influence concurred powerfully with other
causes to strengthen the English Church, to
raise the tune of public sentiment, and to
attract to India the attenlion of many who
never had thought of her before. We do
not propose to sketch minutely his public or
his private character, but nr>ne who knew
Bishop Wilson can iiave overlooked the
steadfastness of his friendships, the warmth
of his piety, the clearness of his views, the
keenness of his sagacity, the power of his
memory, and the undiminished vigor of his
understanding to the close.

"His acquaintance with many of the best
men of bygi>ne years had given him a fund
of interesting knowledge, and his extensive
experience of life enabled him to discern the
characters of men with remarkably quick
penetration. There have been many who
have mistaken both his character and man-
ner; many who have been unable to appre-
ciate his sterling excellences and the difli-

LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON. 329

culties of his position ; many who have been
offended by his preaching. But his powers
were as undoubted as his zeal ; and England
will cherish his memory. Many such she
lias given to India for other kinds of public
service, and recent intelligence has shown
the promptitude of our countrymen to de-
mand for them justice and rewards. But
' peace hatli her victories no less renowned
than war,' and we doubt not that the linished
course of tliis venerable servant of God will
strike a chord in the heart of England, and
kindle into life the latent energies of many
who will emulate his faith and holiness."

The Bishop left eight thousand volumes for
the use of St. Paul's Cathedral ; and to his
successors in office, his carriages, and many
other things which would be useful to them.
His legacies to various Church societies and
benevolent institutions were large and liberal.

Tliis sketch of Bishop Wilson would hardly

be complete without a brief reference to his

jpeculiarities. " He suffered them to grow,"

remarks Mr. Bateman, " and they became

28*

330 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

marked features. It was not originality or
eccentricity so much as peculiarity and
oddity — an odd M'ay of saying and doing odd
things. And yet there was something of
originality in what was thus done and said —
something of set purpose — something which
gave point to the expression and took firm
hold upon the mcmury. It wjis discernible
in his conversation. To young chaplains,
when first they arrived in India, he would
say, 'Don't see the sun for two years.*
' Don't eat too much — don't stuff.' ' The most
healthy comple.xion for India is that of a
boiled chicken. The great secret of health
is a contented mind.' "

Speaking of a missionary who had sought
and obtained a chaj)lain(y, he said, " Ah I
he was a true missionary ; perhai)s there was
not a better in India. But Satan and Eve
have persuaded him to (pi it the W(»rk."

One of the chaplains in the upper prov-
inces had preached a >ermon, in his presence,
strongly directed against Calvinism. The
argument was elaborate, and claimed to be

LIFE OF BISHOP WTLSON. 331

triumphant. The Bishop said nothing at
the time ; but when about to step into his
palanquin and leave the station, he shook
liands kindly with the chaplain's wife, and
thanked her for her courtesy, adding, " Please
to tell your husband that he has not settled
that question.''

lie would often join together a commenda-
tion and a caution. Thus, introducing a
chaplain to tlie Governor, he mentioned him
as one " who bids fair to be very valuable to
us, if only God keeps him humble."

It appeared in his actions. "When ill,
once, at Serampore, and unable to join the
dinner-circle, a little portion had been sent
into his study. He had just eaten it, when
the doctor called to inquire after his health.
" How are you now, my lord ?" " Better,
thank you. 1 have been eating a little din-
ner." " It will be well for you, then, to lie
down by-and-by, and rest for an hour or two."
He rang his hand-bell, and when the servants
appeared, said, " Lord Sahib sota" (the Lord
Bishop sleeps). The next instant he had left

332 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

the study, lain down in liis bed, and covered
himself up for sleep, leaving the doctor
amazed at the sudden result of his prescrip-
tion.

It characterized his e.\j)08ition8 of Scri|>-
t.ure. One of liis cliaplains was ordered up
to the Punjaub, but his wife was unwilling
to go. In the course of the morning's read-
ing it happened that this passage occurred :
"Having his children and his household in
subjection witli all gravity." "Now," said
the Bishop, commenting on it, "I don't call
it having his household in stil»jcction with all
gravity, when one of my chajilains is ordered
up to Lahore, and his wife says she won't go."

It sometimes apj)cared in his family devo-
tions. Not that they were tw fann"liar— for
familiarity is the mark of a child, and (iod
was indeed his Father and his Friend — but
he went very mtieh into detail, and ran
sometimes into discussion and narration.
He would tell how this thing happened, or
that ; why he had done this, an.l whv that.
If he returned thanks for deliverance from

LITE OF BISHOP WILSON. 333

shipwreck, lie would tell how the vessel
rolled, and the boiler burst, and the passen-
gers were obliged to hold by post and rail.

" I am 60 surprised at the Bishop's pray-
ers," said a lady who was staying at the
palace ; " are they really prayers ?" " I will
tell liini what you say," said his chaplain,
" and ask him your question." "Tell her,"
said the Bishop, wIkii this purpose was car-
ried into eftect, " to read her Bible, and mark
the prayers of Moses, David, Isaiah, Jere-
miah, Daniel, Nehemiah, and others ; she
will find that discussion and narration is the
basis of prayer. All these talked with God."

As for his faults, they will have been dis-
cerned by the reader lung ago. No attempt
has been made to disguise or conceal them.
They all lay upon the side of hasty impulse,
quick action, sharp words, want of considera-
tion for others, a sanguine temperament,
something of egotism, and occasional inaccu-
racy of statement. If the reader has the
heart to dwell upon them after the d-eep self-
abasement they have caused and the lowly

334 LIFE OF BISHOP WILSON.

confessions thev have called forth, he is of
course at liberty to do so. They are not
denied. All with whom the Bishop came in
contact have felt them in their turns; but all
with one accord enshrined his niemoiy in
tlieir hearts ; all revere his name ; all ac-
knowledge his worth ; all assert his piety ;
all would fain tread in his steps ; all say,
with Allan Wcbl), a|>ostropliizitig his lifeless
body — " A Brave axi> \oblk Soldier ; a
Wise, Bold Leader. I Esteem rr tiik
Greatest Privilege of my Life to have
Xkown AjfD Loved LLim."

CKinCAL NOTICES.

THE

HOLY DAYS OF THE CHURCH

BY MRS. MARY E. BRADLEY.

This IB one of three Church books which we wish to be
used in training up the young in the knowledge of reli-
gion and discipline of the Church. Fiist should come Mrs.
D. P. Siinforrl's "Church Primer" for the beginners; next,
this lK)ok, which gives the Liturgical Order, and explains
to youthful capacities the Holy days in the Christian year,
imparting much collateral information ; and third. Dr.
Coxe's ••'I'houghU on the Services." ITiey all, taken in
roUtion, would build up a young person into being an in-
telligent, conscientious Churchman, and, while creating
attachment for the Church, would furnish him reasons for
his devotional practicx'8, and make him strong again.st
gainsayers. Not that we consider that these volumes con-
tain all that may be SJiid in fuvor of the Church system, or
tdl knowledge couc-erning it, but that they are excellently
suggestive, being free from polemical discussion, and ad-
mirably adapted for the designed i)urpose. The book be-
fore us is beautifully gotten up, having several engrav-
ings; but we recommend it specially for its contents in
poetry and prose, which answer the question, "What
mean ye by thii service?" — Calendar.
G4

CKITICAL NOTICES.

ADDRESSES

CANDIDATES FOR OIIDIXATION,

ON TUI

QUESTIONS IN Till: OIIIUNATION SKHVJCE.

i;r THK HISHOP <iF OXFOED.

Every Prit-st, when not prcvonU-*! by Ih'* iirgont call* of
panxliial <liity, ouRlit to review the Ortliimtion S«Tvicc on
ever)' annivenwiry of his (ulmitoUun to holy onlrnt. Here
is a iMxik well worthy his attention in connection with
this 8\il>ject. It hius an A<liin's« Xvuetl on ••iwh inquiry put
to the candidate for Ordination — twelve Addromrs in all.
It is needleKS to say that they are highly HUggentive, In-
Btructivo, and encourapinp. while ahoundinp with t«>lemn
warnings, since they were delivere«l by such a man as the
Wslinp of Oxford, and delivered by him at gncci-KUve
Ordinations in his dioccso, Put we recommend this vol-
ume specially to students in Divinity, who have yet in
jirospect their reception <jf the a<mniii«ion of a Minister
of Jesus Christ, 'lliey will tind in this book much cx-
phinative of the meaning of the Oniinal, and much noblj
Ciilculatc<i to 8tir their holii-st affections, ami to induce
many serious reflections on the rexponsibilities of the
sacred oflice. This would, indeed, con»titutc a good ttixt-
book in Pastoral Theoloijy. — Calendar.
65

CRITICAL NOTICES.

BLIND LILIAS;

OH,

F K L I. O W S H I*P WITH GOD

A lALE FOll THE YOUXG.

BY A L-VDV.

The triumphs of evangelical principle are graphically
delinoaUxl in this Biniplcand iK'autiful narrative. It t^Us
of dis< ipline in aniiction, and of its gradual work in re-
fining and rectifying corrupt nature. By degrees the
perverse will is overcome, and the heart renewed in
rightcou.snes.'*, till the kingdom of Go<i is estaldlshed in
the soul. With an intimate knowled;j;e of human nature,
and a charming naturahu-ss, the laiiy author has brought
before us the life-like portmiture of a young and ingenu-
ous girl, affectionate, impresi*ible, and impulsive, but
wayward and self-willed ; full of warm and generous
feelings, but perverse, proud, and passionate ; with a mind
of superior power and great intelligence, but headstrong
and impatient of control — a character needing the severe
clia-stcning with which, in the providence of God, she is
visitetl, to prepare her heart to receive the heavenly
leaven. Finally, the child of nature Ix'comes the cliild
of grace, and walks in foUowtihlp with God. Tliis story
abounds with interesting incidents. ITie volume is beau-
tifully gotten up, and adorned with plates. -Calendar.
66

CRITIC A r, NOTICES.

Kalli, the Esquimaux Christian. A Memoir. By the

Kev. T. B Murray, M.A. New York : The Church Book

Society. 1861.

The conversion of this young man is one of the fruits
of Arctic expeditions. In November, 1851, Knllihirua wivs
placed in the Missionary College of St. Augustine, Cun-
terhury, England, at the siigpe.«<tion of the Society for tho
Propagation of the Gospel. Tlie intention wa« to fit hira
for missionary work m hi.s native land. He met the de-
sires of his Christian friends in respect to progress in liter-
ary and spiritual preparation for his designed work. He
has been of great help in compiling a Ctreenland f^^iui-
maux Vocabulary. But he departed this life in June,
185G, through a disease aggravated or accelerated by bis
close application in St. John's College, Newfoundland.
This memoir contains mu<h collateral infortnation ain-
cerning the Esquimaux countrj', the inh.U.itants, thiir
customs, religious notions, etc., I>eside8 many u.seful re-
flections. — Cikitiltir.

Christmas Day tells how plea.««intly n little boy spent
this great Festival, and with what a happy heart he went
to his bed at night, Ix-cause he hail endeavored not to be
selfish in his enjoyments, but mneml>ering the text,
" Glory to God in the highest, and on earth pcsicc, good-
will toward men." had i)nitticed the " good-will" there
enjoined.— CAf/rcA Ititdligauxr.

The Church Book Society has is.sued, in neat form, the
admirable sermon preached at the late annual meeting in
New Haven by the Rev. Dr. Randall. It discu-sses the
mutual relations between " Our Sunday Schools and our
Country," in a manner which shows at once the deep
thinker, the sound Churchman, and the true patriot.—
CItitrch Journal.

CKITICAL NOTICES.

"We have received from the General Protestant Episcopal
Sunday School Union and Church Book Society, New York,
F. D. Harriman, Agent, the following :

The Holy Days of the Church. By Mrs. Mary E.

Bradley.

Plain explanations of our Holy Days, designed especially
for children. It is crowded with beautiful illustrations.
Basil, the Fai'hful Eoy.
Dora and Charlie- hy the author of "Little Dora:"

and The Blind Boy, by Rev. H. Hastings Weld.
The Eose JPuds. By Mrs. D. p. Sanford, author of

" First Scripture Lessons," etc.

Little Mary's Pet and The Arab Horse.
The Faithfiil Friends and The Swallow.

Five pretty 82nio books, of about OU pages each, foi
young children. Elegantly illustrated. The first three
are especially good. — Episcopal Recorder.

Thoughts on the Services. Designed as an Introduc-
tion to the Liturgy, and an Aid to its Devout U.se. By
A. Cleveland Coxe, Kector of Grace Church, Baltimore.
Third American edition.

This admirable work was republished from Dr. Coxe's
contributions to a periodical which originally appeared hi
1845, and has already passed through two editions, besides
being reprinted in England. It will prove an acceptable
and valuable volume to all, but particularly in missionary
districts, where families are remote from the privileges of
the Church, and to the young, who require to learn that
the arrangement of the lessons and other portions of
Scripture is a commentary of itself, and that the word
thus fitly spoken is indeed " like apples of gold in pictures
of silver."— C7<MrcA Record.

CRmCAL NOTICKS.

Addresses to the Candidates for Ordination, on the

Questions in the Oidinali'.n Service. By tbe Hiahop nf

Oxford. I'rice $1.

Wc arc glad to .^ce this most valuable book publihhcd,
and to see it appjirently endorsed in quarters where the
Bishop has too often been censured. It in tvidrnt, it is
thought, a great good ain come out of him, and we rejuic«
it i.s thought so. No better means can In? employe*! to
raise in men's thoughts the stiindurd of minUlerinl piety
and duty than tlie circulatii>u and rcoiling of this Iniok.
A note to this American edition snys tnilr : '* Itarcly is
one permitted to read a work so rich with the sweetuc«
and riuliual with the lovt-linei* of pivty. so bathed in ilie
spiritual deeps of devotion, s»i strict in its portraiture of
holiness, wiiile, at the same time, so just and judicious in
it9 a'ihercnce to order ; presenting the Uuspil of Ji-sus in
the Cliurch of Jt-sus ; go fn-e from the extn-mes of parti-
sans ; exasgerating neither the subji-ctive nor objtvtivo
influences of Christianity, l>ut according to the pn>portions
of faith, atijiisting ihe inward and outward of religion in
a divine harmony.— Z?ann«- o/ the Crott.

'riie Church Bt>ok Society lays four new l>ook« on our
table. Mrs. Sanford's " Ilo»ebu<U' is s ver) little volume,
with cuts much less.attractive than the lively work of the
popular authoress. " Jw«y Muores Four Gift^.' and
" Not Lost, but Laid Aside," are two nice tales, the latter
bearing on the title i«ge "a trucstory." 'llie fourth isu
memoir of •Kalli. th.- r><iuimau.\ l"hristian," which isu
brief but very iaten sting narrative. Kolli was Uiplixed
in the old church t.f S. Martin, Canterbury, and died soon
after in Ncwfounlland. while the devoted Bishop of New-
foundhmd was in the act of commending his soul to God
in prayer — Cliurch JtAiriud.

CRITICAL NOTICES.

Little Mary's Pets. This is designed to excite senti-
ments of kindness toward the dumb creatures. Be-
tween the same covers is a line story of

The Arab Horse, showing the intelligence, docility, and
natural uoMoiu-ss'of that animal.

The Faithful Friends. This story ought to be read
aft«r the ' ' Faithful Boy . ' ' In the same volume is a tale
about

The Sparrow, which gives an insight into the nature
and habits of that bird.

Basil, the Faithful Boy. An entertaining story, incul-
cating a good religious moral.

Dora and Charlie. By the author of "Little Dora."
Here ib a pleasing narrative of two afifectionate chil-
dren, and of the Christian influences brought to bear on
them in forming their character. In this book, too, is
another story entitled

The Blind Boy, which brings before the reader a picture
of hiiiiseliold synipathy and tenderness, sanctified by
religious princijiles.

The Old Cabinet; or, Leigh Thornton's Choice. By

Helen Wall Pierson.

This is a larger publication of the Church Book Society
than those just noticed, and though we have spoken of it
so recently, we take occasion to recommend it again ; for
its moral is so excellent, and the teaching of it so impor-
tant, that we wish that it might be read, not only by
youth, but by parents who wish their children to grow up
and be honest men, lirm in their integrity, ready to sacri-
fice selfishness, and willing to render justice, whether or
not compelle 1 by statute. Procure this book, and read it
aloud in your family, and talk over its contents. — Calendar.
76

CRITICAL NOTICKS.

Thoughts on the Services. Pt-signed as an Introduc-
tiun to the Liturgy, and an Aid to its Devout Use. By
, A. Cleveland Co.xe, Rector of Grace Church, Baltimore.
We are happy to phue again in our columns the title of
a book which we highly esteem and desire to be widely
circulated. First published two years ago, it£ third edition
is now rapidly selling otf. Tliis work, a£ now published
has been greatly improved and enlarged since its first pub-
lication. Every person desiring an intelligent apprecia-
tion of the Church Service should pt^ruse this book, which
explains, in an interesting manner, the connection and re-
lation of the different parts of the Liturgioil order. Wo
recommend these "Thoughts' to the attention of young
pers«ins who would have their eyes and heart£ open to the
beauty, excellence, and Scriptural charoiter of the Lit-
urgy. — CaUndar.

The Children's Chant Book is a brief but very good

selection of cliaiits ;uid uuils, juid is st>ld cheap — the one
great requisite for Sunday Schools and gtnend use. It is 32
pages, and only three cenU. It contains 13 chant* (of which
one is given twice), with two rcspt)nse8 to the Command-
ments, three Glorias, and a Triaaffion. At the end are The
Christmas Trtt. The Chnstnuu CaiUata, Tht Thrte Kings of Ori-
ent, and Carol, Brothers, Carol. — Churdi Journal.

Christmas-Tide, and its Customs. By the Rev. t. b.

.MuiT.iy, M.A.

A book for the season, givin? a brief account of ancient
Chrihtm;is customs, some of which are still retained in
England; and also pointing out the way in which we
should individually apply the religious teachings of the
day. Three hymns for the Christmas festivals ore bound
in the same volume. —CAurcA IiUtUigencer.
77

CEITICAL NOTICES.

The Lily of Tiflis. A Sketch from Georgian Church

History.

A thrilling story, giving an account of the attack and
overtlirow of the Georgian Christians hy the Moliammedans
under the fierce Menian. The firm faith and heroic death
of the good Queen Susanna and little Tamar is a touching
exhibition of what the Christian religion can fit one to en-
dure. Through mental and bodily anguish they passed
alike unshaken, sustained by the religion which they pro-
fessed. This is one of a series of tales now being published
to illustrate the chief events in ecclesiastical history, thus
enabling the general reader to become acquainted with
facts otherwise scarcely known to any but the student of
divinity. — Church Intelligencer.

The Life of Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Dowti, Connor,

and Dromore. By George L. Duyckinck.

We take pleasure in bringing this little volume to the
notice of our readers, many of whom, we are sure, must
be hearty admirers of that most excellent man, Jeremy
Taylor, most justly called by Coleridge "The Shakspeare
of Theolog)'. ' ' The truth and beauty of the title conferred
upon him by the poet have been so widely recognized,
that it now seems inseparable from the name. Mr. Duyck-
inck has been most successful in his undertaking, and has
given the world a life of Bishop Taylor adapted equally to
youthful and mature readers. He has also been most
happy in selecting, so far as a small volume would allow,
the finest productions of " The Shakspeare of Theology,"
side by side with the incidents which in many cases gave
them birth. This biography is a fitting companion to the
Life of George Herbert, also by Mr. Duyckinck, which was
publi.«hed by the Church Book Society last year. — Chicago
Record.

CEITICAL NOTICES.
THE

ciiriirii AM) Till-; ri:i:ss;

OR,

ClIi:i>'iIA.\ LIlKKATli:!-:
THE INIIEKITAXCE OF THE CHlia II,

AMD

THE PRESS AS EDUCATOK ANI> AN ETAXGEUST.

A Sermon preached in Richmond, at St. I*)kur« Church,
October lllth, 18:)9. nt the Eleventli Trlrnnlal Meeting
of the Sundiiy Schocjl Union and Chiirxh Ilook Society.
By A. Clkvela.vd Coxe, Kivtur of Grace Churrh. Ualti-
more. Fourth Thounand. New York : OenenU Pro-
testant Epimxipal S. 8. Union and Churrh IkM>k Foci-
ety, No. 762 Broadway.

" A sermon of Dr. Cleveland Coxe's iwual thooRhtfnl«
ncss and fulness of critical ami imitginativc power, and
more than usuidly able, urKCft upon American Churchmen
the imperative duty of using the powerful inctrument of
the Press mtire thorouphly and mf>re mUously. Hia re-
marks are not without their moral to ourwlvcs. To our
colonies they speak its appnipriat<dy and as urgently m to
America herself." — Guardunt (Ijondon, &tg.)
79

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