A GREAT AGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 38, 14 February 1931, Page 1 (Supplement)

A GREAT AGE.

BEST IN THE VICTORIANS.

FAMOUS DEAN'S LETTERS.

(By H.T.C.)

There are signs that we are coming to the conclusion that the once despised Victorian Age was perhaps not so despicable after all, and that the Victorians had some very fine qualities. Even the Queen herself, in spite of her prejudices and limitations, merited the title of "great." A new volume, "A Victorian Dean," by the Dean of Windgor and Hector Bolitho, the New Zealand writer, is an evidence of this changed spirit.* Mr. Bolitho in his charmingly written introduction admits that his mind was once clouded with the prejudice of his generation and he imagined Victorians to be affected, sentimental and hypocritical, but study and the personal factor have paused him to love the period. Arthur Penrhyn Stanley was born in 1815, and after a period of preparation went to Rugby, where Arnold was carrying out his great reforms. He became Arnold's favourite pupil, and in return gave to his master an affection and admiration which amounted almost to hero worship; and after Arnold's death he wrote the "Life" which is one of the great biographies in our language. It may be mentioned that though Stanley is stated to be the original Arthur in "Tom Brown's School Days," in writing to Mrs. Arnold his impressions of the book, while he bears testimony to the accuracy of the descriptions of things lie remembers, he does not seem to recognise himself in Tom Brown's friend. Companion of the Prince. Thougn loved by. everyone for his sweet and gentle Stanley's religious ideas brought him into sharp conflict with the theologians, and especially the Tractarian party, led by Pusey, at Oxford. They -derided his learning and attacked his theology. Nor did the Evangelicals altogether trust him. That evangelical saint, Lord Shaftesbury, wrote in his diary after Stanley's death that while he distrusted Stanley's theology, he loved the man. The truth is that Stanley represented too well that great number of Anglicans who distrust dogman of any kind and cling to what someone has called "The Englishman's inherent right to haziness'' in matters of religious belief. In time Stanley attracted the notice of Royalty. He had previously visited the Holy Land and had written a book about it, which is still read. In 1862 the Queen asked him to accompany the Prince of Wales on a visit to Egypt and Palestine. Stanley's letters written during the tour are given almost in estenso, and form the most interesting part of this book. Incidentally, the book throws some light on the relations between the Queen and her son, and makes a very shrewd comment that the pity of it was that the Queen misunderstood the Prince. She wished him to model himself on his father, and his high sense of duty. The trouble was that the Prince Consort was really an intellectual, while his son was not. The son, too, had his sense of duty, but his .tastes were quite different from his father's. The tragedy lay in the Queen's inability to see the good side to the boy's character. Dean of Westminster. Prom his return. to England till the end of his life' Stanley was persona grata with the Royal Family, and no doubt it was Royal influence which won him the high position in which he was to do the great work of his life. None could have suited his character better, and in no other could he have found full scope for his influence. The Dean of Westminster holds a position unique in England, and perhaps anywhere else. The Abbey is the most venerated shrine in the Empire, and epitomises the history of England as does no other building, and is respected and- loved as such. Its head owns no other ecclesiastical authority but the Crown. Unlike the deans of diocesan cathedrals, he is subject to no bishop. With a secure position, Stanley was able to do many things, which, while they brought criticism from extreme partisans, yet won the approval of a large number of his fellow Anglicans and of a great multitude outside the established Church. He would invite distinguished Nonconformists like the African missionary, Dr. Moffat, to preach in the Abbey, and in many ways tried to make the Abbey the Church not of a sect, but of the whole nation. His broad-minded tolerance enabled him to bring together celebrities of all kinds. He befriended a French priest in trouble, stopped a religious persecution in Russia, and helped Mrs. Besant in her militantly anti-religious period. His drawing room at the Deanery was a meeting place of poets, scientists and statesmen. The book gives a pleasant account of a meeting (arranged at the Queen's request) at the Deanery, when Carlyle and Browning made the acquaintance of the Sovereign, whose comments on Carlyle are most amusing. Stanley was ably seconded by his wife, who had been one of the Queen's ladies in waiting and was regarded by her with great affection. His wife's death in 1876 was a severe blow to Stanley, and the remaining five years of his life were ones of failing strength. Even the general affection in which he was held by all, from the Queen downwards (Her Majesty in her letters to liim was wont to sign herself "ever yours affectionately"), though appreciated by the Dean, was insufficient to make up for his loneliness. He died in July, 1881, and with him one of the greatest figures in England's religious ■ and social life passed away. He was a saint in that "he gave to life a hundred times more than it gave to him," which reminds one of Mr. Bernard Shaw's very similar definition of a gentleman. A Beautiful Tribute. Perhaps one of the most beautiful tributes to Stanley was that by "Punch," who had consistently supported him through good and ill report. With calm clear eye he fronted Faith, and she, Despite the clamorous crowd; Smiled, knowing her soul—loyal votary At no slave's altar bowed . But inward turning, be of gentlVheart, And spirit mild as free; More gladly welcomed, as Life's better part. The rule of Charity. This book adds little to What is already known of the subject, but, containing as It does extracts from letters not already published, is an interesting picture of a brave and wise and saintly man, and throws a valuable light on his age. •"A Victorian Dean; a Memoir of Arthur Stanley, Dean of Westminster." Edited by the Dean of Windsor and Hector Bolitho. (Chatto and Windus.)