THE GREY COLLECTION OF MANUSCRIPTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8883, 20 May 1892, Page 6

THE GREY COLLECTION OF MANUSCRIPTS.

REMINISCENCES OF BISHOP

SELWYN, OF LICHFIELD. Ik the Groy collection of manuscripts in the Free Public Library there is a letter by Bishop Abrahams giving some interesting reminiscences of the Right Rev. G. A. Solwyn, Bishop of New Zealand, bub subsequently Bishop of Lichfield. Thoy range from Ash Wednesday to April 11, 1878, and are as follows :—

" Ash Wednesday, March G.The Bishop carao down from town after having seen Sir W. Gull on Shrovo Tuesday. I happened to bo ill, and like his kind self ho catno in to see me that evening soon after his arrival. I was much shocked by his appearance, bub I hoped it was only the fatigue of travelling and would pass off. His face was flushed ; his loft eye, and whole of the loft side of his face, seemed to me drawn down as if he had had a paralytic stroke. He found sevoral people with me, and did not stay long or talk much. Next day I was better, and went to see him ; he seemed refreshed, but said his nights were constantly disturbed, that Sir W. Gull had written to say that he could detect no organic disease, and could not account for the great weakness he felt.

"Friday or Saturday.—l found him in the afternoon, sitting at his 'grindstone* writing his review of the St. Andrew'Sj Wolverhampton, case, remitted to him by the Archbishop. It was being written as usual on his carefully-folded large sheets of letter paper in his clear and firm hand. Ho talked a little about it, specially aboub the acknowledgment made by the Rev. — Elliott, of Trinity, Bournemouth, just after the Public Worship Act was passed, bub ho said the Low Church party themselves did not adhere to the Rubrics, and that he must tolerato both parties in slight and indifferent deviations.

" Monday, March 11 (Ember week). —The candidates camo. Canon W. How, one of the examiners, was away at Cannes. Prebendary Bolbon, another, was ill, and had resigned the offico ; Archdeacon Isles was away in Lincolnshire. Canon Lonsdale had the whole of tho paper work examination. Tho dean was the only helper in the addresses to the candidates at the evening services, consequently the bishop and I had two each.

"On Wednesday evening the bishop addressed them on the Gospel of the week — the Temptation of our Lord, and the forms of temptation mo-t easily besetting the clergy. Ho had forgotten that ho had to give the address, and was hurried in preparation. I was somewhat alarmed by the very fact of his having forgotten it—so scrupulously exact was he generally about his work in Ember week—oven more if possible than about any other week. Hespent a longer timo this week than usual with each candidate, because they were so few. He gave each ono a full half-hour spread over Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. He was more pleased than usual with them ; and his hopeful spirit rose with the prospect of good, earnest, and sensible men coming up for Holy Orders. "Friday, March 13.—A characteristic scene occurred between him, Canon LOll9dale, and myself, when we met together to decide the results of the examination. There was one man who had done so very badly with tlio Canon and myself that we declared ourselves unable to pass him. (It turned out afterwards that the man's brain was softening, and that he was very ill.) The Bishop thought well of the man's morale. He liked his tone and demeanour, pitied his weak health, and pleaded for him. He brought forward a paper done by this man in the preliminary examination for deacon's orders at Christmas, 1870. We read it over, and thought it very creditable. With a kindly presentiment the Bishop had kept this paper. But Canon Lonsdale had also kept notes of his examination at Christmas, 1876, and reminded the Bishop that he had already floated this poor man into deacon's orders on the strength of that paper ; that the man did very badly then, and was warned to improvo before coming up for priest's orders ; and we agreed that this paper ought not to float him a second time. Poor dear, kind Bishop ! He so reluctantly gave in, and left the man to his fate. This was by 110 means a solitary case. Always would he plead for leniency if he had found any— least—sign of promise in a candidate.

" Saturday, March 10.—The Bishop addressed the candidates this evening with more tfhan usual earnestness, and with great spiritual force on the prayer of humble access in tho communion service, especially on the words, " that we may evermore dwell in Him and lie in us," and tho passage from St. John vi., 50. I remarked to Mr. Thatcher, that I never heard him speak with such spiritual power in any address I had ever heard. Some of his former addresses were greater intellectual efforts. The second lesson read in that service was Acts xx., 17 to end, and we had Why tehead'sordination hymn, which pleased him much, as ho had lately been reading the memoir of his first chaplain, the Rev. T. hytehead. As a rule that hymn was used in the chapel only at tho Christmas ordination.

"Sunday (second in Lent). —The Bishop ordained threo deacons anil nine priests. He went out for a while after the litany during the singing of the hymn. In other respects ho showed no sign of fatigue or weakness during the service. For the first time in the cathedral we had Palestrina's ' Veni Creator.' He used to be so fond of it in New Zealand, and expressed to me after the service his pleasure at hearing it again. S. had found it among the music, and had given it to Mr. Bechmore to teach the choir. If I remember right, he did not come to afternoon service that day. "Monday, March IS.—Evidently a very trying day. He attended the Church Extension meeting at noon, and tho College Council at four. I did not sue him at tho former, but Archdeacon Ralston was there, and seemed surprised and troubled at his appearance and his lack of power. When he came to the College Council I was struck with the similar look to that which he wore on Ash Wednesday. Moreover, ho was not equal to his usual self in tho business part. I could not help thinking to myself how like his manner and look were to the old archdeacon's at tho same place just before his death. I know from this that I began to be thoroughly alarmed, more than I liked to own to any one. " Tuesday, March 19.—1 urged him not to go to Shropshire for confirmations. He replied that it would do him good to get a littlo fresh air and change of scene, and I think that it was then he said (putting his hand up to his brow), ' It's not that kind of work that hurts me. It is that desk that has sometimes made my brain ache. Men have complained at times that I did not answer their letters. 1 have at times thought my brain would give way.' He wont in the evening to Orleton. He had engaged to take three services a-day for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, leaving two for Saturday. I happened to have all these first three days free, and I proposed to come into Shropshire and take the evening services. Ho acceded to this arrangement, and accordingly I went to my kind friend Mrs. aiming-, at Wellington, having agreed with S. that if the Bishop was not well in the morning, she should send the carriage for me. Not having been sent for in the morning, I thought 1 would go and judge for myself how he was. So I followed him on Friday morning at a place near Shrewsbury, and found him just after the morning service, very much exhausted. Still in his bright, cheerful way, he asked me what had brought me there, and when I said I had come to look after him, and see if he wouldn't let me go to Affington for him, he turned to S., and asked her whether I should go. She urged it, and so ho assented. I was so much alarmed that I wrote off that night to Bishop Hobhouso, .to beg him to meet the Bishop before the Abbey Church confirmation the next afternoon, and stop him from taking it. He told me afterwards that he had considerable difficulty in persuading the Bishop to give up any of his engagements except the

Sunday evening one. Bishop Hobhouse helped him in the laying on of hands at St. Mary's, Shrewsbury, on Sunday. All agreed that the Bishop's address on that occasion was not only longer than common, but more affectionate and fatherly, being on St. John's words, 'Little children' and ' beloved children'and ended with the words, ' Safe in the arms of Jesus.' When he had called all the 170 names with his usual care, and had finished the service, he went into the vestry, and said, «I think I've come to the end of my tether !' I asked him afterwards how it was that he could preach with such vigour, feeling all the while so exhaustedh He said that he ' held on by his hands an*p his feet.' He went back to the Rev. L. Burton's house, and next day came home and announced that he had given in, and would now take himself in hand.

"Monday, Lady Day.—l had been obliged to leave him on Saturday for confirmation in Rugeley deanery. On Sunday I was driving to Rugeley in a hansom cab during the snowstorm that sank the Eurydice. This disaster deeply moved the Bishop. He talked to me about it on Tuesday as he walked up and down the drawing-room. On Monday evening I had been to the palace, and to my surprise found him at the dinner table. I had not seen him dine in company for the previous fortnight. I exclaimed with satisfaction, and he said he did not feel the nausea he had sufferod from of late, and as there was only a few at his table he could stand it ! I believe, however, that when ho gob up and left the table he was very sick. The sickness and nausea had been a very alarming symptom to Mr. Thatcher and myself. Some London doctor had told Mr. Thatcher that nausea was a very bad symptom in cases of kidney disease. I thought that as Sir W. Gull persisted there was no organic disease, and as the nausea ceased when he had given up the strain of work, it showed the brain to bo the cause of the nausea. He was so much better the next day, walking about and chatting, that I began to be hopeful, and I wrote to Sir William Martin to say that the cloud had lifted. The Bishop took himself in hand in good earnest, and as S. said, 'doctored and managed himself with as strong a will as he worked.' I had to go away, taking his work at Stockton. This eased his mind.

"Friday, March 29.—1 brought back a littlo hymn written by the Rev. Woodhouse on ' Ordination Vows.' The Bishop read it with pleasure. It was the last thing read downstairs, for when he had finished it, he said to me, ' the doctor has ordered me to go to bed like a naughty boy.' I replied, ' and like a good boy you are going to do what you are bid.' S. told me a day or so after that when she proposed to make him a flannel jacket to wear when ho sab up, he said, ' I shall be up before your jackeb is made.' However, I remember about throe weeks before when 1 asked him to help tho widow of an old friend (which he did most liberally) his saying,' You had better take the cheque now, it may nob be forthcoming if you wait ' "Saturday, March 30.—1 saw nothing of him. S. said he was a very obedient patient, and was fully set on helping towards his own recovery. " Sunday, fourth in Lent.—l preached on Genesis, xlii., 34, 36, on Joseph's demanding Benjamin, and Jacob's unwillingness to let him go. S. came in to tho latter part of the service, and heard tho sermon. She told me afterwards that she felt within herself Cod was demanding the sacrifice from her.

" Monday, April I.—l took engagements at West llallam. The Mundys, Palmers, More woods, and Skipwotths most anxious in their inquiries about the Bishop. On Wednesday came back and heard ho was no better.

"Thursday, April 4.—1 went to Trent College. On getting back following even ing, I heard from Bishop Hobhouse all he had passed through on Thursday night and Friday. S. had sent on Thursday evening to Birmingham for Dr. Heslop, who telegraphed for Dr. Crompton or Baker. The latter (a surgeon) came. After terrible torture a delicate operation was performed. I suppose they had not dared to put him under chloroform for fear of his heart.

"Saturday, April 6. —I saw him early in the morning. He said, ' Since I saw you I have passed through the fire, but I pray that I may be perfected through sufferings like tho Captain of our Salvation.' S. told me that in his unconscious wanderings he had said, 'I'm getting idle, I'm gotting idle. Who's seeing to that work, S.' The idea of his getting idle ! Tho last 50 years of his life had been incessant toil and selfdiscipline. But his humility was as great as his energy. His ideal of duty was far higher than he could attain to. As I was going away that afternoon S. proposed to him that lie should receive holy communion with us all. He readily assented, and for three-quarters of an hour maintained his fixed attention to the service, and not only to that, but spoke in general terms to us all of faith in Christ, and individually to each one some most appropriate words. I could not catch much of what he said, but when he was addressing William and committing to him the care of tho orphans, and when lie had blessed him he added a blessing for John, and said, "The blessings of his Father shall be upon the crown of the head of him who is separate from his brethren.' I celebrated and read tho prayer for the Church militant, He followed audibly in the Confession and Lord's Prayer. When I administered the cup to him he clung to the words 'be thankful,' and kept 011 repeating them, and saying, 'Thank God.' After the Lord's Prayer ho became for a minute unconscious, and murmured ' the little children,' probably thinking of his dear grandchildren. 011 S. stroking his hands, he recovered himself, and followed audibly in tho 'Gloria in Fxcelsis,' and himself pronounced the blessing quite clearly. It was, altogether, a wonderful effort of a strong and devout will —a scene ever to be remembered.

"Sunday, April 7. —The Bishop was prayed for in all the churches of the Diocese.

"Tuesday, April 9.—He sent) for me about half-past five. I was getting up, and was soon with him. The curtains in his room were still drawn, and the light streaming in through the chinks. S. had just said the 130 th Psalm, and when she came to the words, 'My soul fleeth to the Lord before tho morning watch,' he added, 'I say before the morning watch.' I went up to his bedside. Ho spoke with difficulty, but I made out that he said ' Perfect love castech out fear.' Remembering how his orderly mind steadily kept to one line of thought at a time, and how he disliked of old ' grasshopper thoughts,' I answered, ' Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.' He at onco took up the words, and dwelt and paused on them, ' Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me!' I was more than once struck with his strong sense of thankfulness to God for his sufferings. Ho had brought him through. I fancy ho had never known much pain, and was so humbly thankful 'to be made like unto 'Cltrist in suffering.' Those words in the Visitation service were very precious to him. He then went on to say something to me, but so indistinctly that. I could only make out ' forgiveness for Christ's sake.' I said nothing, and S. said, ' Speak to him.' I then understood that he was asking my forgiveness for any impatient words or the like. I was deeply ashamed and touched to think of his asking my forgiveness for aught, and said to him that ' I had nothing to forgive, but everything to thank him for and love him for; that 1 ' owed to him all the chief blessings of my Ufa. lam sure he forgave mo all my many faults to him. I knelt down and prayed. He was quite himself. I kissed him on I)is noble and beautifill forehead. He cave to mo one of his sweet srfiiles, and I was obliged to leave him. " Wednesday, April 10.—We could only hover about his room, and now and then look in upon him. I had no more words from him, but I think he knew familiar faces and voices.

"Thursday, April 11. Early in the morning I went to the Palace. E. told me they had all been summoned at midnight, the doctor expecting the end, but the Bishop suddenly fell asleep and rallied. I went into the room, took his hand, and began a hymn that he particularly liked, because the old men and women at the workhouse had shed tears of comfort when he was consecrating their churchyard— A few more years shall roll, A few more seasons roine, And we shall be with those that rest Asleep within the tomb. He moved his head towards mo, for ho was looking towards the window. I went on— Then, 0 my Lord prepare, My soul for that blest clay ; 0, wash me in Thy precious blood, And t&ko ray sins away.

Hislips moved, as I said the words, but it may have nave been only the nervous twitching of his muscles, but he looked attention. I went on with one or two more verses, and he turned again towards the light. S. said. • the doctors say you cannot hear, my dear, but lam not so sure of that.' I said a few of his favourite prayers, and left him for a while. About noon,while talking to the doctor, Mr. Thatcher ran downstairs and summoned us all to his bedside. He had uttered a loud cry, and was dying. The nurse had just touched his lips with a drop of milk, and he cried out and struggled. Wo were all assembled round the bed, S. called for William, and he knelt down by her side. I began the Lord's Prayer. He uttered a slight groan. I went on to the commendatory prayer, and as I said the words, 'That his soul may bo presented pure and without spot to Thee' he gave one more deep sigh, and breathed his last. There was a deep silence for a few minutes, and then we all stood up and said the Apostles' Creed, and never probably with greater faith and earnestness, 'I believe . . in the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.' "