THE SKETCHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1784, 30 January 1886, Page 25

THE SKETCHER.

THE LATJK BISHOP OF MANCHESTER. Dr Fraser was born at Presterbury, near Cheltenham, in 1818, his father being Dr James Fraser, of Heavitree, Devonshire. He took his B.A. degree at Oxford in 1839, gaining a firstclass in classics and the Ireland Scholarship. In 1842 he graduated M.A., and received the degree of D.D. in 1870. Having in 1840 been elected aFellow of Orielheacted there as tutorfor five years. A lenghtened Oxford lite, however, did not suit him. He was anxious to work more directly as a clergyman, and in 1847 he succeeded the Rev. Thomas Mozley in the College living at Cholderton. At Cholderton he became closely connected with Bishop Hamilton, who, he used afterwards to say, showed him the depth and reality of n ' v v ir and saintly life. For Cholderton, the sc-no his early labours, he had always an intense affection. On leaving Wilts, he was appointed to the rectory of Ufton-Nervet, Berks. While in the diocese of Salisbury he was appointed chancellor of the cathedral and one of its prebendaries. On four occasions, 1854, 1862, 1872, and 1877, he acted as Select Preacher to the University of Oxford. Always taking a great interest in the advancement of education, Dr Fraser served on several commissions. In 1858 he was offered and accepted the office of assistant-commissioner in an inquiry into the condition of education in the rural districts. He had two districts assigned him in different parts of England, and he did his work so well that he was marked as a man specially fitted for investigations of this kind. In 1 865 he was sent over to study and report on the state and methods of education in the United States and Canada, and he produced a report of singular breadth and comprehensiveness, showing great powers of observation and comparison, and furnishing data, which certainly had not before existed in England, for sound judgment on a very difficult and complex subject. Another commission on which he served was that appointed in 1867 to inquire into the employment of women and children in agriculture. In the later stages of the education controversy he took the side of the Union against the League ; of tho Manchester organisation against that of Birmingham; of religious and denominational against secular education. At a vast meeting at the Free Trade Hall, on Easter Monday 1873, he laid down distinctly his view that " unless the education of this country could be maintained on a distinctly religious basis, it was hardly worth having." He was a member of the governing bodies of Owen's College, of the Manchester Grammer School, and of Shrewsbury Grammar School ; he was also visitor of the High School for Girls, as well as president of the College for Women in Brunswick street.

In 1870 Dr Fraser was selected by Mr Gladstone to succeed the late Dr Prince Lee as Bishop of Manchester, and no sooner was he established in Manchester than he began to impress himself upon the diocese as a man of boundless self-devotion, activity, and width of sympathy. He at once took the lead in all philanthropic movements, in all movements for elevating the social condition of the working classes, and in all movements for promoting union among different Christian bodies. He rearranged the diocese, dividing it into three archdeaconries — Manchester, Blackburn, and Lancaster — wherens previously there were only two ; instituted a diocesan conference in vrhich clergy and laity were represented," y<Jvocated with much success the free and unappropriated seat system, established a diocesan board of education and a lay deaconate, and connected a large sum of money — the Bishop of Manchester's Fund — for helping to carry on religious work in poor districts. The amount of work which he went through was almost incredible, and was probably never surpassed by any predecessor in the episcopal office. According to a statement published some time ago, and which describes a year's work in the diocese of S3 auchester, the late bishop was said to have preached in 1879 no fewer than 89 sermons, ordained 50 clergymen, consecrated four churches and two curchyards, he'd 63 confirmations, confirmed 7211 candidates, made 40 speeches at public meetings, given 152 other addresses, attended 49 committee meetings, had 474 interviews, received 6744 letters, and answered 4529 with his own hand. Like his predecessor, Fraser was also a great church builder. From 1870 to the end of last year he consecrated 09 new churches; 20 new edifices were built and consecrated in lieu of old ones, and 102 new ecclesiastical districts were formed. His confirmations were on a very large scale. In the first year of his residence at Manchester he confirmed 9751 persons, and in 1880 the number to whom the sacred rite was administered had risen to 13,856. During the whole of his episcopacy lie confirmed in all about 173,600 persons. But though tho bishop's activity was very great, he preferred to confine it to his own diocese as much as possible. He never disguised his dislike to that part of a bishop's duties which is performed in the Plouse of Lords. On important occasions, however, when the debate touched upon matters iv which he either felt a strong personal interest, or which concerned what he believed to be the interests of religion, he took care to be present. He voted, for instance, against the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill in 1884, and was formally thanked by the Manchester Diocesan Conference for so doing. Among the political questions in which he took an active interest was the Eastern controversy of 1867-77, in which his sympathies were strongly on the side of the nationalities. On several occasions, it is understood, Dr Fraser was urged to accept the charge of another and more lucrative diocese (the income of the see of Manchester is but £4200 a year), but he steadfastly refused to quit a sphere of labour which, though a severe tax on his health and strength, had nevertheless become too congenial to be easily abandoned.

The bishop much endeared himself to his people, and will be most sincerely mourned. He was ready at all times to take the lead iv every good cause. His energy aud enthusiasm and self-sacrificing devotion to his work gained him the respect and affection of all classes with whom he was brought in contact. The working men of his diocese recognised him as one of themselves — as trulj' a son of toil as the most laborious of them all. He was their best friend and constant adviser. Alike in the crowded cotton towns and iv the more scattered mining villages, his pleasant face aud cheerful voice were well known ; and when one of those fearful accidents, which now and again startles the nation, occurred in some of the many large collieries in Lancashire, the Bishop of Manchester was sure to be amongst the first on the spot, alleviating, as far as possible, the agonies of the suffering and comforting the mourners. The title by which Dr Fraser was known, as "the bishop of all denominations," was chavacteristic and well deserved. If good was to be done, the bishop was not careful to inquire over curiously into a conformity or non - conformity which had nothing to do with the special object iv hand. His one care was to make sure that the good was done, and if the aid came from Dissenters or from Roman Catholics he was none the less willing to work with them if they were willing to work with him. The bishop was a man of very high intelligence, an accomplished classical scholar, and, in the best sense of the phrase, a man of the world, whose rare combination of qualities marked him out for general esteem and love. As a preacher Dr Fraser was remarkably popular, and attracted immense congregations to the cathedral church. Tho Pauline Epistles were his favourite resorts for illustrations or texts. His preaching was never confined to dry theology, his custom being rather to discuss and expound borne current subject of public interest, and to draw therefrom useful lessons. His influence as a social reformer was recognised by his selection to preside over the Social Science Congres.j when it met in Manchester in 1879.

Tne bishop married, on January 15, 18S0, Agnes Ellen Frances, eldest daughter of the late Dr Shoote Duncan, of Bath. The event was made the occasion of a manifestation of goodwill, and even affection, on the part of all classes in the diocese which it falls to the lot of few men to experience. Soon after a number of his admirers presented Mrs Frasor with an admirable portrait of her husband, painted by Millais. He leaves no children.