A BISHOPS ROMANCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 July 1901, Page 1

A BISHOPS ROMANCE.

■' — •— ;—-■■: .:■■: i '•••.• ••. 1 • 'A' London , contempbrary ;'says.':-~- "Ami bltion sated and love: denied—■-tins, in; brief, is tlhe history" of "Winriirigtori In-. gram, King 'Edwoi'&'s new "'appointee to the See1 of London,*. the!' greatest'bishoprics in ' the Aiiglican' Church.; "A- "bishop of forty-two of '■ the -world's metropolis in direct lino of succession to the 'ArchbisliT opric of Canterbury^ ' the' pYoudost ©ccle* siastical . honour,- in,', Gijeab f , Britain's gif v; with riches :i;w6rld'power■ at'cbmni^ndl he has all that the heart -could desire save low. The .bishop-.ha^,buried his.romance^ but it n'as~;ie'A' its mart.' Th'ei stoiy o£ Arthur -VFolejr'. -Winiiington Ingram woukt convert '^he" 'jtibsjr 'hardened- sceptic,, itt, ii belief.in :th"e :i law jof compensation:' 'His ■ father's modiest' living "fat" Stamford.'. in-| spired the studious boy with simple tastes/ and when"be obeyed '''at calf priest: hood "he iras 'safisfie'dHo' begiii', a^.'the. foot of the ladder. He.filled,the post.'of'tfuratd at St. Jlary'Sj.Shre^sbtuy',I''sixteen y»ars ago,- at the 'opbnirig "of, his- 1 career.'. In 1895 lie was recfor'at :Bethiial Green. Two years litter he "'became 'canon of St. Paiil'd and the Suffragan Bishop "of; Stepney. His preferment was -li'ijerally :tK'e' work .of' his own; hands,' He laboutfed' for tlie jiarisli with a zeal.''that'wto: : &^6^t uiiparialleled.'; No sacrifloe was ; t-6b'"great? :He'wiisqnej of the ptople, lived'a'mong them, and was! idolised by them. They called ifim , the* "working Mshbp."' ■'. He used to "say laugh-" ingly that .fee was the"busiest man in Lon-i don, for he prepared .Ms ' speeches-.'on the top of omnibuses; composed His sermons in^ tram car's, and aie'Kis lunch in the under-; ground trains." Tvroi!; years .later the, bishop's romaicfi. c^anie to a focus, wheii it> : was ■■' announced-' that; Lady ■Ulrica . .Uun-j combe, the youngiest of'the : fdiir* famous] beauties, daughters"of tKeTEa'rl of Fever-3 sham," was- to become his-*bride. :Ay;*L"on-| .1 doncwaa? startled.'^ s bride-to-be, sfcrik-* ■ ingly like her lovely-sisteivlhie late Duoh.4 | ess o.f^Leins.ter, w.a^ barely twentyjfquri Heir delicate, charms had been fostered ir] an erivironment'^of, softest luxury. . Thei mati: she had r chosen" ;among";' the^ masses in r 'the 'most \ laborious.diocese "inj ■•(En.g-lai>d.; It meant' Belf-immolation:;' her* friends said. But'the affair was*evidently< "ai love match:. Lady.Ulrica, .always of a? serious casli of thought, entered heart andjj :soul into; the bishop'sI.■"plans.' For three!' months ' he "lived in.' a. fool's' paradise, beforej the engagement was broken. Whether her: courage faltered .or whatever, interfered; none dared" askl' But «ith the weddingi day, already inivievr, the beauty, who had; declined' a/i eavV'tor1 his -sake, refused to; rmai'ry1 i'er churchman-loy&.: - The "bishop,! stunned by the blow ■ -whicK crumbled, hisj .happiness," went • abroad:' He returned a| :• changed man. Hei is sbill; the1 "Wofkingi i bishop, "witli a: life devbtioh to his'work,' I which1 'Has1; spiritualised arid" ennobled; hisj ' face and bearing. But the youthful 'buoy-, ancy is gone. His romance, cost him dear.j

King Edawrd's appointment was in the naKing Edward's appointment was in the napoor diocese. Ingram is the youngest holder of the greatrhistoric See of London.