The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-12-05 00:00:00

ANECDOTES of the late ARCHBISHOP
of CANTERBURY.
The following touching anecdotes of the late Archbishop
of Canterbury have been published, and are very charac-
teristic of the simplicity of his life and the kindliness of his
heart—
-

When Bishop of Ripon, he was loved and revered
by the whole diocese, but more especially in the
neighbourhood where he resided and was best known.
There was a feeling of sadness in many a cottage, as
well as mansion, when it was heard that the goal
Bishop was no longer to be our neighbour, but, hence-
forth to belong t, Durham. One little incident, from
among many, may illustrate that condescension of
manner and kindliness of heart that endeared him to
the humblest One uncomfortable autumnal evening,
the Bishop, unable from the weather to pursue his
active walk up and down the then uncovered station
at Ripon, while waiting for the ss,uth train, took
shelter in the miserable shed that, before the erection
of the present handsome buildings, did duty for a
waiting room. There he found two young girls, with
whom, after his usual manner, he entered into
conversation, and soon found that they were a
villager's daughters at place in Ripon, but on their
way to a sick mother. To add to their sorrow and
perplexity, they found the evening train, not being a
slow one, did not stop at the roadside station nearest
their home, hut would put them down several miles
away. The good man sympathised with and en-
deavoured to console them with kindly, Christian
words ; but he did more, for when the train came up
something of this sort took place :- Bishop: "Guard,
does this train stop at Wormald Green?" Guard :
" Never, my Lord." Bishop: "May I ask you to do
it as a special favour this evening ?" Guard: "To
oblige your Lordship, certainly." Bishop : "Thank
you very much. Please put down these two young
women there."
The late Archbishop's wonderful memory of persons
and their associations, and his wonderful tact, always
guided by his benevolent and beneficent heart, have
often been remarked on. As an illustration, let Me
mention that, when an insignificant curate in his vast
(as to population) diocese of Ripon, I gave Mrs.
Longley a little water-colour drawing by a dearly-loved
sister. Long after business called met,, Bishop Auck-
land Castle, where I was for a short time a guest.
The Bishop, perceiving the poor country curate some-
what embarrassed, in a moment lot upon the subject
most gratifying to a brother, and suggestive of his inte-
rest in me, and recollection of the circumstances under
which we formerly met, by saying how much the
water-colour drawing, with which Mrs. Longley was
so pleased, had been admired, and stood the test of
comparison with the works of known artists, &c. There
was no more embarrassment after this, and the fatigue
of a long and rapid walk (and he was a good pedestrian
who could keep up with Dr. Longley, was completely
forgotten in such delightful converse as a father would
hold with a son. The clergyman of his diocese who did
not find in Bishop Longley a father must have been
something the reverse of filiaL
As no man WM more truly and unaffectedly dignified,
so no man knew better how on fitting ...axions to
exercise discipline. A young clergyman had a certain
hour appointed at which to meet the Bishop at the
palace at Ripon, but arrived half an hour late. The
Bishop, whose time was incessantly occupied, inquired
the reason, which was somewhat flippantly given and
unsatisfactory. "I cannot now attend to you," said
the Bishop, "you are the half-hour I had reserved for
you past your appointment, and the rest of my time is
engaged." "When may I call again to see your
Lordship?" "I have no time to-day or to-morrow."
"But," said the per man, "I have come from—"
(naming some place a hundred miles off). "Well,"
said the Bishop, "come here to-morrow morning at
nix o'clock," which he accordingly (lid, and with two
miles' walk, on a dark, raw morning, from the hotel
to the palace, had ample opportunities to meditate on
the advantages of punctuality.
The writer of this may not sit in condemnation,
having himself on one occasion far more seriously
inconvenienced the Bishop, who, however, finding
there was some excuse, and, at all events, unfeigned
regret, passed it over in the kindest manner. It may
be mentioned that Dr. Longley, like his once fellow.
worker, Dr. Hook, was ever an early riser, and at the
time I speak of, was always downstairs said at work at
871.1 o'clock or before."