The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-10
For the Central Presbyterian.
Letter from Ireland.
July 18th, 1881.

DIR. Cumming prophesied that the world
would end in 1868. But mundane af-
fairs were not then wound up, but con-
tinue as they have been, and will so con-
tlnue for many years to come. The
Doctor outlived the world thirteen years.
The end has now come to him and he is
dead. His mind gave way and he passed
under an eclipse some time before he
died. He is in the light now-has
emerged from under the cloud into the
light of perfect knowledge-to mount
of perfect vision where he shall see all
things accurately. Twenty-Five years ago
he was London's most famous preacher,
and Grown Court was crowded every Sab
bath. Many notables, members of the
nobility, fashionable women, not few,
and men whose names are now historical,
attended on his ministry. He hated
Popery heartily intensely, and contin-
uously-lectured against it, preached
against it, and wrote against it. AS a
preacher he was clear, able, eloquent, and
evangelical; as lecturer he was popular
and attractive as a controversialist he
had not many peers; as writer he was
the most voluminous of all his contempt
raries; as a prophet he was lobbyist of
the inveterate type, and distinguished
failure. 1t is all over now, and the busy
brain and tireless pen are both at rest.
And Dean Stanley is gone, and his
death removes one of the busiest and
best known men of the present time. He
was sixty-six years of age, being born in
1915. Canon Farrar administered the
sacrament to him before he became un-
conscious, and the Archbishop of Canter-
bury was with him in time to speak
few words to him, and remained at his
bedside until the gentle and courteous
Dean was quietly breathing away his last
He was liberal in his views, but main.
tanned the dignity of his position and was
priestly enough in some things. He was
generally beloved. Even those who con-
sidered him dangerous religious teacher
admired and loved his noble Christian
spirit-never disturbed, equal to any
emergency, and beautiful always.
The Rev. John MacNaughtan will eel
citrate the jubilee of his ministry in a few
days. He was ordained in 1881. He
settled in Belfast in 1849, when Edgar
and Cooke, Gibson and Cloudy, Denham
and Brown were leaders in the Irish Gen
eral Assembly. These princes in Israel
have all fallen, and their places are occu-
pied by others who, if they have not sus-
tanned their renown, have kept on un-
broken the efficiency of the Church in
which they stood conspicuous. Mr.. Mac
Naughtan at once took high position
and kept it, and now he is not only the
Nestor of the Assemb1v but ia bonored
and venerated by all its members. He
took an honorable position in the stirring
times Of the Disruption, and the character
which he then manifested he has always
sustained. He has taken leading part
in the debates of the Assembly, and in
every movement occupying the attention
of the Church. He is an able and elo-
quent preacher. We join in this general
congratulation and hope for the Tenera-
bic and distinguished gentleman a long
and peaceful evening without cloud
fitting preludes Of eternal day. The town