The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-03-16
For THE RECORD.
THE OLD SQUARE ALMANAC.


March 10, I'LL, died Thomas Ken. Bishop
of Bath and Wells. The readers of English
history remember him as one of the Non
Jurors The lovers of Church Hymuody
couple his name with two Of the best known
hymns in our language. To those who revere
piety, and admire consistency, Ken will appear
as one of the foremost Of brave, good men.
His life covered The troubIous period of the
Stuarts and the Revolution of 1858. II Is not
an easy thing, for one in high station. to fear
God and regard not man. when the chief ruler
Is corrupt and INSCRIPTIONS. Ken was pure
hearted, and of tender conscience how shall
he carry himself In the service of such mon.
arch as James II? He lived, uniformly. ac-
cording VI the 1easisisas Of hi~-s.-o hymn:
In conversation be sincere,
Keep conscience as the MONDAY clear.
Think how all-seeing God thy ways.
And AL thy secret thoughts surveys.
BY influence of the light divine,
Let thy own light to others shine
And he was prepared to take the eonse-
qnences Of his consistent course, whatever
they might be- whether mitre or Il prison
cell, or deprivation. Each,eame in turn. In
1888, while he was living at Winchester the
city, commanded Ken to prepare a certain
mansion for the reception of Mrs. Nell Gwyu;
but to his great honor q he absolutely refused
.ller adtnitiauce, declaring that q woman of
i'll repute ought not to be endured IN the
house Of Clergyman, especially the Kings
chaplain" The King could not be inseusible
to such bravery, and when the Bshopric Of
Bath and Wells became vacant, he asked
"where Is the good little man that refused
his lodgings 10 poor Nell?" And once when
Ken was to preach All Ganrt he left the CON-
pany of his ila,tsfers, to listen to the faithful
man whose words had more than once prcked
his conscience; saying, = must go and hear
Ken tell me of my fanlls.''
But the King went from had tie worse |;
.=and after u while his covert RpnanisIa took
more open shape, IN the :. Declaration . IT,
pealing the mlhapd test acts, the object of
which was 10 give political power 10 Roman
Catholics, while seeming Ia be intended FOR
the benefit of the Protestant Disseniers. Par
lament was dissolved, angrily. because it
would not second the Kings purpose. Good
men trembled. Then year later, the King
reiterated his Declaration, aud required 1t TO
be read In all the churches whereuppn seven
Bishops, of whom Ken was one made an
earnest remoastrance and petition against
compliance with tiiiscommand. aud presented
il in person to james. A This is n standard
OF rebellion" said the King. Even the Dis
senters respected the energetic conduct of the
Bishops. But James was not satisfied, till
they were lodged IN the Tower. There
crowds came 10 testify sympathy aud respect /;
among them. ten dissenting ministers. The
prison guard drank the bishops good healihs
And when the commander Of the Tower for
babe this. the captain sent back answer that
the guard were doing it at the very instant,
and would drink that, ard no other health,
whilst the Bishops were there. Even these
who plotted against popular rights lost
heart, as panty lines melted away under the
genial influence. of heroic leadership" the
seven Bishops in the rawer being the recog
nized defenders OF the CELEBRITIES aud the
Professionalism of the Natisa. The Papa,
Nuncio wrote, dismally, that sahe. whole
Church espouses the cause of the Bishops.
There is no reasonable expectation Of a divis-
ion among the Anglicans. aud our hopes from
the Nonconformists are vanished"
On the Goth of June, 1858, their trial took
!. place 10 sWestnln ulster Hall. How the verdict
/ Of the jury WAS received next morning, de.
serves 10 be told Ia sils Historians s. own
, words. "As soon as the first of the import
ant words not gully, passed the lips Of the
foreman, a mighty shout, that seemed as IL it
would crack the sturdy iimbers Of the stout
old hall, went forth from the audience. 1t
was caught up By those waiting in the pass
ages and the, space outside, and was passed
from mouth to mouth along the streets and
ahe boats plying on the river. Business was