The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-04-04
For the Central Presbyterian.
Bishop Wilberforce.
BY REV. T. A. HoYT, D. D.

his Biography which has been recently
given to the world as the Joint produc-
ton of his son and Canon Ashwell.
1t is sad and pitiable picture of a
man, of a Bishop, of a Church. With all
his splendid endowments great oppor-
tunities and early successes, his life was
failure, his personal character furnished,
his ermine trailed in the dust, and the
England exposed to view-such in effect
are the criticisms of the review. 1t is
not to be overlooked that BlackaOoodS
Magazine is Tory journal, conserva-
tive, reactionary, full of admiration for
Lord Beaconsfeld, and of hate towards
Mr.. Gladstone. Now, inasmuch as Bish-
OPP Wherefore was a friend of Gladstone,
and disliked by Disraeli, it would be diff
ficult for the magazine to deal fairly with
him, yet the writer of the article appar-
emily makes sincere effort to do so. 1t
commends the many admirable qualities
of the Bishop, and where it criticises,
supports its structures by quotations from
the Biography, which is itself produc-
ton of enthusiastic admiration and affec-
ton.
Thus viewed what are the impressions
to be derived from the study of this life
1t is not intended here to assail the char
acter either personal or public of the
great Diocesan or to attack the Church
of England. The brilliant gifts and la
borious activity of the one, and the solid
weight and widespread influence of the
other, are gladly admitted. But the
question presses, why did the life of Will
berforce end in disappointment, and why
did the English Church exhibit such
weakness in the hands of the civil power?
To these inquiries an adequate reply
must be drawn from the book and from
contemporaneous history. Meanwhile
some hints may be derived from the
article in BJockwood, and from we'll
known facts common to all.
That Bishop Wherefore was at one
time high in favor at court, and on the
road to promotion to the Hottest positions
IN the Church. and that he suddenly lost
that favor and was checked in that pro-
motion by the aversion of the sovereign
are undisputed facts which must be &C.
counted for, and that they are explained
by the loss on the part of the Queen and
of Prince Albert of confidence in his per.
u.
might be the mistaken result of differ
ence on ecclesiastical matters, which
might also account for the enmity of sew
eral Prime Ministers into whose hands
fell successfully the patronage of the
crown, and hence the loss to Wilberforce
of all the great prizes of the hierarchy.
For example his bold and violent at
tacks on Lord PalmerstoD early in life
may explain the strong dislike of the lat
ter, while Lord John Russell was alien
ated by the Bishops temerity and tergi-
versations in the famous Hampden case,
and Disraeli by Wilberforce's adherence
to Gladstone. But the fact remains that
public opinion acquiesced in the iudg-
ment of these illustrious opponents and,
by the ignominious soubriquet which was
popularity applied to him, truly indicated
lack of faith in his personal integrity.
Here we think was grand defect in his
nature. He was not man of lofty prin-
ciple, and unbending rectitude, but he
acted from the lower motives of policy
and expediency. This, however, will not
explain his failure, for such men are often
the most successful in reaping the re-
wards of ambition Why then did he
fail? Because he lacked a still deeper
element of meanness, viz: the subtlety
to conceal the vices of his nature. His
very virtues fought against him, and con-
spired with his errors to inspire contempt
and malice. He allowed himself to be
carried away at times by generous and
noble impulses, and thus to excite an
tagonisms, which he afterwards vainly
endeavored to allay by cowardly retrac-
ton.
This was strikingly shown in the case
OF DR.. Hampden already alluded to. Dr.
Hampden was nominated by Lord John
Russell for the Bishopric of Hereford
this nomination created great excitement
at the time-a perfect tumult which was
occasloned by DR.. Hampden's supposed
heterodoxy. Bishop Wilberforce threw
himself into the controversy with great
ardor, declared the truth Of God to be at
stake, and opposed the appointment by
every means in his power: and as the re-
suit showed, by attempted measures be-
yond his power. He joined in an adj
verse petition to Lord Russell. As Bish-
OF Of Oxford he claimed authority in the
matter over Dr. Hampden who was Pro-
lessor in the University. At first he
thought he had popular and winning
cause, but when he saw utter failure
staring him in the face, he lost all cour
age, dignity, and manliness; he made
humiliatInQ apolooies and disi oep,,o,,,