New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-15
BISHOP WILBERFORCE.
,ME BIOGRAPHICAL ANECDOTES.
pIsyIop WIIBERFORCE. By G. w. Daniell NJ.
syo DID, oo3 HOughton, Miffn & co.


evo, PIP. 223 Houglton Miiln q 20.
@soapy Sam is the instructive exclamation Oh
every English Churehnan when the name OF BISHOP
W,lberforce f. mentioned. Nor must 1t be supposed
that any contempt or ridicue Is Implied In the uso
of this most candid bit of vernacuar On the ooh'
trary the Bishop himself was rather proud OF those
traits In his character which suggested H. anu was
not at all offended at its use. On one occasion d
lady whose curiosity was perhaps greater than her
,oct assed him nonf blank why he called "soapy
sam, Because madam he replied, with fumor-
Gus twinkle In his eye am always In hot water anu
always come out Of II with clean hands" other soou
stories are told By Mr. Daniel Illustrative OF MS
ready wit There is, for instance, the Famous inter
view at a railway station between the Bishop ana a
clergyman who was taking charge Of very dlmcut
rural deanery on seeing him the Bishop called TO
him in loud fbnes, Mr.. T, am very glad to nave
All opportunity OF speaking TO YOU near erea'
things OF your zeal and success as rurai deah "ch'
nv lord" was the reply, Il believe some people are
under the impression that ain somewhat mao. All
can say, then. ISL replied the Bishop II WISH '"u
would bite all my rural DEANS
The Eshop never succeeded In liking certain ad-
iuncts OF rituasm and sometimes expressed his views
on this subject with grotesque fcrv0r winch was
irresistible. 81 suspect" once said Dean burgoh
to him, that You really like enbroidered s'oioS.
surplces cut short at the waist, GgOran chants ana
so on77 al like Gregorian musicl' ne excia'mea
with a look of mingled terror and annoyance.
assure you never hear Gregorian without feenhs
n wish IA lie down on nv stomach and how'll The
Rishop was not, perhaps, great preacher as 'h"'
term is commonly understood, still less was ne
great pulpit orator: but lie had the power not Always
nos sessed by polished preachers, OF convincing Ms
hearers that he understood and sympatmzed WIFI
their trials and temptations. Indeed, nc sometimes
gave tho impression that he had pracueai Know
edgo OF many popular sins ard follies. once on me
,bo upro nj "A
| thanking the churchwaIden an old farmer, for MS
sbore I'm the GOOD work. And i must thank your
lordship for your sermon" was the reply. hut
cord not help thinking, as you talkH aoouV sii'
that your lodshp must have been little wildsh your
self when you were young man." lie WAS Ner!
proud of his ability TO remember iacos' '
often referred to 1t. But on one occasion MS prioe
received an unexpected rebuff. At certain con
Grmatlou he Thought he boy among the wauhs
candidates. whom he had confirmed before, ann he sent
two messages to the lad to say So In reatS' HOW"
ever be vos mistaken and the boy, rritated at the
bishops pcrsisency. involving as 1t did doubt OF
his character sent word back by the clergyman VINO
was none other than the rector OF the parish leu
him he is a liar story is told OF a mechanic Who
Thinking to confound him, asked him very sudoehiy
,be way 80 heaven. without moments hesitation
the Bishop replied Turn to the right, my friend and
20 straight on"
Mr. Daniel tells the story Of Bishop Wilberforcc
life concisely and with intelligent sympathy ~ was
a life crowded with incident and its chronicle Is 10 Il
large degree the history of Anslicansm driinS ohe
pcrol covered by it. The Bishop OF OHford WIS
frequently confronted with difficulties and problems
that would have staggered n less able and Hrot man.
And while it cannot be said that he always over
came the difficulties and solved the problems, he came
as near doing so could reasonably be eNpec'ed OF
any man 50 crcumstanced. lie lived in period 81
stormy party conflict, when many opposing and con
Trajectory tendencies at work in the Church. am
when men were ASKING each otfer sometimes IN ANXIOUS
doubt and sometimes in flppant unconcern. what was
IN he fine fate OF the English Church. Through II
all rIshop Wilberforce never lost his profound faith
in the Church. nor that statesmanlke fnese In dealing
with men that earned for him the nickname already
REFERRED to- There have been greater preiates In the
English Chuch since the Reformation but few who
have been more useful, or who have done more 10
systcmatize and organize the work OF the Church