Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-05-26
PEN PICTURE OF BlSHoPWHIPPLE

A tall form bowed with age, but show
ing in the easy grace of movement, and
slow majesty of deliberation that time
has worked sad inroads on what was
evidently the perfection of physical
manhood. We can easily see in i'm
agination the 1.-THE, willowy form of a
few years ago as he made his way
through almost impenetrable forests,
or over trackless prairies on missions of
mercy to the Savage. There is that in
| the gathering together of nerve force,
as he slowly rises in his place and de-
iberately advances to the front of the
altar, that tcommands reverent attention.
AS the mild, though clear and penetrat-
ing eye sweeps over the audience be-
fore him, one feels instinctively that he
has measured their capacity, read deep
into their hearts, and stirred within
them a troubled sense of unworthiness
and contrition. Standing for moment
robed in the sweeping folds of bishops
robe, having the small cap on his head
his long hair reaching his shoulders in
thin, gray locks, his thin hands lightly
clasped together, his eyes beaming with
a touch of infinite love, sadness and
pity, his rather large mouth with lightly
| closed lips, shadowing an expression of
abiding sorrow and unspeakable tender
ness, he seems like one of the disciples
| come again in age, to bear witness of
| the Master. Saint, sinner, the devout
christian, and the sceptic alike feel un-
conscious reverence for the tall, old
patriarch before them.
Lips unused to prayer feel irresistably
| moved to say "Our Father" and as the
| first words of the service fall from the
| venerable Bishops lips, a hush like the
hush of death falls on the assembled
people. His words come with a slow
| distinctness, clear and ringing as an
Alpine horn, every single word seem
ingly chosen for it's special fitness to
express the thought uttered. Simple,
| direct to the point the barbed arrows of
! eloquence are sent with unerring aim,
and swift directness to the very heart
of scepticism. The story of the cross
gains power and a significance fraught
with overwhelming influence.
The gestures are few, seem the un-
conscious emphasis of words that need
no establishment. The voice rises at
times with a thrilling energy of utter
ance, inspiring and alike rebuking
Again a pathos and sympathy will vi
brate in the tremulous tones that stirs
the very depths of human sympathy
| We feel that she is man of sorrows
and acquainted with grief" Some.
times bis voice will falter for moment
and the aged hands unconsciously CLASP
convulsively, for brief moment the
handkerchief is raised to the eyes, then
the giant soul gains the mastery and tc
end there is no evidence of failure o,
WEAKNESS.
He stands to-day as one of the most
remarkable men of America. In the
homes of the rich and cultured, among
scientists, scholars and savants he is al
home. In the cabin of the slave, the
wigwam of the Indian or the degraded
homes of vice and poverty he is il
touch with their infirmities, and leads
with a silken chord, the vile, brutal and
dangerous characters that infest the
. slums of great cities. The power of his
presence is marvellous.
In the ordinance of confirmation az
he passes from one to another in the
class repeating the formula Defend
oh Lord, this Thy child with Thy
heavenly grace; that he may continue
therein forever" there is an intensity
of supplication in the tone that rises tc
an almost divine hopefulness as he con
cludes with ''and daily increase in Thy
holy spirit more and more, until he
come into Thy everlasting kingdom
} FELIX FAIR