Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-11-18
wilberforce and tho Ghost.

Wilberforce and tho Ghost.
The following remarkable incident in
the life of the late Samuel Wilberforce,
Bishop of Oxford and afterward of
Winchester, is related as absolutely au-
thentic, and the good Bishop himself is
said to have many times rehearsed the
story to his friends. Bishop WilberforC e
was most prominent among mis- con-
temporaries of the English clergy, and
was once leader of the High Church
party. He, however, frequently found
time to devote to the social side of life,
and was sometimes styled the bishop
of Society"
On certain occasion the worthy
Bishop had accepted an invitation to
stay at country house not far from
London. Entering the drawing room
previous to dinner, on the evening of
his arrival, he noticed a priest-evident-
ly of the Roman COMMUNICATING
by the open fire and taking no part in
the general conversation. The Bishop
was somewhat surprised at not being
presented to the priest, and his aston
ishment was great when, few mo-
ments later, dinner being announced,
the guests retired, leaving the priest at
his place by the fire. The hostess hav-
lug assigned Bishop Wilberforce the
seat of honor at her right hand, as soon
as an opportunity offered he remarked
II beg your pardon, Madame, but
NAV inquire who was the priest we
left sitting apart in the drawing room?"
"Ah, you have seen him, then" re-
piled the lady. ut is not every ore
who has that privilege. | cannot tell
YOU who is he or whence he comes.
For many years this spectre has haunt
ed the house and gronnd-it has, in
fact, been tradition in the family.
He seems to do no harm, and although
he appears occasionally, we have be-
come quite accustomed to our friendly
ghost"
'How very singular" remarked his
Lordship, "But have you never ad-
dressed your priestly spectre?"
'Iudeed, have no opportunity, nor
the desire, for that matter" responded
the hostess, growing pale.
"NIay I take the liberty now?' in
quired the dignitary.
"With all my heart, your Lordship,"
replied the lady. The Bishop arose
and, returning to the drawing room,
found the priest where be had left him
a few minutes before. Having no fear,
the Bishop said kindly:
aWho are you, my friend, and why
are you here 2"
The spectre seemed to sigh deeply
and say, as though to himself, "At
last ~
Then, in hollow voice. addressing
the Bishop, it continued: | am the
spirit of priest who left this world
some eighty years ago, and | am here
to impart to any one who will receive
it a secret which died with me. |
could not rest in my grave whilea a great
wrong was being done which it was
in my power to right. | have been
returning all these years In the
hope some one would address me, for it
was not given to me to be the first TO
speak. All men have stunned me un-
til now, and it is your mission to do
INV "uo q PiiNSb ~
Church of Rome, and was called to this
house eighty years ago to receive the
confession of s. dying man. He was
the sole possessor of secret, the
knowledge of which would alter ma
terially the entail of this vast estate,
and in his death this man wished to
repair the terrible wrong he had
l,.a,rht npnp bic lin
cat his request I wrote DOWN the
confession, word for word, as ne gave,
it to me, and when he finished, had
barely time to administer, tie
final sacrament of the church be-
fore he expired in my arms. 1t was
very important that should return to
London that night, and in passing
through the library to leave the house
| concluded it would be safer not to
carry the paper on which was written
the confession away with me, but 10
place it in some secure, unseen spot,
where could obtain it the following
day and deliver the document to the
person for whom it was intended.
Mounting the step to the book shelves,
! took out copy of Young's Night
Thoughts, which was the first book
upon the uppermost shelf nearest the
last window, and inserting the pa
per carefully between its leaves,
/ replaced the book and departed. 4
horse was awaiting me at the door, but
ere we reached the entrance of the
grounds he took fright; l was thrown
and instantly killed. Thus died the Sc
cret of my confessor with me. No one
has disturbsd that book in all these
wears and no one has had the courage
to address this messenger from the un.
known. The paper will be found as I
have stated and now remains for you to
correct the injustice which has so long
been upon this noble family. My mis-
sion is over and can rest in peace"
At the close ofthis remarkable speech
the spectre faded gradually from sight,
and the Bishop was left gazing into
m snaoe Recovering from his astonish,
ment, Bishop Wilberforce went at once
to the library and found the book ex'
actly as indicated by the spectre, IN Ii
its secluded corner, upon the top shelf
thick with the dust of ages, evidently
the look had remained unmolesteo
MANY years. There was the document
lust rs described, but now, faded ano
yellow. The secret of the confession
never became known to the world
The GOOD Bishop regarded it as conf
/ IL IL nd