The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-16
w1LBERFoRcE AND THE GHOST.
Remarkable Incident in the Life of the
Late Bishop.
From the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
The following remarkable incident in
the life of the late Samuel Wilberforce,
Bishop of Oxford and afterward of Win
chester, is related as absolutely anthem
tic, and the good bishop himself is said to
have many times rehearsed the story to
his friends. Bishop Wherefore was
most prominent among his contempor-
aries of the English clergy, and was once
a leader of the high church party, He,
however, frequently found time to devote
to the social side of life, and was some
times 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-eVdently of the Roman
COMMUNICATING by the open fire and
taking no part in the general converse
ton. The bishop was somewhat sur
prised at not being presented to the
priest, and his establishment was great
when, few moments later, dinner being
announced, the guest retired, leaving the
priest at his place by the fire The
hostess having assigned Bishop WILDER
force the seat Of honor at her right hand,
as soon as an opportunity offered he re
marked:
I inquire who was the priest we left sit
ting apart in the drawing rooml"
All, you have seen him, then, " replied
the lady. 1T is not every one who has
that privilege l cannot tell you who he
is or from whence he comes. For many
years this spectre has haunted the house
and grounds-it has, in fact, been a tradi-
tion in the family. He seems to do no
harm, and although he appears occasion
ally, we have become quite accus toned to
our friendly ghost"
Chow very singular" remarked his
lordship. But have you never addressed
your priestly spectre3"
"Indeed, l have had no opportunity, nor
the desire, for that matter" responded
the hostess, growing pale.
May / take the liberty now" inquired
the dignitary.
with all my heart, your lordship," re-
| piled the lady. The bishop arose, and re-
turning to the drawing found the
priest where he had left him a few min
utes before. Having no fear, the bishop
said kindly:
"Who are you, my friend, and why are
! you here}"
The specter seemed to sigh deeply and
| say, as though to itself, AT last :"
| Then. in a hollow voice, addressing the
| bishop, it continued: Il 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. Icould not rest in my
| grave while great wrong was being done
| which IL was in my power TO right |
! have been returning all these years in the
| hope some one would address me, for il
was not given to me TO be the first to
| speak. All men have Stunned me until
! now, and it is your mission to do my bid
| ding. l was priest of the Church of
| Rome, and was called TO this house eighty
| years ago TO receive the confession of a
/ dying man. He was the sole possessor of
! a secret, the knowledge of which would
alter materially the entail of this vast
estate, and in his death this man wished
to repair the terrible wrong he had
| brought upon his kin.
AT his request l wrote down the CON
| fessiOn, word for word, as he gave it to
! me, and when he finished. had barely
| time to administer the final sacrament of
the church before he expired in my arms.
1t was very important that / should re-
! turn 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 con-
fessiOn away with me. but to place il 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 steps to
| The book shelves, / took out a copy of
| Goung's Night Thoughts which was the
first book upon the uppermost shelf near
| est the last window, and inserting the pa
| per carefully between its leaves, | re
placed the book and departed A horse
was awaiting me at the door, but ere we
! reached the entrance of the grounds he
| took fright; ] was thrown and instantly
| killed. Thus died the secret of my con
| lessor with me. No one has disturbed
! lhaJ book IN all these years and no one
has had the courage to address this mes
senger from the unknown. The paper
viii be found as have stated, and now
remains for you to correct the injustice
! which has so long been Supon this noble