Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-02-01
A TRUEGH0ST STORY.
AReMARKA1LE EXPERIENCE or BisH.
oP WlLBERFORcE.

IN tho lie OF tho late SamuCl Nilhr-
force, bishop Of oxford and aiicrward
Of Winchester. 81 related GA absolutely
authentic, ans the good bishop himeolf
Is said TO hnvo many times rehcaucd
the story 90 his friends Bishop viii
horforco was most prominent among bis
contemuoraircs Of tho Engiifh clergy
aud was once leader Of tho high
church party. Tie, however, frequent
ly found time 20 d0yuto 90 tho social
side Of life and was sometimes styled
the bishop Of society
On certain occasion tho worthy
bishop had accepted au invitation 60
stay at q country house not far from
London. Entering tho drawing room
previous TO dinner On the evening OF his
arrival, no noticed a priest evidently
OF the Roman ommuniun-aitting hy
tho open fire aud taking no part In the
general conversation. Tho bishop was
somewhat surprised ut not being pre-
sentcd 10 the priest, and his asionish-
mcnt was great when, fow moments
later, dinner being announced. tho
guests retired. leaving tho priest ut bis
place by tho fire. Tho hostess having
assigned Bishop wilborforco the scat of
honor nj her right hand, as rcon gI an
opportunity offered ho remarked.
II beg your pardon, madam. but
may inquire who was the priest wo
left sitting apart IN the drawing ruumi'
All, you have seen him. thong ~
piled tho lady. 1T % not every one
who has that privilege. cannot tell
you who he Is or whence be- comes.
For many years this spoctor has haunted
tho house and grounds--it has. In fact,
been u tradition IN tho family. He
seems 10 do no hnrin. aad although be-
appears only occasionally We have be-
come quito accustomed to our friendly
ghost"
How very singulafl" remarked his
lordship. But hayo you never adj.
dressed Your pricstly spoctory"
Indeed, I have had no opportunity,
nor tho desire. for that matter" r..
spondcd the hostess, growing pale.
MAY | take the liberty nowG" IN.
quirod the dignitary.
with all my heart, your lordahip."
replied tho lady Tho bishop arose,
and returning 20 tho drawing room
found tho priest where ho had left him
a few minutes before. Having no foar.
the bishop said kindly;
who uro you, my friend, and why
Gro you hcrcy"
Tho spector seemed to sigh deeply and
say, as though TO itself. AT laati'
Then, In "a hollow voice, addressing
tho bishop, II continued; 81 am tho
spirit Of u priest who loft this world
some ~ yesr- sgc. and am hero 10
impart 90 any one who will receive Il
a secret which died with me. could
not rest In my grave while a great
wrong was being done which Il was In
my power 90 right. | have boon TO-
turning all these years In tho hope some
ono would address me, for II was not
given 10 me to b. tho first TO speak. All
mon have Stunned mo until now, and
II Is your mission TO do my bidding.
was n priest OF the church Of Romo
and was called 10 this house 80 years
ago 10 receive the confession Of dying
man. Iio was the sole posscssor Of q
secret, tho knowledge Of which would
alter materially the entail OF this vast
estate, and In his death this man wished
TO repair tho terrible wrong no had
brought upon his kin.
AT his request l wrote down tho
confession word for word, as he gavo
II TO me, and when hc finished had
barely timo TO administer the final sue
ramont of tho church before he expired
IN my arms II was very important
that l should return 20 London that
night, and IN passing through the libra
~ 10 leave the house 1 concluded u
would 10 safer not to carry tho paper
on which was written tho confession
away with me, but 10 place It In some
secure, unseen spot, where | could OBJ
tain II tho following day and deliver
tho document 10 the person for whom
It was intended. Mounting the steps
TO tho book shelves, | took ont copy
OF Young's Night Thoughts, which
was tho first book upon tho uppcrmost
shelf nearest tho last window, aud in
ferting the paper carefully between its
leaves l replaced the book aud depart
ed. A horse was awaiting mo at tho
door, but ere we reached tho entrance
OF the grounds ho took fright. / WIS
thrown and instantly killed.. Thus died
the secret Of my conicssor with me. No
one has disturbed that bool, IN an these
years, and no ono has had the courage
10 address this messenger from tho mn.
known. The paper will 10 found az
have stated, and now remains for You
TO correct tho injustice which has TO
long been upon this noble family, My
mission Is over, and / can rest In
peace,
AZ the close Of this remarkable speech
the spector faded gradually from sight,
and tho bishop was left gazing into
space. Recovering from his astonish-
ment, Bishop Wilboriorce wen, at once
20 the library and found tho book cx,
actly as indicated by the Epcctcr. IN
its secluded corner, upon tho top shelf,
thick with the dust Of ages, evidently
tho book had remained uunolpfted
many years There was the document
just as described, but now faded nfd
yellow, Tho secret Of tho confession
mover became known % tho world Tho
good bishop regarded It us u confidence
from the spiritual world and always
ended tho story with tho assurance that
the pric5tly spgctUr was never again
seen. It is a fact, however that about
the time Of this extraordinary occur.