Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-05-02
CHAPTER VIII.

asked once If he knew anything Of the
Church Of England, replied that he
Thought he remembered having heard
something about an eloquent dean III
that communion, named Maitland.
Others told the story differently, ana
averred that it was Bishop Oliver who
had conferred such lustcr on the ma
tional church.
The bishop himself, on being asked
whom he considered the first preacher
I'm the church, had replied that Dean
Maitland was undoubtedly the second,
his interrogation divinlng, from "a
shrewd twinkle in the episcopal eye
that there would be n lack Of delicary
In pressing him TO name the first. Inc
same 1uerlst, on putting n slmilnr
question to the dean, had been met by
genial smile, and the candid but
laughing nvowal that he had never
heard any one compared to hlniScll,
unless II was the bishop; for the deans
Ingenious, almost chlld-likc, candor
was not one OF the least Of his social
charms.
The two ecclcslnstIcs were rivals not
only in the pulpit, but In the world.
Both were favortcs ut court ana IN
general society; but the bishop lacked
the personal beauty and grace of the
dean, and, though II good talkcr ana
fund of genuine humor, he had not thc|
clever rcconteur, and possessed of the
deans bright, swift wit or his light
and playful touch In conversation; his
nrth Ike his intellect, was clcphnn-
tine In comparison with the pard-lilte
RraccfulncaS of the deans. Nor dll
the bishop possess that rare and mag
nctc power of attracting and suhjugal
Ing peoples hearts peculiar to Cyril
Maitland and given to n few choice
spirits destined TO rule men.
Ills features were square, massive,
and expressive Of solid intellect, I'M
visited by the lightning flashes of emo
tion and thought which gave new
beauty to the deans beautiful face.
Bishop Oliver was past middle age,
ana looked ny II he had never been
young, while the dean looked ms If he
could never be old. lie was II good
man, though human. In MI the
furthcst rcccsscs of his memory there
was nothing he feared to look at; there
was no spiritual tragedy In his HE;
he WIS unacuuantcd with the depths
OF human agony. Thus his sermons,
though possessing II more level and
sustained excellence than the deans,
though showing greater intellect and
learning, had infinitely less power to
touch mems hearts; nor was he ever
carried away beyond the limits OF hih
will, and thus enabled to carry others
away, MS the dean was. People did
not fly to him FOR spiritual help, rs
they did to the dean, for he did not
possess his absolute sympathy With
the sinful; their lives aud experiences
differed so widely from his own spot
less career. that he could not but re-
gard them rs aliens, strive as he
would to call them brothers.
But there was something In Dean
Maitlaud's way of regarding sin and
sinners which opened the darkest re
cesscs of peoples hearts to him, and
men had not feared to pour into his
symmihl2ing ear things which II troHr
the blood to hear Very tender was
the healing hand he laid upon sick
souls tender but firm. No one knew
better than he the rintSli,~ which
alone can heal such deadly maEidicS,
although, like many physicians of the
body, he had not the strength Of will
TO apply his prescriptions to his own
case. or this he was sometimes com
scious. as was sren in his last Sermon
to candidates for ordination, when he
had taken tor text, les, | myself
when have preached to others, should
h,Somc a caStaway"
Never tor Il iaomcnt let II he thought
that sin is In any way necessary or
good or helpful, anything but vile and
injurious in itself or IN It's far-rHching
cunSeQcunveS. yet II is IN undouhtrd
fact chat In some natures Il heavy fall
leads tn II higher spiritual development.
Good Is stronger than evil. and the
eternal purpose which rules in al
things and against which nothing hui
man can prevail, often appWlS to
thickcst darkness. Thus This mans
black inlquity was made an instrument
of healing to others.
The bishops dotlNctors accused him
Of wurllliurSs and ambition, and said
that he miSapptcd ST. Panls tnlun,
ton. To be an Thugs to all men. aud
was too good Il rourtier to be Il good
Christian.
1t must be confessed that the bishop,
being human as we'll rs thriSlian dad
greatly love the eStecm OF nru. aud
particularly! of princes, and In his hett
OF hearts tc,t II hard that he aud the
dean should have their lines east In
the same place. expressly, rs 1t seemed
tc him, that the luStrr 81 his own re-
nown might H. dimm,sl Ivy the greater
hrillance Of his rivals. They We're,
however. The best of friends tur even
the bishop was Suhiugatrd 10y tile il"
resIstahlr charm OF his rivals mmnnel
Whenever he came into PERSONAL Vuu.