, 1896-03-25
THE BISHOP OF ANTIGUA.
From tie Perish ..Mogazine, ST Mahhep's-
EGlinq Common, December 1896.

~ %'AOH cNhSNi A'0HOp v il SuHs IluSSoN
away quietly to his rest. 1t is sixteen years
ago since the Bishop first calne to reside
in Ealing. He was still Bishop of Antigua,
and remained so to his death, ruling his
diocese by the aid Of a coadiutor, Bishop
Branch. This arrangement was a wise and
thoughtful one for the diocese. The Bishops
stipend was provided 10y the State, and would
cease with his death, all future Bishops
having to be provided for by the funds Of
the Church itself. Instead, therefore, of re-
signing when compelled by advancing years
and filling health 10 withdraw from the
active work Of the diocese. be kept at his
post, although living in England, working
tor his diocese IN every possible way that he
could at a distance, getting for it men and
money. aiding by his experience and wisdom
IN a yoluminions colrcsl endynce, and gen.
orally laying down the Ines ou which the
diocese was to be worked. lie himself pro-
vided the stipend of his c0odiutol, and
greatest of all he initiated The Bishopric
Endowment Fund, 80 thai wien his life fail
ed and the Episcopal State Grant was with
drawn, there might bc funds ready fer the
maintenance of his successor. lie started
this fund by a muniticent donation from him
self Of $1,000. and succeeded a few years
back III obtaining all that he had asked for
(t20,O0O), which has since been accommodating
by interest. 1t will thus be seer that the
Bishops work for his diocese, a though he
has been withdrawn from the actual sphere,
has been q most valuable one. Bishop Branch.
in his fourth charge, delivered in November
1888, thus alIuGeS to it:-"Once again it is
my happiness to mention, with gratitude to
Almighty God, and MS the fist fact in the
history Of this diocese which deserves men
ton from me, that the life If ON loved and
yenerated Bishop is spared. And to say that
that life is spared is, rs You well know,
to say that it is devoted TO promoting the
interests of this diocese, which lie loves, my
bretheren, with q love that has never been
surpassed by the love of any Bishop for his
diocese. He still works for us in England,
he still works for individual clergymcn here
in every special work they take in hand, and
some OF them IN the regular sustentation Of
their parishes; he still prays for us TO thnt
Lord whom he has served from his youth
up
The Bishop had not been long in Ealing
before he found out St. Matthew's Church
then a small iron building in the Grange
Park-and having quickly understood it's
position and need, east in his lot with il.
For years he was a constant helper, doing
readily and affectionately an thing that he
could. He would read the prayers OF lessons,
and often preach ut q very short notice. lie
Joined the Building Committee for the cree
ton of the permanent Church shortly after
It's formation, and rendered valuable service
by his counsel during the whole time of its
existence. His name headed the first printed
list of subscriptions. He laid the founda-
ton stone of the new building; MS name
will be seen cut on the face Of the stone in
the main porch of The Church. He preached
the Evening Sermon OF the day of Conse-
Grafton; and, as long as his health permitted,
he continued the same ready help in the new
church which he had So lovingly accorded
in the old, till he souId do no more than
pronounce the blessing, as he did only this
summer at a pariShioner'> wedding. How
he regarded st. Matthew's will never be
forgotten by any of us. 1t WAS always our
Church, whenever he spoke Of it. Our own
little iron Church. he said affectionately,
when he was laying the foundation stone of
the new one and at the Conservation, in
response to the thanks rendered him, said
ale did not know what he had done to de.
serve such praise. He came to Ealing to
pass the evening of bis days, and probably
to end them, after so years labour abroad,
and with the cares of a large diocese still
upon him. He felt fthat lie must make
himself useful amongst those with whom, in
the providence of God. bis lot was cast. He
found. on his arrival, Mr.. Douglass working