The Indianapolis journal., 1896-10-12
CAREER AND TRAITS.
Review of the Life and Character
istics of the Archbishop

The most Rev. Edward White Benson.
D. D., Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate
of all England, and Metropolitan. son of
Edward White Benson, Esq. of Birming-
ham Heath, and formerly of York was
born near Birmingham, in 1929 He was
educated at King Edwards School, Bir-
mingham and at Trinity College, Cam
bridge, of which he was successfully schol-
ar and fellow, and where he graduated B.
A., in 1852, a first class in classical
honors, and senior Chancellor's medalist
obtaining also the place OF a senior optine
in the mathematical tripos. tie was grad
uated of M. A., in 1855; B. D., in 1862; D. D. in
1861 and Hon. .. c. L., (Oxford), 1884 He
was for many years of the masters IN
Rugby School and he held the head mas
tsTshp of Wellington College from it's first
opening, in 1858, down to 1872. For several
ears he was examining chaplain of the
late Bishop of Lincoln, by whom he was
appointed Chancellor and Canon Residen-
tiary of Lincoln, having been Il plebendary
of the same cathedral for three years pre-
vious He was al different times select
preacher to the University of Cambridge
and TO the University of Oxford, Hon
in ordinary. 1s75-1S77. In December 1916. he
nominated by the crown, on the recon-
mendaton of the Earl of Beaconsfield. to
the newly restored biShopric of Truro and
consecrated in St. Paul's Cathedral
April %, 1877. During his occupation of the
see ne began the building of q new cathed-
raj at Truro of which the ot::ward shell
has cost over 100000, much of that sum
having been gathered through the energy
of the Bishop In December. 1882. DR. Ben
son was appointed by the crown, on Mr.
Giadstones 5 recommendation. to the arch
pshopric OF canterbury. IN succession to
DR.. TAFT DR.. Benson had published various
religious works.
When DR.. Benson was raised to the arch
bishopric of Canterbury London Truth pub
lished sketch of the divine from which
the following is taken: According to Truth
the keynote Of Dr; Bensons successful
career was the high esteem in which he
was held by the late Prince Consort He
was remarkable man, possessing many
characteristics of q great one. but his abil-
tiles were rather solid than striking He
was not a great theologian. like his old
friend and schooifellow. DIR. Lightfoot. nor
a prililant scholar, nor a great preacher
in popular sense. The power of organi-
zauon, which he conspicuously manifested
was hardly sufficiently rare talent to have
marked MIN for his high position. But he
and the Prince were a good deal thrown
together in the early days of Wellington
college and the excellent impression he
created upon his illustrious coadiutor had
an an important influence upon his destiny
the Prince honored with his regard and
thus II come about that the merits of DR.
is,t, henson received signal recognition from the
leaders OF the two great political parties
Dr. Benson was the descendant of n good
old Yorkshire family. but his father mi
grated to Birmingham. where he engage
in business. Mr.. White Benson. the pri
mate father. was Il clever man with =
taste Tor natural science and for literary
pursuits He dabbled good deal in chem
istry, and turned his studies in that direc-
tion TO account in his business DR. Ben
sons early surroundings were somewhat
austeIe and gloomy, ard he himself stated
while passing a warm euogy upon the
moral effect of the writings of eminent
authors of fiction. that he was brought M
among people who considered novel read
ing highly deleterious. IL not sinful. and
asked ominously such questions as Would
You like TO read novel uDor your death
bed2 But though deDrecating these puri-
tanical views. it Is probable that DR. Ben
son did not suffer any restraint from them
as q more frivolous and boyish nature