New-York tribune., 1900-01-13

vecrnan stock which In turn traced it's origin to
the Scandinavian family Of Bj0rnson. Of which
the name Benson is corruption But his
biographer takes pains to explain that no GER
tain connection be established between the
Archbishop's family and "the families of the
few eminent Bensons." This is well; for the
Archbishop was in many respects typical Eng
lshman. and IL is therefore most fitting that
in his lineage he should represent the average
Englishman. He was born near Birmingham in
1929 and was educated at King Edwards
School in that city, after which he went
10 Cambridge, whence he was graduated with
mathematical honors. He master of
Rugby School for some years. and in 1858 was
appointed head master of Wellington College,
post which he held for fourteen years. He
showed great capacity as a teacher and
ganizer and made the institution school of
the first rank. In 1872 he became Canon of
Lincoln. and later Chancellor. He became
Bishop of the new diocese of Truro in 1876. He
organized the diocese, gathered many energetic
young men about him, and raised nearly 5000
600 for the building of cathedral In 1SSZ
he appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, to
succeed DR.. TAFT. He entered upon his new
duties at a critical time in the history of the
Church Archbishop TAFT was Broad Church
man, while DR.. Benson High Church man.
Yet he continued the administration of the
forgot that Archbishop he the repre-
sentative not Of a party but of the whole
Church. and that in very special sense he was
10 be a mouthpiece Of the laity. who otherwise
would have little voice in the councils of the
Church. One of his earliest acts as Archbishop,
the greeting OF the Jesuit teachers and mis-
sionary pupils expelled from France. and living
near Canterbury, typical of the catholic
temper of his mind Many important questions
OF the office, and in meeting them he showed a
statesmanlike grasp of the situation. He died
suddenly of apoplexy on October II, 1896. while
attending service in the parish church at
Hawerden as guest Of MI Gladstone. by whom
he had been appointed to the See of Canterbury.
Young Benson brought up in a typical
Church atmosphere and all through his life he
never overcame the impression then formed that
the Church and its interests dominated every
thing else in human life. He brought up in
one of those old time parishes of which few are
now left.
The clerk wore a wig and immense horn spec
with a white tie. In the gallery there sat the
music-a clarinet, flute, violin and cello; the
the hddles tuned for moment and then played
st once. Then they struck up and the clerk.
absolutely alone: in majestic voice which
swayed UP and down without regard to time,
sang II through like the braying of Not
g soul else Joined in the farmers amused and
smiling at each other, my grandfather standing
upright like pillar, without smile.
Yet, though always religious, he did not
youth manifest any of the outward evidences
OF what is called vital piety. He was a healthy,
Wholesome English lad, and had no idea at first
of entering the ministry. But he was always a
keen Churchman. He astonshed u.s." writes
one of his schoolfelows by the energy with
which he spoke OF the crime Of plunderng the
Church in the sixteenth century; of the crueltles
inflicted on the monks. and of the just vengeance
OF God in Furnishing those families who still deld
TO their sacriIege and their booty. He would
glory in the thought that he was being educated
in q Church school, founded with Church money,
by wise Churchmen who had rescued Church
property from the greedy hands Of the King"
Early in his career Benson made the friendship
of many influential men in the Church, like
Lightfoot, Westcott and Wordsworth, and his
correspondence with these men. much of which
IS included in this volume throws strong light on
his character and ideas. He had little patience
with Tractarianism, which was then a new and
portentous issue in the Church In 1S48. writ
ing to Lightfoot, he said IF you could fancy
persons holding Tractarian views placed in the
position of the Apostles. and writing letters OF
the same character TO the different churches
would the letters which would catch your eye
be the they now? Clearly not
There would be a goodly number of SIS for
Sacrament and OF HIS for Holy; and. above ALL
there would be great number Of Cs for Church
and Ps for Priests" About the time he
went to hear Newman preach and this is what
he says of him:
He is wonderful truly, and spoke with
sort of angel eloquence If you comprehend
me- Sweet. flowing, unlabored language in
short, very short, and very pthy and touching
sentences Such style of preaching 1 never
heard before, never hope again 10 hear. Yet 1t
reminded me very forcibly of Arnold and his
appearance was exceedingly interesting; he was
very much emaciated and when he began his
voice was very feeble. and he spoke with great
difficulty nay, sometimes he gasped for breath;
but his voice was very sweet rather like West
cotts though. But oh. Lightfoot, never you
turn Romanist IL you are to have q face ike
that-it was aWful-the terrible lines deeply
ploughed all over his face, and the craft that
sat upon mis- retreating forehead and sunken
eyes. He was strange spectacle altogether
and to think of that timid looking little weak
voiced man having served England as he has
done.
Benson was ordained deacon in 1854. The
way in which his canoncaI examination was
conducted was curiously characteristic Of the
old time "laissez faire" methods of the Anglican
Church:
He told TO cali upon the Bishops chan
lain, country clergyman, and presented him
sef at the rectory at the appointed time. The
chaplain, II seems, did not catch his name and
asked him to be seated and then after one. or
TWO general remarks, learning that he was
canoldate for orders, asked him the date Of
confessed total ignorance and the chaplain
stared at him hard for a moment with a dis
satisfied expression and presently asked him
the date OF Solomon's birth. Again he pleaded
ignorance, and was met with a Very bad sir:
very bad, indeed: most reprehensible ignorance"
My father said that he had not expected such
questions. We'll, what did you expect, sir?"
said the chaplain. "A knowledge of the sequence
of the events Of Bible history is a necessary