Fergus County Democrat., 1904-11-15
PASTRY COOK TO BISHOP.
How Poor Student Made His Wny
to II Place of Power.

to Place of Power.
The College of Glasgow has turned |
out many able students from Knox to
Kelvin, but for push and rapid success
Isaac Maddox, bishop of Worcester,
was. according to the Glasgow Times,
the most notable of them all. He start
ed life us Il pastry cooks apprentice.
In that humble position he won the
esteem of patron, who sent him first
to school and afterward to Glasgow
college. In the old High street halls
of learning he made amazing progress,
and when his patron died he was part
ly supported out of a Presbyterian fund
for poor scholars After finishing his
studies he sought preferment in the
Church of England. For some time he
had no success, and as he was obliged
for maintenance to an aunt. who con-
sidered his keep Il great hardship,
every day. At last Il lucky thought
caused MADDOX to solicit Mr.. Raper
(who knew Sir Robert Walpole) for
assistance. Nothing came of this, as
Sir Robert told Mr.. Raper that he had
too many court retainers to feed al
ready.
But the eX-pastry cook was not dis
mayed and attended regularly Wal
poles levees for over three months
without being taken notice of, till one
day Bishop Waddington Of Chichester
asked Sir Robert who the young
clergyman was. Sir Robert beckoned
to MADDOX and asked his name and why
he was there. On mentioning Mr.. Ra
per's application on his behalf, Sir
Robert flew into Il great rage and com
mented upon the youths impudence,
etc. MADDOX enacted the mortified man
so well that the bishop took pity on
him and made him his chaplain. Short
ly after this MADDOX, hearing that the
clerk of the closet of Queen Caroline
had died, applied for the position and
had the strong support of Bishop Wad-
dington, who said, ''lIc has got the
knack to please my wife; | doubt not
he will be less successful with the
queen
Having obtained this prcferment, his
| Establishments soon made him Il great
| favoritc with the queen. His first step
| to future advancement was to 'Sct ON
foot an inquiry into the state of health
and age of the several deans, and, hay-
ing found that ease and luxury had
made the greatest depredations on the
constitution of the dean of Bath and
Wells, he placed Il person near the
dean with directions to bring the ear
liest news Of his death" When MADDOX
received this intelligence mot long art
erward the queen was ut the time
walking in her favoritc garden, where
it was almost treason to disturb her,
but without Il moments delay the ar
dent young clerk knocked at the gar
den door, and the queen opened it.
Having made many apologies for his
intrusion, he desired her to speak to
the king on his behalf. Il don't know
whether | shall or not" said the queen
angrily and shut the door in his face
But when her resentment had coolet
down she obtained the kings favor OF
behalf of MADDOX.
The appointment had no sooner beer
got than the bishop of London arrived
pOSthaste with the news of the dealt
of the dean of Bath and Wells and in
terceded on behalf Of a friend He was
much astonlshed when he was inform
ed that the acanfry had already beel
disposed of and remarked, THAT Mad
OK is IA Surprising man" MADDOX hat
not been long dean when the 80" of ST
Asaph fell vacant, and he was appoint
ed; but, desiring to hold the deanery IA
well as the bishopric, the king refused
and he accepted the latter office. Whel
Bishop Hough of Worcester died Mad
OK became his successor.
But for the premature death Of thi
illustrious and self seeking prelate h
would in all probability have becom
primate of all England and would hay,
supplied ii ''self help" story entitle,
"From Pastry Cook to Primate" tha
might have been as Interesting t
young men as the "livcs" Of Watt, Ste
phenSOn, etc.