The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-02-17
A TRUE GHOST STORY
THE REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE 6
BISHOP WlLBERFORcE.

singclar and Important Disclosure
Made by the Quiet Clerical Guest at
an English Country House When
Addressed BY the Bishop.
The following remarkable incident in
the life Of the late Samuel Wilberforce,
bishop Of Oxford and afterward OF
Winchester, is related as absolutely
authentic, and the good bishop himself
is said to have many times rehearsed
the story to his friends:
On certain occasion the worthy
bishop had accepted an invitation to
stay at country house not far from
London. Entering the drawing room
previous to dinner on the evsAing OF
his arrival, ne noticed priest, evident
ly Of tie Roman communion, sitting by
the open fire and taking no part in the
general conversation The bishop was
somewhat surprised at not being pre-
sented to the priest, and his astonlsh-
ment was great when a few moments
later dinner being announced the guests
retired, leaving the priest at bis place
by the fire. The hostess having as
signed Bishop Wilberforce the seat OF
honor at her right hand, as soon as an
opportunity offered lie remarked:
Il beg your pardon, madam, but may
l inquire who was the priest we left
sitting apart in the drawing room?"
'Ah, you have seen him, then" re-
piled the lady. 'It is not every one
who has that privilege. 1 cannot tell
you who he is or whence he comes.
For many years this specter has haunt
ed the house and grounds. 1t has, in
fact, been Il tradition in the family. He
seems to do no harm, and, although he
appears only occasionally, we have be
come quite accustomed to our friendly
ghost"
How very Singular remarked his
lordship. "isut have you never ad-
dressed your priestly specter?"
Indeed have had no opportunity,
nor the desire. for that matter" re-
sponded the hostess. growing pale.
May I take the liberty now?' in
quired the dignitary.
with all my heart, your lordship,'
replied the lady. The bishop arose
and, returning 10 the drawing room,
found the priest where be had left him
few minutes before. Having nc fear,
the bishop said kindly:
"Who are you, my friend, and why
are you herc:''
The specter seemed to sigh deeply
and say as though to itself, cat last!'
Then in hollow voice, addressing
the bishop. it. continued: 81 am the
spirit of priest who left this world
some eighty, years ago, and am here
to ilnpart to any one who will receive
1t q secret which died with me- I
could not rest in my grave while
great wrong was being done which it
was in my power to right. have been
returning all these years in the hope
some one would address me, for it was
not given to me to be the first to speak.
All men have Stunned me until now,
and it is your mission to do MY bid
ding. I was a priest Of the church OF
Rome and was called to this house
eighty years ago to receive the con-
fession Of dying man. He was the
sose possessor Of secret the knoWl-
edge Of which would alter materially
the entail of this vast estate, and in his
death he wished to repair the terrible
wrong he lad brought upon his kin
"At his request wrote down the
confession word for word as he gave it
to me and when he finished had barely
time to administer the final sacrament
Of the church before he expired in my
arms. 1t was very important that l
should return to London that night
and in passing through the library to
leave the house | concluded it would
be safer not to carry the paper on
which was written the confession away
with me, but to place it in some secure,
unseen spot, where could obtain 1t
the following dag and deliver the docu-
ment to the person for whom it was In
tended. Mounting the steps to the
bookshelves. / took out q copy or
Young's Night Thoughts which was
the first book upon the uppermost shelf
nearest the last window. and, insert
ing the paper carefully between It's
leaves, replaced the book and depart
cd. 4 horse was awaiting me at the
door. but ere we reached the entrance
Of the grounds he took fright. was
thrown and instantly killed. Thus died
the secret Of my confessor with me. No
one has disturbed that book in all these
years, and no one has had the courage
to address this messenger from the un-
known. The paper will be found as I
have stated, and it remains for you
to correct the injustice which has so
long been upon this noble family. Ny
mission is over. and can rest in
peace"
At the close Of this remarkable speech
the specter faded gradually from sight,
and the bishop was left gazing Into
space. Recovering from his astonish.
ment. Bishop Wilberforce went at once
to the library and found the book eH-
actly as indicated by the specter. In
its secluded corner upon the top shelf,
thick with the dust Of ages, evidently
the book had remained unmolested
many years There was the document
tust rs described, but now faded and
yellow. The secret Of the confession
never became known to the world. The
good bishop regarded it as confidence
from the spiritual world and always
ended the story with the assurance
that the prlestly specter was never
again seen. 1t is fact, however, that
about the time Of this extraordinary
occurrence the magnificent estate In
question passed into possession Of re-
mote member Of the family who until
then had lived in obscurity.
Two Tests.
N-ipn- Pefnro marriage man is