Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-04-26
PASTRY COOK TO BISHOP.
How a Poor student Made Hi. Wa

How n Poor student Made His Way
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 as a pastry cooks apprentice.
In that humble position he won the
esteem of a 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 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 great hardship,
his position grew more dlsagreeable
every day. At last a lucky thought
caused MADDOX to solicit q Mr.. Raper
(who knew Sir Robert Walpole) fol
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-
pers application on his behalf, Sir
Robert flew into 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, "He has got the
knack to please my wife; l doubt not
he will be less successful with the
queen"
Having obtained this preferment, his
Establishments soon made him a great
favorite with the queen. His first step
to future advancement was to ''set 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 a person near the
dean with directions to bring the ear
Hest news of his death" When MADDOX
received this intelligence mot long aft
erward) the queen was at the time |
walking In her favorite garden, where |
1t was almost treason to disturb her. |
but without moments delay the ar
dent young clerk knocked at the gar
den door, and the queen opened Ii. |
Having made many apologies for his |
intrusion, he desired her to speak to |
the king on his behalf. II don't know
whether shall or not" said the queen
angrily and shut the door 10 his face.
But when her resentment had cooled
down she obtained the kings favor on
behalf of MADDOX.
The appointment had no sooner been
got than the bishop of London arrived
posthaste with the news of the death
Of the dean of Bath and Wells and In
terceded on behalf of friend. He was
much astonished when he was inform
ed that the deanery had already been
of and remarked, THAT Mad
Ok Is surprising man." MADDOX had
not been long dean when the see Of st.
Asaph fell vacant, and he was appoint
ed; but, desiring to hold the deanery as
well as the bishopric, the king refused.
and he accepted the latter office When
Bishop Hough OF Worcester died Mad
Ok became his successor.
But for the premature death Of this
Illustrious and self seeking prelate he
would in all probability have become
primate of all England and would have
supplied self help" story entitled
From Pastry Cook to Primate' that
might have been as interesting to
young men as the ''lives" of Watt, Ste
DhensOn, etc