Evening capital., 1906-11-01

loss for the exceilcney OF the knowl-
edge of Christ Jesus my Lord. The
words of d Aubigny, the historian
OF the Reformation, in reference to
another, have their appropriate appli-
cation in the case of Bishop Nichol-
SON sBilneys vocation was prayer,
timid before man. he was full OF bold
ness before God, and day and night
upon Him called for souls. 1t was
the secret not only of Bishop Nichol-
sons strength. but of his JOY. He lived
in the habitual. realized consciousness
of his Saviour's 5 nearness and love.
This life of prayer seems to have
sweetened, elevated, sublimated his
whole being. His gen'lemanly,s sunny
natural disposition had an intenser
brightness impaired to it from the
inner glory. No one who was ever
brought into contact with him could
fail to note how he became bathed
in love to all around. They might,
from his daily walk and conversa-
tion catch up the spirit, at least, of
the lines in Aurora Leigh.
Beloved. let us love so we'll,
Our work would still bc better for
our love;
And still our love be better for our
work,
And both commended for the sake of
each,
BY all true workers and true lovers
born
Bishop Nicholson was one of the lead
ers Of the catholic party in the Amer
lean church. and were not the writer
of this humble tribute to his memory
not assured that the object and out
~ ~
souls and lead sinners TO Christ, no
such praise as in these imperfect lines
could be paid to him. Had symbolism
been the s'bc all. and the end all of
his labors i'm Baltimore, Westminster,
Philadelphia and his greater work in
Wisconsin, ii would be poor traves-
tie indeed--unworthy Of the great
cause and its magnitude. But it was
not SO. Not of any material symbol
was this adopted as his fife motto
and watchword-God forbid that
should glory, save in the cross of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Nay, more,
from the bottom of our hearts we
believe that had he listened to the
harsh verdict OF some that his was
the religion only in its aesthetic, sym
holic, histrionic form, he would have
been disposed in righteous repudia-
ton to reply in the words of the
gifted Baroness Bunsen--'I am, and
ever have been, much attached to
these external decencies now become
the very idols of worship; but II
they are to become all in all; if all
churches are TO become what many
are, / should end with following the
ultra Protestants to field-preaching.
With strong integrity TO his convic-
tions and his purpose the good Bishop
mad no narrow ecclesiastical exclusive
ness, but with the characteristic. gentle
manliness, courtesy, love and gener-
osity OF his nature, he saw and ac-
knowledged the good in all who loved
the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and
in truth. And is il not the case that
the good Bishop now gone hence, like
all the other crowned ones, leaves
behind them hallowed "reminiscences
of faith and love, and heroic endur-
ance, like the CLEAN of light which
fingers on the mountain tops when
the sun has gone down--in heaven
they are embarked in loftier behests !:
devoting all the energies Of the glori-
fed body, and all the faculties of the
gIorified spirit in never ending service
to the Lord they love?
ssOh, tbs placid rest
Who would deplore it?
Trance of the pure and best,
Angels watch for it.
Sleep of this mortal night,
Sorrow can't break it;
Heavens own morning light
Alone shall wake it.
Nobly thy course is run
Splendour is round it,
Bravely thy fight is won,
Martyrdom crowned it.
II. I. p.