But it was neither its
academic air nor its ecclesiastical forlornness, its famous links nor
venerable ruins of cloister and cathedral that attracted me at that
time. It was the promise of a sermon by Dean Stanley which detained me
on my southward journey. I had heard Dean Stanley once, and naturally I
could not but wish to hear him again.
He was to preach in the beautiful little chapel of St. Salvator's
College and I went with the crowd that followed the University faculty
there. One of the incidents of this walk was seeing an old woman in a
large white-linen cap, carrying an umbrella, innocently join the gowned
and hooded procession of the University faculty. I was told afterwards
that Stanley was greatly delighted at her intrusion. He wore a black
silk gown and bands, the Oxford D.D. hood, a broad scarf of what looked
like crepe, and the order of the Bath, and his text was, "Ye have need
of patience." The singing was extraordinarily beautiful, beginning with
that grand canticle, "Lord of All Power and Might," as he entered the
pulpit.
Pages:
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392