Chapter I: Front Matter

RECOLLECTIONS OF A
LONG LIFE

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BY
JOHN STOUGHTON, D.D

AUTHOR OF “ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND,” “STARS OF THE EAST,”
ETC., ETC.

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London
HODDER AND STOUGHTON
27, PATERNOSTER ROW

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MDCCCXCIV

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Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

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THIS VOLUME OF RECOLLECTIONS
IS DEDICATED
TO MY LIFE-LONG FRIEND
THE REV. JOSHUA CLARKSON HARRISON,
WHOSE WISDOM HAS AIDED ME IN PERPLEXITY,
WHOSE SYMPATHY HAS CHEERED MY SORROWS
AND ENHANCED MY JOYS,
AND WHOSE CONSTANT FRIENDSHIP HAS BEEN
THE PRIVILEGE OF MY FAMILY
AS WELL AS MYSELF.

J. S.

ADVERTISEMENT

MORE than forty years ago I edited the autobiography of the Rev. W. Walford. This book, which fully answers to its name, is a remarkable production, entering into the secrets of the author’s soul, unveiling the struggles and sorrows of a mysterious experience.

The work now published is of a very different kind. It really relates to others more than to myself, and brings within view some incidents of religious history and aspects of personal character more interesting than any confined to my own experience. It presents associations during a long period spent in various work, in distant journeys, and in friendly intercourse with many distinguished persons.

I enter into no theological discussion, or any relation of spiritual conflicts, the results of such introspection, as the autobiography of my departed friend describes. I only give recollections of what I have seen and heard, especially in relation to those whom it has been my privilege to regard as more or less intimate friends.

It was just after retirement from Kensington that I began to gather up the following reminiscences, with a permission that my family might publish them after my decease. They were then put aside, and not looked at for years.

Within the last few months it has struck me that so many likely to feel an interest in my Recollections have passed away, and others are so far advanced in life, that if the publication be longer delayed, few indeed will be left likely to feel any interest in my narrative.

Conscious of failures in memory at my advanced age, I have availed myself of memoranda made when travelling, long before any book of this kind was contemplated.

I have been greatly helped in this volume by my dear daughter, with whom I reside, who has frequently accompanied me in my travels, and been my valued secretary at home. Without her aid I could not have brought these Recollections through the press.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,
_January_, 1894.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I 1807–1828 PAGE Birth and boyhood in Norwich—Education—My mother—Early 1–18 tastes—First sight of the sea—Public events—Early studies—Roman Catholicism—Friendships—Religious change—The Christian ministry—College days CHAPTER II 1828–1832 Fellow-students—Public excitements—Old House of 19–38 Commons—William IV.—Popular preachers in London: Daniel Wilson, Rowland Hill, James Parsons, Irving, Dr. Chalmers—Monthly lectures—Work amongst the poor—Political excitement CHAPTER III 1832–1837 First sight of Windsor—Anecdotes of George III.—Rev. A. 39–58 Redford—New chapel and ordination—Bishop Selwyn—Funeral of William IV.—Queen Victoria’s coronation and wedding—Chaplainship to a Highland regiment—Eton Montem—Windsor Auxiliary to Bible Society—Queen’s patronage—Windsor a century ago—Eton Institute—Early friendships CHAPTER IV 1837–1843 Sir Culling Eardley and tent preaching—Case of 59–75 conscience—Public questions—Missionary tours—Newstead Abbey—Byron and Scott—Royal visit to Edinburgh—Up the Rhine—The Rev. W. Walford—Bagster, the publisher—Radicals a century, ago—John Bergne, of the Foreign Office—Tractarian controversy, and No. 90 CHAPTER V 1843–1850 Removal to Kensington—Life of Dr. Arnold—Ladies’ schools 76–100 at Kensington—Kensington friends—Archdeacon Sinclair—British Schools and Duchess of Inverness—British and Foreign Bible Society; London Missionary Society—Young Men’s Christian Association—Evangelical Alliance—Sub Rosâ—Tractarianism and Dr. Pusey—Political excitement—Visit to Geneva—Cæsar Malan—Notting Hill Chapel—Father of Rev. F. D. Maurice—Visit to Newport Pagnell and the haunts of the poet Cowper CHAPTER VI 1850–1854 The papal aggression—Discourses on the Romanist 101–119 controversy—Palace of glass—Evangelical lectures in Exeter Hall—Memorial of Dr. Doddridge—Visit to Germany and Switzerland; thence to Milan, Verona, and Venice—Intercourse at Kensington with remarkable people CHAPTER VII 1854–1862 Visit to Rome: Holy Week, Pio Nono and the feet-washing, 120–137 Catacombs—Naples—Vesuvius—New chapel at Kensington—Commencement of the Congregational Union—Algernon Wells—The “Rivulet” controversy—Visit to Berlin, Dresden, Schandau, and Prague—Affecting sudden death at Kensington—Family bereavements—Tour in the Pyrenees—St. Sauveur, the Emperor Napoleon, and Empress Eugenie CHAPTER VIII 1862–1865 Bicentenary of Bartholomew ejectment—Family 138–161 bereavements—Commencement of friendship with Dean Stanley—His sermon on “The Feast of the Dedication”—His sermon when the American President was present—My Eastern tour: Alexandria, Cairo, the Desert, Approach to the Holy City, Communion in the Episcopal Church, Dr. Rosen, Story about the Sinaitic MS., Hebron, Eshcol, Solomon’s Pools, Monastery of St. Saba, the Dead Sea, Jordan, Across Olivet to Jerusalem, Journey to Bethel and onwards to Damascus, Reflections crossing the Mediterranean, Rhodes, Storm, Smyrna, Ephesus, Constantinople—Home by the Danube, Germany, and Belgium—Reflections CHAPTER IX 1865–1872 Church history—Visit to Dr. Hook, Dean of 162–200 Chichester—Anecdotes of Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford—The Dean’s life at Leeds—Extracts from his letters—Acquaintance with Dr. Swainson—At Cambridge when the announcement of wranglers occurred—Disraeli’s school-boy days—Social gatherings to promote union—The Archbishop of Syra at Westminster—Acquaintance with Matthew Arnold—Publication of “Ecclesia”—Friendly intercourse with Bible Revisionists—The Right Honourable Cowper Temple’s bill for opening Church pulpits to Nonconformists—Extension of Oxford University—Debate in the House of Lords—Dinners at Mr. George Moore’s house after the annual Bible meetings in Exeter Hall—Death of Dean Alford and of Sir Donald Macleod—Party at Lambeth Palace—Bishop Wilberforce’s extemporary power—Dr. Guthrie’s social habits—The education question—Athenæum Club—Academy Dinner—“Ecce Homo,” and Lord Shaftesbury CHAPTER X 1873 Voyage to America for the General Meeting of the 201–229 Evangelical Alliance—Hospitality of the President, the Honourable Mr. Dodge—Visit to Sunnyside, where Washington Irving lived, and to the Mountain House overlooking the Hudson—The Niagara Falls—Four days spent on the banks—Description of scenery—Montreal, Boston, Andover, New Haven, and New Plymouth—New York—Proceedings at the Conference—Reception of 600 guests by Mr. Dodge—Meetings at Princeton, Philadelphia, and Washington—Note from the poet Longfellow—Letter of Abraham Lincoln to Mr. Gurney CHAPTER XI 1874–1875 Death of Dr. Binney—His opinion respecting the exclusion 230–250 of liturgical worship—Unveiling of Bunyan’s statue at Bedford—Unveiling of Baxter’s statue at Kidderminster—Anecdote of Fletcher’s preaching at Madeley—Meeting at Kensington on my retirement—Dr. Stanley’s speech—Kensington friendships—Results of visits to the poor—Methods of preaching CHAPTER XII 1875–1879 Luther celebrations—Death of Lady Augusta Stanley—Her “At 251–284 Homes”—Anecdotes of Lamartine, Guizot, and Lord Russell—Touching words—Funeral in Westminster Abbey—The three benedictions—The Dean’s account of the Royal Marriage at St. Petersburg—Breakfast at Lambeth with Archbishop Tait, and conversation relative to a conference between Conformists and Nonconformists: The plan, The meeting, Subject discussed—Character of the Primate—Visit of the Queen to Mrs. Bagster, who was nearly 100 years old—My pilgrimages to Ban de la Roche and Broad Oak—Days at the Deanery with Dr. Stanley—My lectures at Edinburgh—Scottish society—Singular discovery of lost MSS.—Conference at Basle—Addresses of President M. D. Sarasin—Death of Mrs. Stoughton CHAPTER XIII 1879–1883 Conversation with a distinguished nobleman upon ideas of 285–313 religion amongst the upper classes—Days at Spezzia, Pisa, and Florence—Introduction to Cardinal Howard, who sent an invitation to visit him—Conversation with a friend of his—The Cardinal’s reception very cordial—Offers of a special introduction to the Vatican Library authorities—Successful day in consequence—Protestant brethren in Rome—Christian antiquities—Dr. Somerville’s mission—Drive to Subiaco—Home through Venice—Revisit to Italy in 1881—Special work in library at Florence amongst memorials of Savonarola—Death of Dr. Stanley—Character and habits—Cromwell’s skull—Tour in Germany—Sir William McArthur’s mayoralty—Death of Archbishop Tait—Excursion to the Grande Chartreuse CHAPTER XIV 1883–1885 Journey to Spain in preparation of book on Spanish 314–337 Reformers: Through France to Figueras, Barcelona, Tarragona, Poblet, Valencia, Cordova, Granada, Seville, Madrid, Escorial, Toledo, Valladolid, Burgos CHAPTER XV 1885 Third and last visit to Rome—Changes in the city and its 338–360 surroundings—Where did Paul live during his captivity?—Evangelical Alliance meetings at Edinburgh and Glasgow—Death of Lord Chichester—Mr. Cheetham, M.P.—Visits to Dr. Magee, Bishop of Peterborough—Lord Ebury and Moor Park—Friends in Norfolk—Increase of Roman Catholics in Kensington—Chapel openings at Hastings—Autumnal meeting in 1886 at Norwich—Bishop’s palace CHAPTER XVI I. Church of England—II. Presbyterians—III. 361–391 Baptists—IV. The Friends—V. Methodists—VI. Congregationalists