Untitled - Electric Scotland

1 842-50] HEAD-MASTER OF RUGBY 113
Grant me, Lord, to live each day as 1 would wish to die. Let
me view this event, not as success, but as the opening up of
a fresh field of labour in Thy vineyard. Now I may look
forward to dedicate my whole life to one object the grand work
of Christian education. Let me never forget that the first re
quisite for this is to be a true Christian myself. Give me a holy
heart. Give me boldness and firmness in Thy service. Give me
unfailing perseverance. Banish all indolence. Give me freedom
from worldly ambition. O Lord, I have much labour before
me much to do of a secular character. Grant that this may
never draw me from regular habits of devotion, without which
the Christian life cannot be preserved within me."
As has been already said, it was largely at the instiga
tion of Arthur Stanley that he had resolved to become
a candidate for the Head-mastership. But in the weeks
which followed, Stanley seems to have felt it impossible
to recommend any one as really fit to take Dr. Arnold s
place, and before the actual election took place he had
practically ceased to support Tait s candidature.
Several characteristic letters from him followed one
another in rapid succession as soon as the election was
over.
The Rev. A. P. Stanley to the Rev. A. C. Tait.
"July 29, 1842.
My DEAR TAIT,- -The awful intelligence of your election
has just reached me. At any time it would have been a most
serious responsibility to me from circumstances which have tran
in the last week 1
spired
not heart to say more than that I conjure you by your friendship
for me, your reverence for your great predecessor, your sense of
the sacredness of your office, your devotion to Him whose work
it is absolutely overwhelming. I have
you are now more than ever called upon to do, to lay aside every
thought for the present except that of repairing your deficiencies.
These circumstances are explained in a subsequent letter to be the
objections of some of the Rugby masters to the new appointment, but the
same letter adds that he finds he has overrated the difficulties, and they are
vanishing.
VOL. I. H