Untitled - Electric Scotland

274 I H I^ <>
ARrmUSHOl
TAIT [CH. xi.
sort of life, convinced us both that it was doubtful whether my
health would really be likely to be stronger in that more Northern
climate. And if this was doubtful, no other argument of suf
ficient weight remained to lead me to break off all my London
work in its imperfect state, withdraw myself from the command
of what must ever be the key of the Church of England a post
second only in importance to Canterbury and separate myself
also from all the many fellow-workers who helped me and ex
pected to be helped by me. O Lord, in Thy
hands are the
issues. Guide all aright. I have desired all through to place
myself under that guidance."
"
CROMER, Sunday, \qth October 1862. A very busy week.
Six days hard work brought me, by dinner-time yesterday, to the
close of the rough draft of my Charge. Every day also I have
had many letters : some, of common business, in which Hassard,
who has been here, greatly helped me ; others in which no one
could help me. One from F. Maurice, announcing his intention
of resigning his Charge. ... I wrote a careful answer, anxious
if possible to preserve so holy a man to the active sen-ice of the
Church. 1
Many
of the letters I have received within these few-
days seem to show that I have a place in the Church in connec
tion with men of unsettled minds, which no other of our present
Bishops can occupy. And this, amongst other signs, seems to
tell me more clearly that I have been right in deciding to remain
in London.
"
During the week we have been reading in the evenings the
third volume of Carlyle s Frederick the Great. A vast improve
ment in
style and perhaps also in matter over the two first. To
day twice at Church. Our three little girls very engaging. Baby
lias taken to insisting on saying her little prayer to me before she
goes to bed. Little Edith came to us on the sands, saying, God
can t see me, can He ? He is in Heaven how can He ? He
;
can t see me when I am in bed. Where is He then ? It was
the continuation of an argument with Lucy. I repeated to her
the words of her hymn about One I cannot see who loves and
cares for me.
:
The decision as to York made, he returned with re
newed zest to face what were perhaps the busiest and
certainly the most stormy years
1
See p. 512.
of his London life.