Untitled - Electric Scotland

324 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. xn.
the first against Wilson. All the four law lords and my
self agree. It is no doubt a most important matter for the
Church. O Lord, grant that all may be overruled for good,
that no stumbling-block may be thrown in the way of earnest
Christians, and that Thy blessing may watch over and guard
Thy Church."
"Sunday, 17 th April. Next Tuesday comes Convocation.
Lord, watch over Thy Church-. Guide, calm, and settle all our
minds. Lead us to speak the truth in love."
"Sunday, 2^th April. In the midst of the turmoils, and the
attempts by the Record to separate me from my clergy,
this is
satisfactory. Yesterday I was waited on by Champneys, Bayley,
and Thorold, three of the best men in my diocese, all of whom
have signed the declaration which I so strongly denounced in
Convocation and in
1
my Preface. They came to express their
anxious desire that no unfriendly feeling should spring up, and
to explain, more or less, their views in signing the declaration.
1 do not think that any evil, but rather good, will spring from
my so plainly stating my opinion. Lord, watch over Thy
Church. Calm and support us all under present difficulties.
Lead our souls to Thee, through Jesus Christ."
"SCHOOL HOUSE, RUGP.Y, May 15, 1864. I am sitting in our
old bedroom. The room in which Catty, May, Craufurd, were
all born. The room in which I lay for so many weeks in help
less sickness. All the old familiar sights are round me, as
fourteen years ago. But what changes in the living
souls. . . .
I am going to preach for the first time in that chapel for
fourteen years and more. This morning I administered the
Holy Communion to above 230 boys. A noble, cheering sight.
O Lord, bless the work here. Bless Temple in his vigorous
honest course. Deepen every religious impression of his teach
ing. Last night he addressed the communicants in chapel
with great earnestness and plainness."
In the following sentences from a private memorandum,
written during the height of the storm, Bishop Tait gives
expression to his own views of what was needed, whether
1 The Preface to Part n. of The Word of God the Ground of Faith.