Frances Mary Buss and her work for education

by Annie E. Ridley

(Head of the Ladies’ College, Cheltenham.)

Dr. Wormell.

(Head-Master of the Central Foundation Schools, Cowper Street, representing the College of Preceptors.)

Dr. Fitch.

(Member of the Senate of the University of London, representing the Teachers’ Guild.)

“Mrs. Green was at the organ, and the girls’ choir led the singing, which consisted of Psalm xxxix., the ‘Nunc Dimittis,’ and the hymns ‘The saints of God, their conflict passed,’ ‘Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin,’ and ‘Now the labourer’s task is o’er.’

“After the service, which was conducted by the Vicar (the Rev. Dr. Cutts), Canon Browne, whose work in connection with the Cambridge Local Examinations brought him for so many years into such close contact with Miss Buss, delivered an address from the chancel steps. He said the last rites were often performed over those who were too young to have shown promise; over those who had shown promise, and were cut off, as it seemed, prematurely; over those who had lived longer, and had had no aim, done no work in life; over those who had had noble aims, and had been disappointed, or who, having seen the fulfilment of their aims, had outlived their friends, and died silent and alone. How exactly the opposite of all this was the record of Frances Mary Buss! She had great aims, she had seen a noble work perfectly done, she was surrounded to the last by affectionate friends. It was not too much to say that she was one of the most prominent actors in that which had changed the face of a large area of human life. There were many present who had played a large part in it, but he could not name the living. Miss Anne Clough and Miss Buss were, of those who had passed away, those who had developed the best of woman’s nature, the latent power and charm of that intellect which was so subtle in its intuition and so swift in its spring. Miss Buss had reduced the wear and tear of effort by the improvement of method, and had changed that which had been dull and flat and painful into brightness and interest. Thousands of girls’ lives had been made happier, hundreds of women were now doing congenial woman’s work through her means. It was difficult to believe that it had all grown from nothing in thirty years. It was not with her as with many—that others had laboured, and she had entered into their labours; she was herself the pioneer, and herself had crowned the work. It had not been done from policy; it had all come from love and sympathy, combined with that practical intuition which always lays its finger on the important point. Now her task was o’er, that faithful labourer, under whom a wilderness had grown into a garden, the garden had blossomed into flowers so fair, had borne fruit so sweet. It was the last day of the year, the eve of a New Year. The Church’s lessons brought before them that beautiful chapter of the Revelation which described the new heavens and the new earth. Miss Buss’ quiet and decided religious character enabled them to enter without hesitation on that branch of thought. Her religious character shone naturally throughout her educational work. They read of the garnishing of heaven with precious stones of various hues and many names, not there because of this hue or that, of this characteristic or the other, but because they were precious stones. In all reverent faith they followed in imagination the placing of their friend, now lost here, among the precious stones in heaven, and they might pray that of themselves it might be true that she was but gone before.

“The second part of the service was performed in the little churchyard of Theydon Bois, near ‘Boscombe.’ The journey seemed to be made doubly sad by the remembrance of the many delightful holidays we had spent at ‘The Cottage,’ and by all its associations; and yet we felt that we would rather she were laid to rest there, in the open country, than in a crowded London cemetery. ‘After life’s fitful fever she sleeps well.’

“The day was piercingly cold, in spite of the bright sunshine, and the ground was covered with snow. About six hundred went down to Theydon Bois by a special train, and the long procession was formed at the foot of the hill on which the church stands. Mr. Garrod, Secretary of the Teachers’ Guild, Mr. Foster Watson, Master of Method at Aberystwith College, Mr. Pinches, Treasurer of the College of Preceptors, and Mr. W. K. Hill, Head-Master of the Kentish Town School, acted as marshals. At two o’clock, the hearse and carriages with the chief mourners reached the spot, and the long train of mourners, headed by the clergy, the Rev. C. E. Campbell, Vicar of Theydon Bois, Canon Barker, and Canon Browne, moved slowly up the hill. Immediately behind the clergy came the girls’ choir, singing ‘How bright the glorious spirits shine.’ The voices, subdued as they were, owing to the great length of the procession, had—if one may so express it—a wonderfully spiritual effect. The churchyard was quite filled with the mourners, and after the actual service was finished, Canon Barker delivered a short address to those assembled round the open grave on the life-work and lessons taught by Miss Buss, whose name, he said, would be connected with the commencement of the higher education of women for many years to come. He dwelt on the zeal and ability displayed by the deceased in founding the great school in Camden Town, and the most important educational testimony she had given before the Schools Commission. Miss Buss also established the Head-mistresses’ Association and the Teachers’ Guild, and her schools were the models of those of the Girls’ Public Day School Company. The effect and success of her work was seen at Girton and Newnham Colleges, and at the London University, and he mentioned the fact that at one time at least two-thirds of the girls at Girton were from Miss Buss’ own school. The chief point in regard to her character was her remarkable personality and indomitable strength. Her simplicity and singleness of heart were without a taint of personal ambition. He dilated on her great power of assimilating new ideas, and said the influence of her will was extraordinary. Her name would live for years, and the women not only of this country, but of every other, owed her a debt of gratitude for the noble work she had accomplished. He touched upon her deep religious character, manifested so clearly in her quiet advice and consolation to the girls who came to her in any worry or trouble, and finally he said it was a blessing to any one to be able to see, as Miss Buss had done, her life’s work crowned with success before she departed.

“In compliance with the expressed wish of the family, comparatively few wreaths were sent, but these were quite as many as could well be dealt with. In addition to those from members of the family, the teachers of the North London Collegiate School sent a wreath of laurel, the Camden School teachers a wreath, Miss Ridley (a Governor of the school from its early days) and Miss J. T. Ridley a wreath, Myra Lodge an anchor of violets, while the pupils festooned and decorated the hearse. Most of those present carried flowers, which they threw into the ivy-lined grave.