All through the weeks and months of preparation the candidates were remembered at the weekly prayer-meeting in the Parish Room, and on the Sunday previous to Confirmation they were commended to the prayers of the congregation and a sermon was specially devoted to the subject. On the day itself there was an early prayer-meeting, to which all candidates came, and afterwards every arrangement was made to keep the newly confirmed free from outside influences that might too soon remove good impressions; the evening was spent, after tea in the Parish Room, in the singing of hymns and listening to various addresses. Every year his interest in the subject was fresh as ever, and at the age of eighty-one his sermon on Confirmation, which was afterwards printed and a copy sent by him to the present Archbishop of Canterbury (and acknowledged by him in one of the following letters), was so remarkable in its power and teaching as to receive a special notice in one of the Archbishop’s recent Charges—an honour most gratifying to the preacher and probably nearly unique.
To one of his daughters:—
“Balachulish, N.B., September 13th, 1883.
“I hope you will enjoy a delightful Sunday at Thun. I do not look forward with much pleasure to ours, for I do not like the Scotch Church services. I was greatly distressed last Sunday at Oban. Oh, how earnest I should be that visitors to Tunbridge Wells should have the pure Gospel of the grace of God! It is grievous to think what many people are condemned to hear! May God make us faithful to His truth!”
“Tunbridge Wells, June 4th, 1885.
“I am getting on very comfortably with Confirmation candidates. The Trinity school-girls are improved. They are excellent in their knowledge, well up in the Catechism, in which they used to be so sadly defective. Of course it is extremely difficult for an old man like me to get into the secrets of their young hearts, but many of them, I believe, are more than in earnest, for I feel sure they are really resting on their Saviour. Poor dears! I hope they will be kept, but they are likely to be terribly exposed to all kinds of religious unsettlement. The Salvation Army is going to have a grand ‘Battle’ next week, and the rank and file is to consist of ‘saved drunkards, liars, swearers, poachers, parsons, sailors, and nailers’!! So we are classed with queer company! Is it of God? or is it strange fire? that is the question. But who can wonder if our young people are perplexed and confused?”
Written at the death-bed of his brother Joseph:—
“Hampstead, January 16th, 1886.
“I could not come home to-day, for I could not leave him in his low estate, though I am not like some of them, in immediate apprehension of any change. I fear there may be still before us deeper depths than we have known yet, unless the Lord mercifully lifts him over them, as He did Miss Courthope. He is generally wandering, but frequently revives in a most curious manner when I speak to him. I firmly believe that minds clouded like his very often have a perception of heavenly things, and most especially of the sweet name of Jesus.
“I went this morning to C.M.S. on the subject of the February Meetings. It was very edifying, but I had to come away very quickly, as I wanted to be back. People were all most kind, so much so that I hardly knew how to bear it.
“Since then I have been to see Bishop Perry, who was very unwell yesterday, I believe from riding home after a tiring day at Islington in a cold hansom-cab when he had a carriage and pair in his stable wanting exercise! Such is mankind. I tell him that I am obliged to knock about in cabs and ’busses because I cannot afford anything better, but he ought not to think of it.
“When we shall be home no one knows. I do not think I can come home for Sunday if things go on as they are now doing, unless I am obliged to do so, and I see nothing to indicate any immediate change. But we are in the Lord’s hands, hour by hour, with eternity full in view and the Lord Jesus almost visible. May we each one abide in His love!”
“Hampstead, January 21st, 1886.
“Joseph at rest in the Lord.”
“Tunbridge Wells, March 5th, 1887.
“I hope you are still prospering and that you have had as beautiful weather as we have had. I consider that the beautiful bright sunshine of our dear old England is to be preferred to that of the South of France, more especially if the latter is accompanied by earthquakes as a variety, and certainly we have all been enjoying it here. Last Sunday was one of the most lovely days I can remember, and I hope it was one in which we enjoyed some sunshine in our souls. All the week too has been bright and happy, though we have had some fogs in the morning—just enough to teach us how God can clear away all that obscures the sunshine of His love. On Wednesday we had a most profitable sermon from Mr. Russell.”
“Marden Hill, Hertford, August 30th, 1887.
“Nothing can be kinder or more affectionate than everybody here. H— and M— are most pleasant, and I would not have missed coming to them here on any account, as I consider that at Cromer every one is in a non-natural condition and here they are in their own home. I wonder whether there is the same difference between myself at home and abroad. I suppose there is, though I do not see it.
“I hope you are enjoying Brittany. You surely did not leave Guernsey on your left as you were crossing. If you did I suppose it was to avoid rocks; and maybe we should all prosper more if we were more careful to avoid temptations as well as to overcome them; and I hope the Lord may so direct the path of every one of us that we may be kept from danger and guided safe into the haven of peace. I have been exceedingly impressed with these words in Jeremiah x.: ‘The way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.’ So my way, and your way, is not in ourselves, and I trust the Lord may direct all our steps for His own glory.”
“St. Bernard’s, Caterham, October 14th, 1887.
“I return Miss T—’s enclosure. Pray tell her that her confidence need not be in the least shaken by the proposed visit to the Old Catholics, for they are thorough Protestants in many respects. They withdrew from the Church of Rome on the decree of Papal Infallibility (I think in the year 1870), under that very remarkable man Dr. Döllinger, and have been excommunicated by it. They call themselves ‘Old Catholics’ to distinguish themselves from the New, or Roman, Catholics, and they claim to hold the Catholic faith as it was before Rome introduced its errors. We ought, therefore, to rejoice at our Bishops taking them in hand.”