THE SORROWS OF A BISHOP.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XL, Issue 197, 11 August 1876, Page 4

THE SORROWS OF A BISHOP.

"A Sinner," wridng to tbe Pall Mall Gazette, draws the following amusing picture of the troubles that beset the life of a bishop:— " Now of all men, a bishop seems to me the most to be pitied, for from being a bishop be can take no bolliday. A barrister, when the long vacatlou comes, can throw his wig up to the ceiling or at his clerk's bead; a physician can forget to shake bis bead; a solicitor can send his clients to the study of their papers; even a Rugby master can forget the universe and allow tbe universe to forget him. From his respectable piety a bishop has no relief. Men of ail other trades, when on an outing, can leave their work behind thera. Where can a bishop go where be can not find, souls ? In tbis respect it may be objected that he is no worse off than the poorest parson. But a parson can, if he likes, when out for a holiday, so disguise himself as to look like any other Christian. A Bishop is, as it were, for ever tied to his own apron string. He has no real holiday, for a holiday is only enjoyed when tbe mind has & thorough change. He dare not begin his vacation by hustling bis chaplain out of doors, and throwing bis " Hymns Ancient and Modem " after him. He dare not delight his children fcy making his apron into a kite, and hie last sermon into its tail. He dare not take off his black silk stockings and paddle in the sea. He dare not, on a hoi Sunday afternoon, lie on his back on' a tombstone and listen to the distant drone of a country vicar's sermon. He dare not sit on a quiet alehouse bench, and drink a pot of porter out of its native pewter. .Ab Johnson says, ' A bishop has nothing to do at a tippling house. It is not, indeed; immoral ia

him to go to a tavern; neither would it be immoral in him to whip a top in Grosvenor-square; but if he did, I hope tbe boys would fall upon him and apply the whip to him.' We all know, what answer a judge would give if in, his vacation he were asked to take upon himself some difficult piece of arbitration. What bishop, when out for his holiday, if pressed by the vicar to preach a sermon to bis congregation would venture to answer, ' Preach to; them ! I will see them banged first ! '; And yet what man leads a harder life than your bishop of to-day ? What man more deserves a thorough ohaage? ; What with ordinations, visitations, confirmations, sermons,- and addresses, he ia for months and months kept in a . state of fervent, I may BBy of ebullient i piety. He has not only to be pious in ; himself, but a cause of piety to others.; He has always to be earnest, even when he ought to be quietly digesting his dinner. He is worried by countless heresies and questions of ritual. He is ever oppressed with the feeling that his diocese expects him to answer Darwin, and he hardly knows what answer to make. His lot is indeed a most unenviable one, and it excites my siaeerest pity."