THE LATE BISHOP SELWYN.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 340, 20 July 1878, Page 2

THE LATE BISHOP SELWYN.

The Wellington ChuixdiC/irbm'c/e reprints some extracts from a letter by Bishop Abraham, giving some particulars of the Bishopof Lichfield’s last days, which-will interest onr readers—“ April Ist. Monday to Friday I was absent doing his work in Derbyshire by his desire.- I got back in the evening, and heard from Bishop Hobhouse all that had passed. ... . I am afraid to say how many hours he was under this torture. The doctor said he showed marvellous courage and calmness. They were afraid to put him under chloroform because ot his heart.—Saturday, "6th. I saw him early. He said, ‘ I;have passed through the fire since I saw yon; but I pray that I may be perfected through suffering, J like ; the Captain of our Salvation.’ Mis Selwyn told me that in his wanderings he had been saying, ‘I am getting idle; who is seeing to that work ?’ Poor dear man, to think of liis being idle. The last fifty years of his life had been incessant tod ami self-sacrifice; but-then his humility was as groat as his energy. S. proposed that he should receive the Holy Communion. He assented readily, and for three-quarters of an hour he maintained his fixed attention to the service, and spoke to ns all individually. There were servants as well as relatives and friends present—ls in all. He spoke most appropriate words to each'.individually, and when he had blessed his son William, he added a blessing for John, ‘The blessing of his father shall be upon the crown of the head of him who is separate from his brethren.’ While administering the cup to him, he said, after the words, ‘ Be thankful,’ ‘Yes, thank God,’ again and again. After the Lord’s Prayer he became unconscious for a minute, and murmured, ‘ Where are the little children ?’ Mrs Selwyn stroked his head, and he recovered himselfjffollowed audibly in the Gloria in. Excelsior, and himself pronounced 'the .blessing clearly. It was altogether a wonderful,effort of a strong and devout will, —a scene ever to be remembered. . . -