A ROMANCE OF THE PRIESTHOOD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2650, 6 July 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

A ROMANCE OF THE PRIESTHOOD.

A YOUXtt priest died in the north-west of of London, whose name (the Daily Telegraph says) may well be saved from oblivion. Under circumstances less sensational than those which have made Father Damien's name ring through Christendom, Father Douglas Hope has practised, in the nuromantic monotony of the Harrow-road, a. self-surrender as complete as that of the hero of ths Leper Island, Close to that landmark of the 'busman, " The Prince of Wales," stands a Home for boys, and, in connection with it, a bakery and printing works. The place was founded by the Rev Lord Archibald Douglas, a brother of the Marquis of Queensberry and of Lady Florence Dixie. He brought his fortune and the fervour of his new-found faith to his task. Even the Harrow-road is not without its romance. Lord Archibald's sister, Lady Gertrude Douglas, joined Iter brother, and identified herself with his renunciation of society, perhaps too completely ? for during his absence in Canada, whither he had taken some of his waifs, she married the head baker, and became Lady Gertrude Stock.

Some five years ago Lord Archibald found his increasing cares too heavy for him. He retired to quiet mission life ii: Scotland, and his place in the Harrowroad was taken by his cousin, Father Douglas Hope. A great-grandson, on his father's side, of Lord Hopetoun, and on his mother's side of the Duke of Buccleugh, he " called cousins" with all the blue blood of Scotland. His father, Mr Hope, of Lufl'ness, was at one time member for Windsor, and his mother, a daughter of Lord Montagu, was an early bedchamber woman to the Queen. But Father Hope had obliterated the traditions of his family, and the memories of Eton aud Christ Church, when he went to St Vincent's Home to be priest, teacher, father, and nurse to seventy boys, mostly rescued from the Londou streets. He shared their rough food, and lived their life in schoolroom and playground. If he had ever thought of himself, he might have known that, in spite of his six feet of stature and his brilliant physique, he was not seasoned for the rough life he had adopted. His entire devotion isolated him from his fellows in the outer world; but those who got glimpses of him were not astonished to hear that rheumatic fever had carried him an ay. He was laid to rest in the cemetery at ICensal-green, not far from the scene of his five years' labour of love.