Ivi CHARLES CARDALE BABINGTON. 



look to shops for their every need. Such teachers breed manlier 

 pupils, and are less costly to society. Self-help was the rule of 

 Cambridge seventy years ago. 



Having already, since 1877, shewn an interest in the postmen, 

 in the Jubilee Year he invited all ranks in the Cambridge Post 

 Office to meet Sir Arthur Blackwood, their official chief, at tea, 

 and to hear addresses from him. Meeting on meeting was held 

 from 6 to 10 p.m., the Professor presiding throughout, and 147 

 members of the staff being present in batches (three only were 

 unavoidably absent). As a result of this effort arose a branch of 

 the Postal and Telegraph Christian Association. Of this branch 

 Babington was President at his death ; it numbers eighty from 

 central office and smaller offices in town and neighbourhood. In 

 the fifteen months ending 15th August 1895, the branch collected 

 the sum of j£15, allotted to (a) the China Inland Mission, (b) Native 

 Officials in India, sent through Catechists of the CM. S., (c) distri- 

 bution of Christian literature among the 4000 offices of Japan. 



"It was always a pleasure to note the interest taken by the 

 Professor in all that appertained to the moral, social, or spiritual 

 welfare of the staff; 115 packets of religious literature, each con- 

 taining three publications, are received at the head office monthly, 

 for distribution amongst those who wear H.M. uniform in the 

 postal and telegraph departments. . . . By the death of Professor 

 Babington the Cambridge Post Office has lost a most valued friend 

 and helper. Six members of the staff were present at the funeral 

 service in St. John's College Chapel, J. Lambert, Esq., the Post- 

 master, being absent through an official engagement which could 

 not be set aside."* 



"When he became a fixture he wrote to the Athenaeum Club : 

 " I have been a member forty-four years ; our roll is stinted. Pray, 

 lest I play dog-in-the-manger, keeping out some younger man, 

 strike out my name." One who knows him well, hearing this 

 story, asked " Why then did he not resign his chair ? " For 

 reasons stated to the Vice-Chancellor of the day. " My successor 

 will draw .£600 a year from the chest ; I draw £300. Already it 

 is hard to furnish all that the garden craves ; it will be harder then. 

 I pay a deputy, and the work is well done." Deputies must receive 

 one third, may not receive more than two-thirds of the stipend. He 

 split the difference and paid one-half. The staff will say whether he 

 was idle since 1891 ; whether no glory has passed away from their 

 earth. The electors have to find a candidate worth to the Univer- 

 sity, to science, to Cambridge town, double of Charles Babington. 

 They may search long and far. 



His tolerance was catholic and unfeigned, cherishing as allies and 

 teachers 'Agnostics' and Komanists, a Huxley and a Ball, For 

 why ? Frederick Maurice shall tell : charity is wide where faith is 



* Information from Mr. Samuel Ellis, Assistant Superintendent, Post Office, 

 Cambridge. 



