Durham Cathedral, by Rev. William Green well. 59 



others, looks ever with, reverence upon lona, and her great heart 

 beats with a fervent throb at the name. I know not of any 

 country in Christendom more imbued with stronger religious 

 feeling and more fervour than Scotland, and doubtless she owes 

 much of it to St. Oolumba and his island home. Here, in Dur- 

 ham, too, and throughout all the North of England, we cannot 

 but look to lona with veneration, for it is impossible to do so 

 without feeling that from it was extended to us Christianity and 

 civilization. To recur to Oswald. After the defeat of Cadwallon, 

 Oswald then became firmly seated as king of Northumbria, and 

 immediately afterwards he sent to lona for help in his endeavours 

 to convert his people to Christianity. lona responded to his call, 

 and gave him at first Corman, who failed, however, in his mis- 

 sion on account of his too great harshness. A monk named 

 Aidan at once supplied his place, and amply fulfilled the expec- 

 tations that had been formed of him. After Paulinus' departure 

 Christianity had disappeared from Northumbria, and it remained 

 Pagan until Aidan' s arrival. We know a good deal about 

 Aidan, and all we know shows that he was a man of great re- 

 ligious vigour and zeal, and also of admirable tact. Beda tells 

 us much about him, and though not an altogether friendly wit- 

 ness, on account of the differences about the keeping of Easter 

 and the tonsure, he speaks of him in terms of the highest praise. 

 Oswald, with whom he was most intimately connected, the king 

 often acting as interpreter when the Bishop preached, fell in 

 battle A.D. 642, at Maserfeld, probably near Oswestry, in Shrop- 

 shire, in fighting against Penda, the old Pagan king of Mercia, 

 who had conquered Northumbria before the time of Oswald. He 

 defeated Oswald and slew him, using great barbarity. He cut 

 off his hands and head. His head ultimately came to Lindis- 

 farne, and ever after became associated with St. Cuthbert, We 

 always hear of them together, St. Cuthbert being usually repre- 

 sented as carrying king Oswald's head, which was buried with 

 him at Lindisfarne, and ultimately at Durham. Perhaps it may 

 not be here out of place to say a few words with regard to Ire- 

 land as a centre, not alone of Christianity, but of art. It is 

 entitled to our respect not only on account of our Christianity 

 having been introduced from it through lona, but for other 

 reasons about which I have to speak. Ireland was one of the 

 great centres of missionary work, and sent missionaries over a 



