86 SIR WILLIAM FLOWER 



and edited Kolliker's Manual of Human Histology, 

 While Huxley knew and was fast becoming a warm 

 friend of Flower's, and also knew the Dean, the 

 first notice of the latter in connection with Flower 

 is an entry in Lady — then Mrs, — Flower's diary, 

 that they "attended the service in Whitehall 

 Chapel, and heard Dr. Stanley preach." "Arthur 

 Penrhyn Stanley, when Dean of Westminster, 

 became later our greatest friend," Lady Flower 

 writes. 



My husband was impressed by Stanley's views and sympathies, 

 as well as by his large-minded charity and insight, always dwelling 

 on the spirit rather than on the letter of religion. He said that 

 Stanley was the most truly " liberal " man whom he knew. He 

 showed notable courage at the time of the first publication of 

 Darwin's Origin of Species. He preached in the Abbey, and took 

 for his text, " Let there be light," maintaining that the truth must 

 be right, even if our limited minds could not yet understand it all. 

 We never willingly missed an opportunity of hearing Dean Stanley, 

 whether in the Abbey or in the numerous churches where he was 

 asked to preach. The Deanery of Westminster, graced by the 

 best hostess of the day, Lady Augusta Stanley, became one of the 

 most interesting and delightful houses in London. All classes 

 from Royalty downwards, and all nationalities, I may even say all 

 creeds, met in the Deanery as on neutral ground. Lady 

 Augusta had the art of making every one feel happy, and 

 inducing them to show themselves at their best. 



The Dean and his wife had no children of their 

 own, but both had a real love for children — the Dean 

 once remarked that children were like the under- 

 growth in a wood, connecting the large trees which 

 would otherwise stand apart in isolation, — and soon 



