76 



MINISTRY AT STAND. 



[Chap. III. 



of the people walked about the nave all the time, music or 

 no music, prayer or no prayer, talking and laughing quite loud. 

 It was worse than in a cathedral, because if they had been 

 quiet, they could have heard every word of the prayers and 

 scriptures. There were none of the ol -n-oXXoi to witness their 

 disgrace, that's one comfort. They were pretty still when the 

 anthem began. It was that most lovely one, ' Praise the Lord/ 

 Mozart, and begins with the most exquisite solo that poor 

 T. H. used to sing at York. . . Alas ! as soon as it was ended, 

 they began to talk as badly as before. I wonder what kind 

 of idea these persons had of divine service ! We then went 

 our favourite walk through the groves, and got at five o'clock 

 to St. John's Chapel, where I wanted to hear the organ, and 

 look at the beautiful picture of the Descent from the Cross, 

 while they were chanting those very wicked, cursing psalms, 

 and reading the long Goliath chapter; . . . then we went to 

 Great St. Mary's to hear Dean Wilberforce. We had the 

 psalms and lessons inflicted upon us all over again, and I was 

 pained to look round on the people, and see them all repeating 

 it piously, as if it was gospel." He "never heard (however) 

 a more beautiful or Christian sermon," and wrote an interesting 

 account of it : " You see, after my five previous services, they 

 had left the good wine until the sixth." 



He did not forget his Sunday school, in the midst of his 

 engagements, but wrote a letter to the superintendent (Mr. G. 

 Fletcher) to be read to the children. He tells them that the 

 philosophers can teach nothing better than Jesus. 



This summer he met with a disappointment in relation to 

 an attachment which he had cherished from childhood, and 

 which had become peculiarly intense; though it was not till 

 some years had passed that he felt he must abandon his hopes. 



Another trial awaited him. His report to the annual tea- 

 meeting in October (1845) shows that in no year were his 

 labours more abundant ; but he was aware that on many matters 

 of great practical importance there was little sympathy between 

 him and Mr. Mark Philips (then M.P. for Manchester), the 

 leading member of the Stand congregation. He had declined 



