1846.] 



THE SILVER INKSTAND. 



89 



have it that it had nothing to do with Sunday school instruc- 

 tion; that if they allowed it, it would be opening the door 

 for teetotalism next year ! We quietly said it would, and that 

 we thought the question whether our children should grow up 

 soldiers and drinkers, or peaceful, sober men, far more 

 important than what are the best means of producing punctu- 

 ality, etc. So afraid are people of real, practical, thorough- 

 going Christianity, even amongst us ! They refused to allow 

 it at the meeting, and we refused to speak on any other subject ; 

 so they broke up the meeting early, and then let us hold 

 another meeting for this purpose, and of course it was carried 

 unanimously/ 7 



"I am sick/' he wrote to Travers Madge, "of that cant, 

 about infusing the spirit of Christianity in generalities, and 

 then leaving it to teach us everything ! Why, it is the practice 

 of Christian acts that produces and strengthens the Christian 

 spirit." 



His principles were tested in another way, which was a 

 far greater trial to him. The Stand teachers had all assembled 

 to present him with a silver inkstand before he left. This 

 seemed to him to give the lie to his preaching against luxury, 

 etc., and he was obliged to excuse himself from meeting them, 

 till he had given it full consideration. He wrote to me 

 (June 12): "I can't explain to you all the circumstances 

 about the silver inkstand : I had to act in this matter from 

 what I believed to be my duty, though no one else saw it 

 in the same light,* and it was the most painful thing I, 

 perhaps, ever had to do ; but they all seem reconciled to it 

 now, and I have no doubt they will all have more pleasure 

 in it afterwards. I put it to them at tea on Sunday night, 

 whether I should still accept it, as a mark and remembrance 

 of their kindness, on the understanding that I should not 

 use it, or feel any particular pleasure in the possession of it ; 

 of whether they would let me exchange it for a microscope, 

 which I should use to the glory of God, with the teachers and 



* He afterwards found that he had the approval of Mr. Howorth 

 and others. 



