grasped the truth that the only way to peace with God is through vital and personal union with the Lord Jesus Christ, much less had he found that peace; but he was thoroughly in earnest, and he required earnestness in any religious society of men as an essential condition to joining himself to them. The self-denial which was entailed upon him in keeping the Fasts and Holy Days of the Church seemed to satisfy for a while his spiritual craving.

This was the attitude of his mind when he went to Oxford, and I am inclined to think that had he been brought under the personal influence of some leading HighChurchman, some man of commanding moral force, who could have at once claimed him by his personality, and fascinated him by the spectacle of a practical, manly life, coupled with such an inner religious life as would have appealed to his imagination-he might have been readily seized, and, at least for a time, held.

This, however, did not happen. While his mind was still in the balance, and while, moreover, his religious sense was almost drowned in the excitement of his new college life and popularity, so that he was not inclined to think so seriously as before, and was little disposed to delve beneath the surface of things, and patiently dig out truth for himself, he was brought into contact with a set among the undergraduates which professed to be the exponent of the latest and most correct Church ritual. The young men who composed this set paid great attention to correctness of posture in chapel, and to niceties of observance in public and private worship. They were fond of dressing themselves, in the privacy of their own rooms, in abbreviated, lace-trimmed surplices, and getting themselves photographed with crozier and censer. In the bedroom of one such, we accidentally discovered an altar composed of his trunk, draped with a suitable antimacassar, upon which stood a

Æt. 29-33-]

A Universal Christian.

137

row of tiny candlesticks and a vase or so of flowers, while above, upon the wall, hung a plaster crucifix!

Those who knew Hannington will understand what must have been the effect produced upon him. His mind, apparently, underwent a swift revulsion. All this jarred upon him and disgusted him. It offered him endless food for railery, and excited his immeasurable contempt. He loved to lampoon the performers and ridicule their "functions." It was not, of course, fair that a system should be judged by the youthful extravagance of its junior disciples, but Hannington was at that time very impressionable, and there can be little doubt that to what he then saw, during his residence at Oxford, may be attributed the origin of that dislike for all unnecessary ritual which he displayed at the commencement of his ministerial life.

Afterwards, his lot fell among Evangelicals. They did not obtain any decided influence over him while at Oxford, but it was among them that he first, after his conversion, felt the power of spiritual life. At this time, if he had been pressed to define himself, he would, no doubt, have termed himself an Evangelical, but while he undoubtedly found himself most in unison with liberal and large-hearted members of that school, he already disliked party names and the spirit of faction, and utterly declined to be bound by the "red tape" of any party whatsoever. He had the widest sympathy with all Christians. He loved and respected all those who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. Toward the close of his ministry especially his feelings toward all Christian workers became enlarged and his antipathies softened. Every against seemed to have been swallowed up by one all-comprehensive for -for Christ. At the same time this large-hearted charity did not prevent him from being a true son of the Church. His love for his own Church evidently deepened with each year that

he served in her ranks; he had no doubt in his own mind as to her superiority, both in order and forms, over those bodies which dissented from her. A Universal Christian

first, and a "Churchman" after, he did not for a moment forget that he was the latter.

CHAPTER X.

HOME MISSION WORK AND PERSONAL DIARY.

(1875-79.)

"The Country Parson desires to be All to his Parish.” GEORGE HERBERT.

In the previous chapter I have attempted to describe Hannington as he appeared in his parish, and to ascertain how it was that he came to be loved, and to be a moral force there. We may now, perhaps, with advantage continue to follow the details of his life in their chronological order.

It is deeply interesting to note how entirely his heart was thrown into the business of "fishing for men." His diary at this period is full of jottings which refer to the spiritual awakening of such a one, or his conversations with another concerning the welfare of his soul. The subject is never absent from his thoughts. Such entries as the following stud thickly page after page:

"Spoke to H. H., and was made useful to him. He was certainly converted to God."

came to see me about her soul. A case needin the agonies of death.

ing much patience. Visited

I have hopes of him."

"My servant, John,* was, I trust, turned to the Lord; I have prayed for him a long while."

* Mr. Mitten writes :-"It was a way also of our friend to take a lad for his servant and transform him, then pass him on to something better. In this way he had a good many, who have, so far as I know, all turned out well. He had a great influence with young men, and collected many to come and read with him.”

About this time he was able to be of assistance to his youngest brother, Joseph. Mr. Joseph Hannington writes:

It

"Some little time before I knew what it was to have full assurance of faith, I came down one Sunday from Brighton to hear my brother James preach. I was in much doubt and distress of mind. One remark in my brother's sermon made a deep impression upon me, and threw light into my soul. was as follows: The fact of our salvation does not depend upon our own feelings. As for myself, there are times when, if I consulted my feelings, I should say that I am not saved. I should be plunged again into the depths of misery. Feelings are treacherous things, not to be trusted. They are the least reliable of things to rest upon. After some sermon which has met our own case we may have experienced a time of peace; or our circumstances may have induced a happy frame of mind, we are then quite assured of God's love. Depression of spirits follows, and we quickly lose our hope. But as surely as we rest upon these frauds, our feelings, the Lord will see fit to withdraw them in order that we may learn to rest upon Him. I find that as soon as I go back and take my stand upon His bare Word, I recover my joy and peace. Therefore, let me urge upon you the necessity of staying your faith upon Christ: not upon your most hallowed feelings, but upon Christ Himself and His written promises. Whenever you are in doubt, perplexed, and unhappy, go at once to the Lord; fix your mind upon some precious passage from his unfailing Word, and God's Truth will disperse any mists of darkness which Satan's lies may have brought upon your soul!'

"From these words I received much help, as I had for a long time fancied that when I felt happy after prayer, or reading my Bible, or hearing some sermon, I was all right, but in a very little while all these happy feelings fled away.