Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 2.djvu/31

 College in succession to George Granville Bradley [q. v. Suppl. II]. An outbreak of scarlet fever had just caused a panic among parents, but Farrar soon revived confidence and maintained the prestige of Bradley's rule, carried out sanitary improvements and the additional building which had been previously planned, and began the teaching of science in accordance with his principles of educational reform. While at Marlborough he made his popular reputation by writing the 'Life of Christ.' He sought to meet the requirements of the publishers, Messrs. Cassell, Petter & Galpin, who suggested that the sketch should enable readers to realise Christ's 'life more clearly, and to enter more thoroughly into the details and sequence of the gospel narratives.' In 1870 he visited Palestine with Walter Leaf, his pupil at Harrow, and his task was completed after much hard work in 1874. The success was surprising. Twelve editions were exhausted in a year, and thirty editions of all sorts and sizes in the author's lifetime. It has had a huge sale in America and has been translated into all the European languages. Despite its neglect of the critical problem of the composition of the gospels, and the floridity which was habitual to Farrar's style, his 'Life of Christ' combined honest and robust faith with wide and accurate scholarship. The value of the excursuses has been recognised by scholars. Farrar pursued his studies of Christian origins in the 'Life of St. Paul' (1879; 10th edit. 1904), an able and thorough survey of the Pauline epistles and the problems connected with them, and the most valuable of Farrar's writings; in 'The Early Days of Christianity' (1882, 5 edits.), in which the review of the writings of the New Testament was completed; and in his 'Lives of the Fathers: Church History in Biography' (1889), an attempt to bring his survey down to the end of the sixth century.

In 1875 Farrar declined the crown living of Halifax, but next year he accepted a canonry of Westminster with the rectory of St. Margaret's parish. His success as a preacher both at St. Margaret's church and in the Abbey was pronounced, and gave him the means of restoring the church. He thoroughly reorganised its interior, putting in many stained glass windows and spending 30,000l. on the building. At the same time he sought to restore to St. Margaret's its old position as the parish church of the House of Commons, and largely succeeded. In 1890 he was chosen chaplain to the House, and filled the position with distinction for five years. As a parish priest he earnestly faced his parochial responsibilities, and the drunkenness in Westminster slums made him a pledged abstainer and an eager advocate of temperance. In 1883 he was appointed archdeacon of Westminster.

In 1877 he roused a storm of criticism by a course of five sermons in the Abbey (Nov.-Dec.) on the soul and the future life, the subject of a current discussion in the 'Nineteenth Century.' He challenged the doctrine of eternal punishment. The sermons were published with a preface and other additions under the title 'Eternal Hope' in 1878 (18th edit. 1901), and the volumes called forth numerous replies, of which the most important was E. B. Pusey's 'What is of Faith as to Everlasting Punishment?' Pusey and Farrar corresponded, and in some measure Farrar modified his position in 'Mercy and Judgment: a Few Last Words on Christian Eschatology with reference to Dr. Pusey's "What is of Faith"' (1881; 3rd edit. 1900). Farrar's teaching largely repeated that of his master, F. D. Maurice, but he reached a far wider audience. At Farrar's suggestion the offer was made on Darwin's death in 1882 to inter his body in Westminster Abbey; Farrar was one of the pall-bearers, and preached a notable funeral sermon on Darwin's work and character. In 1885 Farrar made a four months' preaching and lecturing tour through Canada and the United States. His lecture on Browning was reckoned the beginning of that poet's popularity in America. His preaching created a profound impression. His 'Sermons and Addresses in America' appeared in 1886. In the same year he served as Bampton lecturer at Oxford, his selection being an unusual compliment to a Cambridge divine. His theme was 'The History of Interpretation,' and was handled with scholarly effect. His broad views long hindered his promotion, but in 1895 he became dean of Canterbury on the recommendation of Lord Rosebery.

He threw himself with enthusiasm into his new duties. Repair and restoration of Canterbury Cathedral were urgent. In three years he raised 19,000l. by public subscription. The roofs were made watertight and the chapter house and crypt thoroughly restored. He improved the cathedral services and made the cathedral a centre of spiritual life for the town and diocese. In 1899 his right hand was affected by muscular atrophy,