Page:Pen, pencil, baton and mask; biographical sketches (IA penpencilbatonma00blaciala).pdf/192

170 that they were promptly convulsed with laughter. For one awful second, which, she says, 'felt like an hour,' Miss Terry was paralysed with fear lest she too should laugh ; but with a mighty effort she choked down the impulse, preserved her gravity, and made her usual dignified exit, though it must be added that all the actors when out of hearing gave way to unrestrained mirth.

can be but few of those who were privileged to be present at the Foundling Chapel on the Whit Sunday of 1884 who cannot even after this lapse of time recall their feelings of delight while listening to the scholarly utterances, the rare oratory, and the eloquent but simple language of the young and gifted preacher who then for the first time filled the pulpit. Combined with natural gifts of intellect there was an unconventionality, always tempered with good taste, and the power to deal with abstruse subjects so as to render them clear and attractive to his audience, that speedily caused his fame to spread far and wide, and brought brilliant and intellectual crowds to the Chapel Sunday after Sunday, content with standing room only if they might hear the powerful though brief discourses so concisely delivered. Statesmen and peers, literary celebrities, clergy of all denominations came to listen to him, some half fearing to hear unorthodox doctrines, but all wholly fascinated by his broad and liberal views on theological subjects.

During the six years that he held the office of morning preacher at The Foundling, the revenues of the charity benefited to the extent of about 1,000l. per. annum, At the end of that time he resigned his post, leaving a brilliant record that will not soon be effaced. Since 1890, he