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BEDELL. BEDELL, Gregory Thurston (1817-92). An American clergyman, the third Protestant Epis- copal Bishop of Ohio, and a member of the evan- gelical school of his Church. He was born at Hudson, N. Y., the son of Rev. Dr. Gregory Townsend Bedell, and was educated at Bristol College, Pa., and at the Virginia Theological Seminary. He was rector of the Church of the Ascension, New York City, from 1843 to 1859), when he was chosen Assistant Bishop of Ohio. In 1873, on the death of Bishop Mellvaine, he be- came bishop, and the following year consented to the division of his diocese by the formation of the new jurisdiction of Southern Ohio. He re- signed in 1889. His numerous works include The Pastor (1880) and Centenary of the Ameri- can Episcopate (1884).

BEDELL, William (1571-1642). A prelate of the English Church, born at Black Notley, Essex. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and after his ordination, in 1602, officiated as a clergyman at Bury Saint Edmunds. In 1007 he accompanied Sir Henry Wotton as hig chaplain to Venice. There he resided about four years, deeply engaged in study, and honored by the friendship of many distinguished men, in par- ticular of Fra Paolo Sarpi, then engaged in the composition of his celebrated History of the Council of Trent. While residing here, he trans- lated the English Common Prayer Book into Ital- ian, which was highly appreciated by many of the Venetian clergy. On his return home he re- sumed his pastoral duties at Bury, where he lived for some time in such retirement that when his friend Diodati came to England, he inquired in vain for the admirable Bedell, whose merits were so well known in Venice. He had given up ho])es of finding him, when one day he encountered liim in the streets of London. In 1616 Bedell was presented to the living of Horningsheath, a neigh- boring parish to Bury. His retired life and his Calvinistic theology long hindered the recogni- tion of his merits. At length, in 1627, he was unanimously elected provost of Trinity College, Dublin, to which the fame of his learning and piety had extended. He refused to undertake the charge till positively commanded by the King. At the end of two years he was promoted to the united bishoprics of Kilmore and Ardagh, the latter of which he resigned in 1633. While in this diocese lie removed his lay chancellor, and took upon himself the ancient episcopal jurisdic- tion of hearing and deciding causes. His wisdom, lirniness, and charity forced even his enemies to revere him, and when the rebellion of 1641 broke out his was the only English liouse in the county of Cavan that was spared. Refusing to dismiss his flock, he was imprisoned for a time, and on being released ministered at a private house till his death, at Drumlor, February 7, 1642. The Old Testament was translated into Irish under his direction, and besides some other works, he translated the last two books of Fra Paolo's history. His biography was written by his son William, and this was afterwards edited by T. W. Jones (London, 1872). Consult also Burnet, Life of Bishop Bedell (London, 1685).

BEDELS, be'd'lz, or BEDELLS (Ger. Pedell; see ). One of the most ancient of academic officials, an attendant on the rector and the university crier. Besides the university bedel, there were bedels for the different faculties, 'nations,' and often for the doctors of the university. In Oxford University there are at present four bedels. The senior bedel registers matriculations, gives due notice to those who are to preach before the university, attends such preachers to and from the university church, acts as private secretary to the vice-chancellor, and gives his whole time to the service of the university. One of the sub-bedels constantly attends the vice-chancellor. The other bedel and sub-bedel attend at university sermons, at congregations, the admission of proctors, and all state occasions. All wear a round cap and particular form of gown, and must be constantly resident in the university. At Cambridge University there are two similar officers called esquire bedels, who attend the chancellor (or in his absence the vice-chancellor), preceding him with their silver wands on all occasions, and among other duties see that the university ceremonies are maintained, and that public business is conducted in proper form.

BEDESMAN, bedz'man. See.

BED'FORD (corrupted from AS. Bedican ford, protected ford). The county town of Bed- fordshire, England, situated on both sides of the Ouse, here crossed by two bridges and navigable to the sea, about 45 miles north-northwest of London, and in the midst of a broad expanse of rich pasture and agricultural lands (Map: England, F 4). The town is clean, well paved, and shows in its outward appearance and in the number of its municipal undertakings the pro- gressive spirit of its citizens. It was incorpo- rated in the reign of Henry II. It sends one member to Parliament. It has an excellent wa- ter-supply, which nets it a substantial profit, and has established an electric-light plant. It maintains several parks and recreation-grounds, public markets, and a cemetery. It is chiefly famed for its charitable and educational institu- tions, which are largely due to the beneficence of Sir William Harpur, Lord Mayor of London in 1561, who founded a free school and endowed it with 13 acres of London land. The enormous increase in the value of the property (from £40 to £15,000 or upward a year) enables the trus- tees to maintain grammar, modern, and prepara- tory schools for boys, the same class of schools for girls, and also almshouses. The most impor- tant manufacture of Bedford is that of iron- ware, especially agricultural implements. Lace- making and straw-plaiting employ many poor women and children. A considerable traffic in malt, timber, coal, and iron is maintained. Pop- ulation, in 1891, 28,023; in 1901, 35,144. Bed- ford is of great antiquity, and is mentioned in the Saxon Chronicle under the name of Bedican- ford, as the scene of a battle between the Britons and Saxons in 571. It suffered much from the Danes in the Eleventh Century. John Bunyan was born in the neighboring village of Elstow, and while a prisoner in the town jail, as a dis- turber of the peace, he wrote his Pilgrim's Prog- ress. A bronze statue of him presented to the town by the Duke of Bedford adorns Saint Peter's Green. Consult Porter, An Historical Sketch of Bedford, England (Boston, 1891).

BEDFORD. A picturesque village of Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Canada, at the head of the beautiful Bedford Basin, nine miles north of Halifax, on the Intercolonial Railway. It is a favorite summer resort of the Haligonians. Population, estimated, 1500.