One of the best of our English Bishops, Bishop Harold
Browne, who resigned the bishopric of Winchester a year ago, died on Thursday week at Southampton, at the age of eighty. He was a man of learning, wisdom, and piety, who became Bishop of Ely in 1864, Bishop of Winchester in 1873, and declined the Primacy when offered to him by Mr. Gladstone on Archbishop Tait's death in 1882, on the plea of age. He combined rare accomplishments with an earnestness and sweetness which made him greatly beloved in his diocese. The loss of Dr. Harold Browne to the Episcopate happened a year ago ; but the personal loss caused by his death will be even more keenly felt, for during the last year or two of his public life, it became more and more evident that the burden of administration was more than he could bear. Another event of the week has been the translation of the Bishop of Sodor and Man (Dr. Bardsley) to the bishopric of Carlisle. This may give satisfaction to the Evangelical section of the Church, by whom Dr. Bardsley is liked, both for his theological leanings and for his energy and activity ; but it will dis- courage those who like to see something of intellectual and moral rank in the higher order of the clergy. He is said to be nearly the only English Bishop who uses a tricycle ; but Lord Salisbury can hardly wish to make the effective driving of a tricycle a recommendation for the office of Bishop.
Previous page
