Mrs. More's Treatment of her Servants-Their Ingratitude-Their Conduct detected-Her, Demeanour on the occasion-Her Departure from Barley Wood, and Settlement at Clifton-Her Life there-Her Death and Funeral -Her Bequests-" The Hannah More School "-Her Monument and Epi- taph-Her View of Christianity-A Churchwoman-Her Dislike of Con- troversy-Her Mistake of the Doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration-She was an Anticalvinist-Did not believe instantaneous Conversions-Was no Dissenter-Bible and Christian Knowledge Societies-Hannah More no Methodist Her Politics-Pitt-Church and State-The Revolutionary War-Dissent and Romanism legislating for the Church-" Mahometanism unveiled "-Shakspeare-Scott-Byron-Mrs. More's Benevolence-Use of LIFE OF HANNAH MORE. CHAPTER I. "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed him. self to Him that judgeth righteously.-1 Pet. ii. 21-23. WITH the opening of the nineteenth century, the biographer of Hannah More enters on the only unpleasant portion of his duty; but a portion it is, and, therefore, cannot be evaded. The object of this chapter shall be the barest and simplest possible statement of uncontroverted facts, without the smallest attempt to adjust the balance of " the Blagdon controversy." In adopting this line, I am not influenced by the belief that Mrs. More was 1* wrong. That question is here undetermined. Were such the fact, the biographer's duty would still be to draw a portrait, not a model; and no private partialities could excuse a deviation from strict historical truth. The general excellence of Hannah More, therefore, would not be of itself a sufficient reason for suppressing any essential portions of her life which might really detract from it. But no person acquainted, even by hearsay, with the state of society in the neighbourhood of Blagdon during the agitation of this question could do otherwise than revolt with horror from the mere possibility of reviving it, especially at a time when the best energies of all true churchmen are required for defence against the common enemy, instead of being wasted in internal contentions. Apprehension of this is the only motive which induces me to give a less detailed view of the Blagdon controversy than my materials (which in this part of my narrative abound the most) would otherwise warrant. The reader will find no facts here specified but such as are admitted by those who advocated each side of the question; a question which should never have been adverted to, were it, in the opinion of the writer, possible altogether to decline it. The Blagdon school had been founded in the year 1795, at the earnest solicitation of the Rev. Thomas Bere, curate of that parish, and a magistrate. The profligate condition of the parish, which, both as a magistrate and a minister, he had daily cause to lament, were urged by him to Mrs. More as a special reason for opening a school there, and accepted by her as a sufficient motive for increasing labours and expenses which she had now resolved to limit, feeling them beyond her capabilities. Mrs. More paid particular attention to this school, and drew up for it a few pages of the most simple, beautiful, and affecting instruction, which might be very profitably reprinted for the use of our Sunday and National Schools. Extracts from this will be found in the Appendix (VI.) For some years she had no reason to repent of her extended labours. The Sunday evening readings brought the parents and adult relations of the children, and so altered was the character of this disorderly parish, that summonses, warrants, and indictments had almost disappeared. Matters continued in this state until January, 1799, when Young, the schoolmaster, introduced, in the Monday evening meetings, something resembling the class discipline of the Methodists. Questions were put on spiritual experience, and language held of an enthusiastic nature, while the young people assembled were encouraged in extemporaneous prayer. Mrs. Bere, the wife of the curate, attended one of these meetings herself, and was, she stated, personally insulted by the arrogant assumption of the schoolmaster, who told her, in the ominous language of a stormy period, she had not "sought the Lord" in the same way that the young people had done; boasted that he had the sanction of Mrs. More, and defied all opposition. During these proceedings Mrs. More was with her sisters in Bath, suffering from a severe attack of ague. Mrs. Bere communicated the affair to Mrs. More, who, though unable herself to write to Mrs. Bere, desired one of her sisters immediately to reprimand Young severely, and insist on the immediate cessation of his irregularities. The better to guard against perversions for the future, the weekly instruction of adults by the schoolmaster was peremptorily forbidden, and the Sunday school and weekly school of industry alone retained. Writing to Dr. Whalley, she says, " for the slightest disobedience to this positive injunction, he [Young] shall, I assure you, be dismissed." The reproof took instant effect. The school continued to be conducted with order and efficiency; but so far was the patroness from wishing to maintain it without the full consent of the resident minister, that, on hearing it stated that Mr. Bere had preached against it, she offered immediately to close it. Mr. Bere, however, entreated she would not, saying, he had preached against enthusiasm, but not against the school. All proceeded quietly until March, 1800, when Mr. Bere preferred to Mrs. More, vouched on affidavit, an accusation against Young, to the effect that he had caused a young man in the neighbourhood not to enter into Mr. Bere's service, as he might make him sign away his right to the house and orchard. The charge was serious, and Mrs. More did not like to act till she had seen the affidavit, and ascertained the character of the deponent |