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I f ■'?#' > .■i» (1 X^i-lD TS- W-1\"::-^ ». £i. ■^ I he ;fHrIi| 'mM\ ^)m\k\ III studying the liistory of the Chiivch of ]^ii«^ljin(l M'c go hack until we rcacli the great Avurk of JJeda, who is our lirst authority. Hut in reading liis pages we become aware of the tact that before the ^Jhurch of Enghmd existed there was another Church in Britain and still another in Ireland. By the time of the arrival of the Teutonic invaders, Christianity had extended itself all over the British islands, with the exception of Caledonia. The Angles and Saxons came, and war followed. The Christian Britons were everywhere defeated, and driven out or enslaved. In Gaul, Spain, and Italy the heathen invaders had been christianized by the conquered natives. In r>ritain it was difterent. The victors were more savage, the defeated more sulk^n and implacable. The conquered ])ritons regarded their enemies with inexorable hate. Between the two there lay a deep gulf which even Christianity could not bridge over. So far from thinking of christianizing his conqueror, the British Christian actually regarded his heathen condition with a feeling of com))lacency, since it assured him of a '^*f'^ir revenge in the future more ample than any which he could take in the present — a new appHcation of the text — " vengeance is mine, I will repay." Till the last the British Christian did nothing toward converting the Anglo Saxons. This was reserved for the sister, or rather daughter, Church of Ireland, and Mother Church of llome. In 560 the former sent S. Columha to Caledonia ; and in 597 the latter sent S. Augustine to Kent, and out of the labors of these and their successors arose the Church of England. • The Ancient British Church. That Ancient British Church which appears dimly before us through the mists of our early history, has left but scanty memorials of itself. I^egends make mention of the preaching of St. Paul, and of Joseph of Arimathea. Gildas says that Christianity was introduced at the end of the reign of Tiberius. Beda, the Anglo Saxon Chronicle, Nennius, and Geoffrey of Monmouth, say that Pope Elentherius sent missionaries there at the request of the British King Lucius. Tertullian says that in his time the Gospel had penetrated to Caledonia. It seems likely that Christianity was introduced during the second century. After the battle of the Grampians the Island remained in the undisputed possession of Pome. With Poman civilization it also received that new religion which was extending so rapidly. At the close of the third century gIfcM-i.V.:.: --.^ ..-.^^1 \K- Cliristians scorn to be numerous. Helena, llic mother of Constaiitine, according to good authority, was a Christian of the British Church, and, if so, it was to her that the great Emperor owed that predilection for Christianity which enabled him to revolutionize the world. With him Christianity became the State relii^ion. I>ut Ijefore this the British Church had passed through the fires of persecution, and lijul furnished its martyrs, the chief of whom is St. Alban. Immediately after the peace of the (Church delegates were sent from Britain to the first Western Councils. In the beginning of the lifth century a British Christian, Pelagius. disturbed the world with doctrines esteemed heretical ; and St. Germanus was sent over from Gaul to preach against them, (430). : . In the struggle with the Aiiglo Saxons the Britons were driven to the West, filling those regions whose names still testify to their occu- pation — Cornwall, Cambria, or Wales, Cumber- land, (fee. Many lied to Armorica, now Brittany, in Gaul, which was inhabited by a kindred race ; many others to Ireland, which had been Christian for generations. All these Celtic countries exercised a reciprocal influencQ^ av^r each other. All were distinguished by the same qualities, manners, and customs. In them all we see the same enthusiastic attachment to Christianity, the same passionate love of music and poetry, the same devotion to the monastic life, and the same zeal in missionary enterprise. I'roni iiniidst iljc soa of (Ji!lti(5 Ic^oiul a ibw names stand forth prominent, as ornaments of the ancient British Churcli, Avliich dese'rve a Lplef mention here, to show what was done ])y these imssionary monks. , First of these is 8t. Patrick, who was barn alSoiit 390, in the West of ]]ritain. In early youtli he was ca|)tunKl by pirates, and cariied as n sPaveto Ireland, where, lie remained some years. On his return home he was seized with a consuming desire to jireach the gos[)el to the Irish heathi^n, and, accordingly, he went back to the land of bondage, where he labored as a missionary witli such success that he has ever since been known as the A])os.tle of Ireland. Contemporary with St. Patrick wns Ninias, the son of a Briton chief, who had studied at Home. At the end of the 4th century he set forth to preach the Gospel to the Caledonians, a tierce people who were already preparing to burst into ]>ritain. He labored among them for more than thirty years. There is also Iltud, who lived at the end of the 5th century. He is famous as the founder of Bangor, which became a great centre of Caledonian labor, and of political resistance to the 8axons. His contemporary, St. David, is better known. Like Iltud, Le devoted himself to religion and politics, insj)ired his countrymen to resistance against the Saxons, and founded twelve monasteri s. A little later lived Cadoc, wlio founded V f ♦ Llaiigarvoiij the Luryin^,' j>lace of kings and nobles, and the great monastic school of Cambria. A great many [)roverl>.s and a])horisms \vhi(;h are -still prosei^ved are attributed to him. His friend Oildas is better known from his Epistlo on the destruction of Britain. In this he mentions biiefly the conquests of the SaxOiis, and attributes the defeats of the Britons to their sins. Finally, let mention be made of Kentigern, who lived at the close of the 6tli century. He went north to the kingdom of Strath Clyde, which was peopled by mingled Britons and Caledonian Scots, establiirthed a centre of missionary labor on the spot where now is Glasgow., and built a church on the place where the Glasgow Cathedral now *tandB. He was called by the Scots "St Mungo." While laboring here he received a visit from St, Columba, between whom and himself there was the most cordial friendship and esteem. The conversioii of the Knglish, or Anglo Saxon, is due in part to Ireland and in part to Eome. Of tliese let us first consider Ireland. , The Irish Church and its Missions. When St. Patrick went to Ireland he was accompanied by a number of British Monks, and on the conversion of the Irish the British Monks became Bishops of 30 Dioceses. Under the influence of these Cambrian Monks the system of monachism had a great development. Ireland soon became one of the principal centres of Christianity in tho world. In no country wero monks so numerous. Whole clans wero converted at once, and in many instances all embraced tho monastic life. Tho first great monasteries of Ireland wero clans re-organized under tho monastic system. At Banghor they numbered 3,000, and at Clonard nearly as many. In these monasteries there was a vast and continuous development of literary and religious effort. Latin and Greek were studied and spoken. Manuscripts were copied and circulated through Europe. One body of Irish Christians was called Culdees. Some regard these as monks, others as secular orders associated with monks. The extent to which the Irish carried on their mission operations throughout Europe may bo estimated ffom the number of monasteries founded by them: — Scotland, 13, England, 12, France, 36, Germany, 31. Of all these missionary monks tho most famous was St. Columba, and it is to this man and his disciples that the Church of England owes the largest debt for its origin. Columba was born 521, of royal lineage, being descended from King Niall of the nine hostages. He was educated in a monastic Sjchool, and while there he determined to devote himself to the Religious life. Before the age of 25 he had laboured so vigorously that \}g had erepted no less than 37 monasteries. ' ... His devotion to literature was intense, ai>d was the immediate cause of a complete change in all jiis life. On one occasion, having been refvise4 «>*■«■ '»*««^fMMaaM*w^'^*^^i#w«^ n, T r* a manuscript which ho wished to borrow, ho contrived to obtain a copy of it by stealth. Tlio owner brought him before th(i king, who decided that the copy must bo restored. Columba ])ro- tested against this strange law of copyright, and full of indignation at what ho considered an injustice, he raised a civil war which residted in the defeat of the king. But Columba also suffered in his turn, being punished by excom- munication for having caused the death of so many Christians. In his distress he went for consolation to a hermit, who directed him, by way of expiation for his sins, to devote his life to missionary labors, telling him that he must become an exile from his country, and must convert as many souls of the heathen as had been killed through his agency. In looking about for a sphere of labor Columba choso Caledonia. About A. D. 500 the Irish had landed on the west coast and established themselves here. Among these Columba landed 563, and established himself at lona. Here disciples followed him. They erected rude huts, and began their missionary labors, carrying the Gospel throughout all Caledonia. Among the Irish Scots, or Dalriadians, as they were called, their labors were comparatively easy in one respect, since they understood the language ; but when they ventured among the people who inhabited the eastern half, the Picts, they found a language which was entirely unknown to thenL These people had something like the 10 Druidical religion, the priests were utterly liostiTe, T/nt they succeeded in convei*ting the king, and after that their labors were easier. In 574 King Aidan "began to reign over tho Dalriadians. He Avas crowned by Coluniba. llie stone on which he sat was afterwards carried to Scone, and ' now at Westminster Abbey^ where it is nsea at Dta coronation of .l>ritish Sovereigns. The work of Cohitnbaf was immense. Ancient traditions attribute to him the foundation of 300 monasteries, modern learning and research ha? discovered and regfstered the existence of 90 churches whose origin goes back to him. Traces oH 53- of these yet remain, of which 32 are in the- west, and 21 in the land of the Picts. Columba made no rule like S. Benedict, but his disci})les inherited his spirit sufficiently to bind themselves in an order for several centuries. It was called the " Fair Company and Family of Columb Kill." The inihiencc of lona wa». strong fn Ireland, anr^ a great order arose their subject to the Lex Colimibcilli. ■ * Roman Missions to the English. < ' Wbile the Chuiv.h of Ireland thus sent forth h-er missionaries to North l>ritain, the Church of Korae sent others to South Britain. Every one is familiar with the beautiful story of Pope Gregory, who when a monk had seen the fair-haired Angles at Pome, and resolved to gri> as a missionary ttx their countrymen* His •mr|Mana>w- 11 elevaticii to the Papacy prevented him from <:arryin^ out this dcriigu in })udsoii, but did not alter it in other resj)ects, and the result was the departure of JSt. Augustine and his 50 companions in 57i). They hmded in Kent where they were kindly received hy Jving Ethell>ert whoae wile was a (Tliristian. The Icing was sooii converted and baptized, and many of his people followed his example. Gregory felt great joy at the glad tidings ; other missionaries were sent, and Augustine was miule tJie lirst Arehhishop of Oanterhiiry. Augustine was now ajaxious to gain tlie adherence ot the Christian liritons. We have «seeu how the intense hatred fidt hy these against the Saxons had prevented tlK^m from making any effort for their conversion. It is impossible to find a single effort made by any Briton to pr« ach the faith to the Saxons. Beda states that the British had come to an agreement never ito /reveal the truths of religion to tJieir enemies, and even when they did become Christians to treat them as heathens. Gregory the Great makes the samo charge. " They refuse," he says, ^' to respond to any desire which the peo]>le might have to be converted to tlie faith of Christ.'* A conference was now agreed upon between Augustine and the British clergy to take place on the banks of tlie Severn, At the first con- ference Augustine presented his claims, wdiich were :— 1. To acknowledge the supremacy of Augustine. 2- To accept the Eomtmcalculatia/jL 12 for Easter. 3. To completo the sacrament of baptism according to the Roman mode. 4. To preach the Word of God to the English along ■with the Roman missionaries. Before the second conference it is said that the British clergy went to coL^snlt a hermit as to their decision. " If the stranger," said the hermit, **is meek and lowly in heart it is probable that he carries the yoke of Jesus Christ, and that it is His yoke he offers you, but if he is hard and proud he comes not from God." On coming to the conference they found Augustine seated. This they regarded as an indignity to them, and they refused to yield to his claims. But there was more at stake than that which was involved in the words of Augustine. It was not a question about the tonsure or observance of Easter. The question is to be found in Augustine's claim for supremacy. The British Christians were not acquainted with the system of subordination, law. and order which had been developed by Rome. The real point of difference was Celtic freedom and Roman organization. But the British hate of the Saxon also inHu- enced them. " No," said the Abbot of Bangor, " we will not preach the faith to this cruel race of strangers who have treacherously driven our ancestors from their country, and robbed their posterity of their privileges." Augustine made a threatening prophecy, — " Since you will not have peace with brethren you will have war with enemies ; since you will «4» 13 •*% not show to the English the way of life you will receive from them the punishment of death." It is supposed by some that Augustine was aware of the preparations which were making by I^^thelfrid of Northumbria to invade the British country. In 613 that monarch led his army there, and Augustine's words were fulfilled. lie saw the British clergy on their knees, praying, as their warrior brethren weI:^ preparing for battle. " Who are these, and what are they doing V asked Ethelfrid. On being informed he declared that they were as much enemies as if they were armed warriors, and directed the attack to be made upon them. The British did not, or could not help, and the monks, 1 200 in number, were all slain. About this time Essex, which was subordinate to Kent, received Christianity, Mellitus was made first Bishop of London, and Westminster Abbey was founded. 'Not long after Ethelbert died. Then came a great reaction. His successor was a heathen. Many of the missionaries fled, and at length nothing was left but a little spot of land at Canterbury and a handful of Christians. From this state of depression, however, the cause of Christianity revived for a time in another quarter — Northumbria. The king of Northumbria, Edwin, had made himself thp most powerful monarch in the island. He hau married Ethel- burga, the daughter of the king of Kent, and as freedom of religion had been granted her, she 14 took with licr from her home Pauninns, one of tlio coiiipjinions of Augiistino. (025.) For 801110 years the Lihors of Puulliiius met with no result, hut at length King Edwin emhraced Chrtstianity, and called a Council in order to debate concerning the new religion. It was one of the most memorable Councils in English history. The high priest, Coifi, declared that the old religion had never benefitted him, and that if the new one were more efficacious they should hasten to adopt it. One of the great chiefs made a sj)eech full of religious elevation and poetic melancholy, in which he likened the life of man in his progress through the unknown past to the unknown future to the flight of a sparrow through the lighted Council chamber, out of the darkness of night, and back again into that darkness. And if, he concluded, the new doctrine can teach us something certain, it deserves to be followed. After further debate the assembly unanimously resolved to embrace Christianity, the high priest Coifi called upon all to begin at once, and seizing an axe he led the way to the temple, where he desecrated the altar and overthrew . the idols. The whole Northumbrian nobility and many of the people were l)aptized with the king, who for the rest of his life aided Paullinus in his eflbrts to Chris- ianize the nation. But all this drew to a close in G33 through a war with Mercia, in which Edwin was defeated and slain. The Mercians, a heathen p^^ple, -»i T ^UMHtimw ' ' 15 -♦I inulor thei/ King Pcnda, ravaged NorthumLria Avitli fire and sword, and in this lie was assisted Ly the ])ritish King Cadwallon, wlio, though a Christian, rivalled the heathen Penda in cruelty. Christianity was oLliterated, and thus, after 3G years of continual efiorts, the lionian missions had everywhere failed except in the little district of Canterbury. At length a new class of missionaries appeared, who took up the work where the Romans had left it. These were tho monks of lona. The Work of the Missionaries from lona. The next King of Northumbria was Oswald, the son of Ethelfrid, who had fled to the land of the Scots, and had there been converted to (/hristianity. He raised an army, defeated and slew the fierce Cadwallon, and established himself firmly on the throne. lie devoted liimself at once to tlie work of Christianizing tho people. He did not send to Rome, and did not seem to think of Canterbury, but turned rather to those generous friends who had received him in exile, and had made known to him the truth. The monks of lona res^jonded with the utmost zeal. The first Avho came was Corman, but he, not being successful, was shortly succeeded by Aidan. This great man had to begin from the foundations, for the work of the Roman missionaries had utterly perished. He brought with him a num- ber of companions from lona, and Celtic monks J6 / came continually to his help. lie chose a new centre of operations in Lindisfarne, and from this carried on his holy work. King Oswald assisted to the utmost of his power, not only by such kingly acts as gifts of lands and money, but also by acting himself as interpreter to Aidan on many occasions. After a time Oswald married the daughter of the King of Wessex, and assis- ted the Christian Missionaries in that kingdom. These labors ^ were interrupted by wars with Penda of Mercia, (G42), by whom Oswald was defeated and slain. Then followed a period of disaster, terminated by the defeat and death of Penda. Oswy was now King of Northumbria. Aidan had passed away, and was succeeded as Bishop first by Finan, and then by Colman, 661, a monk of lona, sent forth to govern the North- umbrian Church and to evangelize the Anglo Saxons. The work was now resumed and carried on with great ardor. ISTew monasteries rose, fresh bands of missionaries came from Scotland and from Ireland, and crowds of Anglo Saxons entered the monasteries. Nothing could surpass the self denial and zeal of the missionaries of lona. Beda bears testimony to this. " They lived," he says, "the simplest and most abstemious lives, and were always preaching the Gospel." Great opposition, however, was offered both by Kings and nobles, who were fickle and changeable , and by the people, who always at the pressure of any unforseen calamity were read v to relapse into Paganism. • ' . ^ > ^ J, -T Kiirfiafti'igin**^'" ■ »» . ,. i i«i . *> mw -^1 17 In considering the conversion of the English to Christianity, we come to the following conclu- sion. Of the tight Anglo Saxon Kingdoms, one only, Kenty was converted exclusively by tlio Roman missionaries. Four — Beniicia, Deh*a, East Anr/Jia, and Merciay were converted by the Tnonks of lona alone. Two, — Wessex, and Essex, by combined action of the Celtic monks and the Bishops sent from Rome ; while Sitssex^ the last to receive the Gospel, owed that blessing to a monk who had been trained in the school of the Celtic missionaries. Thus to this little island of iona, and to the Irish Church, we are to look for the chief agency in the conversion of the English. In affectionate recognition of the d^^bt owed by England to this little island. Dr. Johnson exclaims in a well-known passage, "That man is little to be envied whose ])atriotisiu would not gain force upon the plains of Marathon, or whose piety would not grow warm among the ruins of lona." The Organization of the English Church. We have in the next place to consider the ' Advance of the English Church to organization.' In the English Church at its origin there were two different developments of Christianity — the Celtic and the Roman. Celtic Christianitv was without much law or order. It was disorganized, with a vast number of isolated and independent centres of action. The Roman Church, on the other hand, had grown to be a colossal hierar- IS 11 cliic.ll sysf cm, nil suhordinated in many successive <^raduations, terminating in the IJishop of llonu'. A IjittiT strug|L;le soon arose between these two — the ('eltic and the Koman forms of Christianity, Ly which tlie Church of England was for a time convulsed. TLe man to whom it is chiefly owing that the Iloman system was successfully introduced, was Theodore, Archbishop of Can- terbury. Theodore \vns niade Archbishop of Canterbury in 6G7. He was a learned Greek, with administrative genius of high order, full of calm sagacity and earnest piety. A few years before his arrival the Celtic party had been defeated, and at the great \Vitena-gemot, or National Parliament at AVhitby, 664, the Koman suj)rcmacy was formally admitted, and the Eomaii ciistoujs acknowledged as authoritat^' /e. On thi arrival of 'j'heodore lie was acknowledged by all the English people, being the first Archbishop who w^as recognized by all. Theodore took advantage of the state of things to complete the unity of the Church ; he visited the wdiole country, divided it into dioceses, and organized the parochial system. The nation was divided into dioceses — Kingdom by Kingdom, and thus while still divided politically, it was blended together in one ecclesiastical union. The w^ork of Theodore was afterwards modified from time to time, but it continued ])ermanent, and remains to the ])resent day. In addition to this Theodore directed liio attention towards the elevation of the clergy by promoting their education and . T *r t^^^jjimmi^ >r««'ia«aw«MM0« 20 in. Yot for one or two centuries all that was most lofty and venerable in English Christianity was the production of the monasteries. Representative Men of the Engh'sh Church. The English Church, like the English nation, entered at once upon a rich and varied life, and in her annals there are records of a host of great men who gave dignity to English history. From these may be selected lor a brief survey a few who may be considered as representative men. Wilfrid. lie may be taken as representing the public life of the age. Wilfrid was educated at Lindisfarne. In his early youth he made a visit to Rome, where he became fascinated by the Roman system, and conceived a dislike to the Celtic usages. On his return he devoted all his life to the overthrow of the Celtic influence in England. That life was destined to be a stormy one, for the Celtic element was strong, and Wilfrid was resolute. At length he gained the victory, and the triumph of the Roman cause, which took place just before the arrival of Theodore, allowed him to bring about many reforms. 13ut Wilfrid's hate of the Celtic system extended to the Celtic clergy, whom he insulted and persecuted. His violent measures drew down even the indignation of the Archbishop, and brought about a reaction. Wilfrid defied all opposition, contended with the Archbishop on \' \ \ I 21 \ tho one hniid, and the Celtic clerg;/ on the other ; fou^lit with kings, nobles, and Witenagcniots, endured deposition, exile, disgrace, and finally lived to see a general reconcilliation effected, and spent the rest of his days in peace. The career of Wilfrid is an important one. We see him tho chief champion of Home. He shows us tho Itoman hierarchical system in its law, order, and high organization in conflict with the free, nnsystematic, careless, Celtic spirit. We see also the detestation of the Celt and Celtic ways which for ages has characterized the Saxon, and is still strong in his descendant. The struggle was that of Koman supremacy against British independence, the rigid rule of the Itoman hierarchy against the free personality of the School of Columha. The children of Columba, the sainted Aidan, the holy Colman and their followers had Christianized the English. They saw the arrogant monk endeavouring to appropriate their labours and bring them under his own control. Thi' of itself was sufficient to lead them to resistance, but beside this there was something more, and that was the independent English spirit which animated king, noble, priest and people to resist the imposition of a foreign yoke. ' On he other hand much may be said in favor of Wilfrid. In the words of Montelembert, — " He was the first Anglo Saxon who secured the attention of foreign nations, the first of whom a biography has been preserved ; he appears before \ \ "TTTTr^T'irrT, r** 22 I; VIS a type of tlic quiilitios and sin;^'ulariti(?s of Ills nation, — of the o1)ytinacy, coiira<^n', laboiiousnesiii, and untirin<^' encri^y, tlie dog«^^cHl love of work fliid of conliict, tlu'ir ivsohition to strive till d(- h for their patrimony, honor and rights. Dlen et mon droit, — this proud Engliah motto is -written on every ])agc of \Vilfrid*s history. All the passions and all the uoble instincts of his people palpitated in him. That mind must he indeed be^sotted by hatred who eside Wilfrid," says Montelembert, " who is the saint of polemics, of publicity, of the struggle with liings, princes and prelates, Cuthbert appears as the saint of nature, of a life retired and hum))le, of popular preaching, solitude and prayer. The popularity of Cuthbert was immense and infinitely nm MNAt' I ■JivVii>fiiiitftr;,,iw .imiAt,„..l i;«».vi, 23 :^ vliich are alhulud to in Scott's Mannion : ** From sea to sea, fmm or to ghore, Seven years Saint Cuthbert's corpse they bore; ~Tiey rested hitn in fair Melrose, ,u», hou^'h alive ho loved ft well, j Not there his relics mljjfht repose^ For w«)ndr()U8 tale to tell ! Tn his stoue coffin forth he rides, A pondcmus baric for river tides,. Yet light as gossamer it j^lidea •• Povvnward to Tihnouth cell ; And aftcT nmny wandcritiifs past, lie chose his lonely seat at las»t Wlieru his cathedral hujfc and vast Looks down upon the Wear. There, deep in Durham's Gothic shado His relics are in secret laid. Who may his miracles declare ? Even Siiotland's dauntless kinj,' and hefr Before his standard fled. Twas he, to vindicate his rei{fn, Edged Alfred's falchion on the Dane And turned the conqneror back a^ain^ When with his Norman bowyer band He canie to waste Northumberland." I' *M -7 ^ Benedict Biscop. Tlie next name is T>ene(lict Biscop, the repre- sentative in arts and literature. IJorn 058 of the liighest nobility, at the age of 25 he embraced tlic religious life, went with Wilfrid to Eome^, i ■^'s^^^^Amm^ ■ ^ '««?featixyS!i9iS»»S" r^ 24 and afterwards acted as guide and interpreter to Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury. He devoted his life to study literature and art, made many journeys to Kome, and brought back rich stores of books. King Egfrid of Northumbria, who was much attached to him, founded for him a monastery at Wearmouth. After this Benedict ]3iscop went to France and brought back work- men to build sacred edifices ; he also brought Roman priests wdio gave instruction in liturgical music to all the Northumbrian monasteries. King Egfrid afterwards assigned him another estate near Wearmouth, which was the cradle of the monastery of Yarrow, the name of which is inseperably linked with that of Beda. Al- though a contemporary of Wilfrid, Benedict Biscop took no part in the great Celto Roman controversy, but confined himself to his religious duties and to the cultivation of literature, learn- ing, and art. He died GOO. Winfrid. Winfrid, St. Boniface, the Apostle of Germany, the foreign missionary. No sooner had the English received the Gospel than they flung themselves with a noble ardor into the work of preaching the Gospel to the heathen round them, more especially to their Teutonic brethren on the continent. Of all these devoted men the most famous is Winfrid, or St. Boniface, the Apostle of Germany. In 718 he went to Rome, when Gregory II. authorized him to preach the Gospel I ■M* 25 to the Germans. He commenced his labors in Bavaria, passed three years in Friesland, and went thence to other parts of the country. In 732 Gregory III. made him Archbishop of all Ger- many. From the summit of this high eminence Boniface could contemplate the result of his life-long work— all Central Germany Christianized, divided into 9 bishoprics, dotted with churches and monasteries, with armies of monks and parish priests under his patriarchal rule. But this was not enough for the heroic Englishman. At the age of 73 he resigned all his honors, and then, with no weapons but his own stout heart and his indomitable faith, plunged once more as a missionary, into the midst of the fiercest bar- barians in the world, and there he met, what perhaps he sought, the crown of martyrdom. Caedmon. Our next name is that of Caedmon, the representative poet, the Anglo Saxon Milton. Beda says of him that he endeavoured by his poetry ** to turn away all men from the love of vice and to excite in them the love of good actions and application to them. By his verses the minds of many were often excited to despise the world and aspire to heaven. Others, after him attempted in the English nation to compose religious poems, but none could ever compare with him." This strong commendation by Beda shows the character and aim of his writings, and also displays the iuuuensity of the change which mpwap— — mWf^'.'W—.— i»»yi^ I ii |] m il » in III.I i im iiiMi upn iii i jij^w—iMi 2G had been wrought in the literature of the nation by Christianity. Beda also relates his vocation to the oiBce of poet. In Caedmon's youth he never was able to sine;, and when the harp was passed round the liall for each to sing in turn he could not perform his part. He used to leave the room when h*© vsaw his turn coming so as to avoid the mortification of showing his ignorance and want of skill. One night after he had left the hall he lay down in the stable and fell asleejx Then h>c liad a dream. He thought t^^at a stranger came to him and asked hi-n to s-^ig him something, *• I know nothing to sing," he replied, " I had to slip out of the hall." " Nay," said the stranger, " You have something to sing. " " What must I sing," asked the other in wonder. ** Sing the Creation," said the stranger. jS'o sooner had he said this than Caedmon began to sing, Noble words flowed from his lips. This dream poem may be compared w^ith the famous ** Xanadu" of Coleridge, and the strains of the rough cowhfird will not suffer in comparison. The following is a paraphrase : — * T^I^ O come and let us sing Praise to the heavenly King, Sing the Creator's might, Tell of His wisdom. Lord of the sons of mei^, Lord of eternity, How He of wonders all Formed the begiuuing. I mm»mm 27 Tie the most holy Oiicv First fwr tlic suns of nicrr Gave as a covering ' \ ' Heaven o'er archiivjf. Then to the sons of men, All tills bright lower world Gave for a dwelling. Lord of humanity, Lt)Td of eternity, Lord God Almighty ! In the midst uf this Caednion awoke and recalled the words that he had i^umr and all tlie events of the dream. He went on the following day to the monastery of Whitby and t:)ld his story. In order to test him they gave him a passage in the Bihle to ])ara|)hrase. Caednion performed the task and the result was perfectly successful. Thereupon he emhraced the religious life and comi)osed those suhlime poems which are now regarded as the greatest production of Anglo Saxon literature. One of the most characteristic pavssage» of Eeda's history is the account of the death of Caedinon. ^' When it was past midnight ho asked them whether thev had the Eu(?harist there." They answered, '* What need ol tho Eucharist. You are not likely to die since you talk so ph'asantly with us." Nevertheless," said he, ''bring me the Eucharist." Having received the same into his hand, he asked wliether they were all in charity with him, and without any enmity or rancor. They answered ;m »u M|MilwW)WIWTWWW.p . I w i i. ipiii mM M ^ ^.i»i , | i|i I I I n iif*v'A ^ 28 that they were all in perfect charity and free from anger ; and in their turn asked him whether he was in the same mind toward them. He answered, " I am in charity, my children, with all tlie servants of God." Then strength- ening himself with the heavenly viaticum, ho prei)ared for the entrance into another life, and asked how near the time was when the brothers were to be awakened to sing the nocturnal praises of our Lord. They answered, " It is nob far off." Then he said, " Well, let us wait that hour," and signing himself with the sign of the cross, he laid his head on the pillow, and falling into a slumber ended his life in silence. " And thus," continues the historian, *^ it came to pass that as he had served God with a simple and pure mind and undisturbed devotion, so he now departed to His presence, leaving the world by a quiet death ; and that tongue which had composed so many holy words in praise of the Creator, uttered its last words whilst he was in the act of signing himself with the cross and recommending himself into His hands." Beda. We have next to consider Beda. the representa- tive student and scholar. The Yenerable Bede, as he is called, was born in 672 and died in 735. In extent of attainments he surpassed all his contemporaries. He wrote thirty-eight w^orRs upon theology, science, and history. Most of these were commentaries upon the Bible, and in I ' 29 these he exliibited a power not often found among commentators — a power of penetrating beneath the letter into the inner spirit of the Divine Word. His great work, however, and that npon which his fame rests, is his Eccle- siastical History of the English Nation, a work the importance of which can hardly be over- estimated. The style has all the freshness and artlessness which we admire in Herodotus or Mandeville. He reports every legend, fable and miracle that has ever been told to him, with unswervering faith, wherever it is connected with his beloved Church. Yet the record of facts is an accurate one, and there is very much in his work of the political history of the country which we learn from him alone. He alludes to the many natural resources of the country, its iron, lead, copper and other metals, of the excellence of the soil where grain can easily grow, and vines may be cultivated, of the excellent game with which the woods and waters abound, and of the fisheries along the coasts. According to him the common people wore woollen clothing, and the ecclesiastics sometimes dressed in silk. He speaks of London being the mart of many nations who resort to it by sea and land. He is said to have translated various books into the vernacular, among which are the Gospel of St. John, together with the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. The Venerable ]^ede is interesting from his own impressive character, standing out with such lustre in a dark age, \ l]0 liilioriiif,^ lor learning and true n.'ligion, and leaving Leliind liini a name dear alike to high and low ; Avliile to the student he is doubly venerable, since he is almost the only source of infornuilion concerning the early English i eriod. The account of Jkda's death, wliich has ^eeii lianded (hjwn by one of his (lisci[)les, is full of that pathos which may be found in his account of the death of the poet Caedmon. At that time lie was engaged upon a translation of the Gospel of St. John into English (Anglo Saxon). *' He passed the day joyfully till the evening, and hit amanuensis said, * dear master, there is one sentence not yet written.' He answered, ^ write quickly.' Soon after the boy said, * The sentence is now written.' He replied, ^ It is well. You have said the truth. It is finished.' Then he added, ' Keceive my head into your hands for it is a great satisfaction to me to sit facing my holy l)lace where I was wont to pray, that I may also, while sitting here, call upon God my Eather.' And thus, on the pavement of his little cell, singing, * Glory be to the Eather and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,' wdien he had named the Holy Ghost he breathed his last, and so departed to the heavenly kingdom." His remains were afterwards transterred to Durham Gathedral, and there, though the ashes have been scattered to the winds, we may still see the inscription concluding with the Leonine rhyme : — V Ilac sunt in fo ^a Betloc vencral>ilis ossa. :-t:,j . laNiiiajf ■ I imiiiiW 31 And wliat shall I say nioro, for timn would fail me to tell of those M'orthies of tiie Early English Church whose lueuiories have heeii pieserved by IJeda, — of the Saints Chad, and Cedd, and Guthlac, of the Christian Kings Oswald and Oswan, of the holy Ethelburga and the devoted Hilda, and of a thousand others like them, all of whom sta* 1 before us as ornaments of the Church of England, but still more as striking examples of the Divine power of Christianity, which could produce such examples of heroic self-sacrifice and virgin purity ; of the beauty of holiness and the fervor of religious zeal among the children of the bloodthirsty Jute, the pirate Saxon and the marauding Anglian. Finally, What became of the Ancient British Church ? We have seen the Biitish Church was irreconcileable, and held itself eternally aloof from the English heathen. These after their conversion were as odious as ever. Tl\e I>rilish, sullen, stubborn, and vengeful, fought on, and were slowly pressed back toward the West. Ages passed away. Century succeeded to cen- tury, and still the British and the English were at war, the latter victors, the former vanquished. In those ages and in those struggles there was no annihilation or exterminaLion of the British. They were conquered, reduced to slavery, and b(;came interniini^led with the lowest class of the Anglo Saxon serfs. They lost their own language, adopted that of the Conqueror, until at length the nation was made up of the 32 descondanta of both races, wlio all spoke the English tongue. The last stronghold of the British was Wales. Here among the mountains there was a long and bloody war, until at length long after the J^forman Conquest, Wales was reduced to subjection. Then in progress of time it was appropriated by the Church of England, it was divided into new dioceses, whose Bishops were under the sway of the Canterbury, and had nothing to do with the Ancient British Church. Thus that Ancient British Church died. Between it and the Church of England there was no communion, no interchange of fellowship, no fraternity, no union, no transfer of orders. The Church of England was the creation of lona and of Eome, and with the Ancient Church of Britain it is connected only indirectly through lona and the Church of Ireland. '7 i '^^G the ~- —• ■■■■•; J I 1 Wales. 1 ^^g and 1 formaix 1 kction. 1 ted hy 1 / '0 Hew- 1 'ay of 1 'h the 1 icienfc 1 the 1 Qion, 1 > liO 1 b of , >me, t is the ..P? ^;^:^)^ 1» ^ ^^j; «'- /if? >*. <''-;fi; \;-' ?f""I."', "'"'"" ", ."', .. i ;^," ..""^r......'.t .-'• j'txiii.. imkiS.