’But I suppose that multitudes of men did good work who could no more comprehend nor write out the result of lessons that Edward, Henry, Edmund, Robert and twenty others here are writing out, than our English peasant can comprehend a learned theological treatise.

’And we must consider the qualifications of one’s native clergy in relation to the work that they have to do.  They have not to teach theology to educated Christians, but to make known the elements of Gospel truth to ignorant heathen people.  If they can state clearly and forcibly the very primary leading fundamental truths of the Gospel, and live as simple-minded humble Christians, that is enough indeed.

’Perhaps this is as likely to make the Bishop understand my notions on the subject as any more detailed account of the course of instruction.  I really have not time to copy out some ten or twelve pages of some older lad’s note-book.  I think you would be satisfied with their work.  I don’t mean, of course, the mere writing, which is almost always excellent, but there is a ready apprehension of the meaning of any point clearly put before them, which is very satisfactory.  I am now thinking of the twenty or thirty best among our 145 scholars.  This is a confused, almost unintelligible scrawl; but I am busy, and not very fresh for work.

’Yours very truly,

‘J.  C. Patteson.’

A letter to Bishop Abraham was in hand at the same time, full of replies to the information in one newly received from this much valued friend.  After deploring an attack of illness from which Mrs. Abraham had been suffering, comes the remark—­

’You know what one always feels, that one can’t be unhappy about good people, whatever happens to them.  I do so enjoy your talk about Church works in England.  It makes the modern phraseology intelligible.  I know now what is meant by “missions” and “missioners” and “retreats.”

’I was thinking lately of George Herbert at Hereford, as I read the four sermons which Vaughan lately preached there, one on the Atonement, which I liked very much indeed.  The Cathedral has been beautifully restored, has it not?  Then, I think of you in York Minster on November 20, with that good text from Psalm xcvi.  I read your letter on Tuesday; on which day our morning Psalms in Chapel are always chanted, xcv., xcvi., xcvii.  The application seems very natural, but to work out those applications is difficult.  The more I read sermons, and I read a good many, the more I wonder how men can write them!

’Mind, I will gladly pay Charley ten shillings a sermon, if he will copy it out for me.  It will do the boy good.  Dear old Tutor used to fag me to write copies of the Bishop’s long New Zealand letters, as I wrote a decent hand then.  Don’t I remember a long one from Anaiteum, and how I wondered where on earth or sea Anaiteum could be!