John Clifford - Free Church Leader And Preacher Book

1904 A powerful witness to the interest that there is in human life is the fact that nothing stirs us so deeply or helps us SO abidingly as biography. The story of the building up of a man from base to superstructure still enthrals us, and howsoever differently literature may be classified as poetry or as philosophy, as history or as romance, the golden thread that runs through it, and that constitutes its perennial charm, is biography. To look into a mans life, and see the stock of ideas with which he starts to recognise the difficulties that he has to face, and that facing he conquers to watch him through his successful struggles, sympathetic with his falls, and desirous that he may not only escape falling again, but may derive from these falls inspirations to ascend, we find ourselves led on from stage to stage in the mans career, more and more enriched by what is presented to us, and inspired by what we ourselves hope to profit by. JOHN CLIFFORD PREFACE B UT for the fact that Dr. Clifford is engrossed in public work he might have been prevailed upon to write his Autobiography. Failing the opportunity to undertake that task, he has kindly placed at the disposal of the biographer many of his papers, some of which have never previously been published. For their presentation, and the connective comment with which these are introduced, he is not responsible. The author alone takes full responsibility. It is impossible for the author to adequately express his gratitude to Dr. Clifford for the trouble and care with which he has verified dates and particulars submitted to him. He has also made many suggestions concerning sources of information, which have largely contributed to the completeness of the present biography. With the utmost readiness he has rendered these services in spite of his heavy labours in other directions. Notwithstanding the many biographical articles concerning Dr. Clifford which have appeared, a large number of the earlier incidents of his life here recorded are entirely fresh. Some he has specially supplied. Others have been obtained from Sawley or Beeston. It was thought desirable to deal with these somewhat fully in order to illustrate his home environment and the determining factors in his early career. The Biography also aims to make clear and real the great causes to which Dr. Clifford has devoted his long and strenuous life. The authors thanks are due to the following-Dr. W. Robertson Nicoll for the Introduction Dr. Alexander McLaren for permission to publish two letters the Rev. Thomas Law Mr. John Colebrook, for many incidents of Dr. CliffordJs early days and copies of correspondence Mr. R. Mudie-Smith for Chapter VII. Rev. J. H. Rushbrooke, M. A., of Derby Rev. Walter Wynn, of Earby Mrs. Bennett, Sawley Mr. F. N. Bateman and Mr. Christopher Turner, of Sawley. To the proprietor of the Westminster Gazette the publisher tenders an expression of his indebtedness for the courteous permission to reproduce several of Mr. F. C. Goulds admirable cartoons. To Mr. Fisher Unwin also, who has similarly extended the courtesy of allowing The Preaching FriarJ in The Froissart Chronicles to appear in the present volume. NEWHOLII G IE U , I LDFORD, February 16, 1904. C O N T E N T S PAGE INTRODUCTION. By Dr. W. Robevtso t Nicoll . xi CHAPTER I. PARESTAGE AND UPBRISGING . . I 11. DESIRE TO ENTER THE JIINISTRY . I5 I I I . COLLEGE DAYS . 28 IV. PASTORAL SETTLEBIEST IN LONDON 4 I VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. FORTY-FIVE PEARS BIIXISTRY IN THE BIETROPOLlS AS PASTOR. By R. 11Iz die-Sntitlz . THE PREACHERS OFFICE ...Read More