Arthur Penrhyn Stanley
Arthur Penrhyn Stanley [1]
an eminent Anglican divine, son of bishop Edward Stanley, and nephew of the first baron Stanley of Alderley, was born at Alderley, Cheshire, December 13, 1815. At the age of fourteen years he entered the Rugby School, and remained there five years. During this time he was a favorite student and enjoyed the especial friendship of Dr. Arnold — a fact which may, without doubt, be assumed to have had close connection with the broadness and liberality of his thought and doctrines as a churchman. In 1834, having won a scholarship in Balliol College, Oxford, young Stanley there entered upon a career that formed a fitting continuation of his brilliant student life at Rugby. He won, in 1837, the Newdigate prize for his English poem, The Gypsies, the Ireland scholarship, gained the first class in classics, and became a fellow of University College. Two years later he received the Latin essay prize, and in 1840 the English essay prize and theological prizes. After his graduation, in 1838, he became for twelve years a tutor in University College. On taking orders in the Church of England he naturally affiliated himself with the "Broad Church" party, although the opposite sentiment prevailed at Oxford. In 1851 and 1852 he was secretary to the University Commission, and in 1858 became regius professor of ecclesiastical history at Oxford and canon of Christ Church College. In 1872 he was a second time chosen select preacher to the University, and on March 31, 1875, was installed lord rector of the University of St. Andrew's. Early attracting attention as a pulpit orator, he was made, in 1854, chaplain to prince Albert; in 1857 to Dr. Tait, bishop of London, and to the queen and prince of Wales in 1862. From 1851 to 1858 he was canon of Canterbury Cathedral. He declined the archbishopric of Dublin in 1863, and early in the following year was made dean of Westminster, a position which he occupied until his death; July 18, 1881. In 1852 and 1853 he made an extensive tour in the East, visiting Egypt, Arabia, and Palestine, and gathering there material for his work on those countries. In 1862 he again visited the East in company with the prince of Wales. In 1878 he visited America in search of health and rest, and was greeted everywhere not only with the respect his genius commanded, but with warm personal friendship. During his stay he addressed the students of the Union Theological Seminary in New York, and preached at Trinity and Grace churches. He also met a number of prominent Baptist preachers, and was given receptions by the Methodist Episcopal clergy and the Century Club. After his college poems and essays dean Stanley's first literary venture was the biography of his former master, Dr. Arnold, in 1846. In the following year he published a volume of Sermons and Essays on the Apostolic Age. He edited, in 1851, a volume of his father's addresses and pastoral charges, adding thereto an affectionate memoir. A series of his lectures delivered to the Young Men's Christian Association was published in 1854, and was followed the next year by The Epistles of St. Paul to the Corinthians, with Notes and Dissertations: — Historical Memorials of Canterbury, and a number of sermons. His well-known work on Sinai and Palestine was issued, with some minor volumes, in 1856 Lectures on the History of the Eastern Church (1861): — Lectures on the Jewish Church (1862-76): — Sermons Preached before the Prince of Wales during his Tour in the East, with Descriptions of Places Visited (1863): — Historical Memorials of Westminster Abbey (1867): — Lectures on the Church of Scotland (1872). During these years he was the author, also, of numerous other volumes of essays, sermons, lectures, and disputations. He was a voluminous contributor; to various reviews and periodicals, and furnished a valuable series of Biblical biographies to Dr. William Smith's Dictionary of the Bible. His sermon delivered at the funeral of Sir Charles Lyell in Westminster Abbey, February 27, 1875, and since published, was notable for its hearty recognition of the services of that eminent geologist in having, as he believed, scientifically established the facts in regard to the creation of the earth and the human race. His latest literary work was performed as a member of the association for the revision of the Bible.
