That is a very good example
of finding the truth about yourselves in the newspapers, for I have the
most astounding fact of all to tell you, and that is that I have never
said a single word about moustaches from first to last. I knew you would
forgive me making this little personal reference because it is not
personal to myself and to many of those in this tent."
A former Bishop of Wakefield, Dr Walsham How, related a good story. "The
vicar of an East London parish," said the bishop, "was one of the first
London clergymen to grow his beard. The then Bishop of London wished to
stop the practice, and, as he was going to confirm in that church, sent
his chaplain to the vicar to ask him to shave it off, saying he should
otherwise select another church for the Confirmation. The vicar replied
that he was quite willing to take his candidates to another church, and
would give out next Sunday the reason for the change. Of course the
bishop retracted."
We are told in the "Life of R.W. Dale" (London, 1898) that this famous
Birmingham preacher, about 1860, was clean shaven, but with "long black
hair that hung over his cheeks and ears like a mane.
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