304 DISTINGUISHED CHURCHMEN
advanced High Churchman as he is as the friend of the poor, and this is not a little remarkable, seeing that he comes of a well-known Evangelical family, prominent among the members of which was the Rev. Daniel Wilson, the famous Vicar of Islington. His early education was received at Brighton Col lege, whence in due course he proceeded to Jesus College, Cambridge, in the days when Jesus, repre sented by men like Hockin, Fairbairn, Hoskins and others, enjoyed a reputation for turning out first- class rowing men. Mr Wilson himself indulged in aquatic exercise, but, finding the impulse to study irresistible, never entered for any big events.
To his friends he has before now told the story how, while at Cambridge, he paid a visit to London as the guest of the Bishop of Winchester, the father of a college chum. At breakfast the day s programme came up for discussion, and on the guest suggesting that they should explore East London, the others of the company held up their hands in horror, declar ing it would be unsafe ! The incident gives point to the narrative, as indicating the attitude towards the East End thirty or forty years ago, even on the part of a Bishop s family.
Although Mr Wilson had a strong liking for mathematics, he decided on taking Orders, and in this connection it is interesting to mention that he was the first man who went to Ely Theological College, which, erected in memory of Bishop Woodford, of Ely, was then under the charge of
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