BEDELL, Gregory Thurston (1817-92). An American clergyman, the third Protestant Epis- copal Bishop of Ohio, and a member of the evan- gelical school of his Church. He was born at Hudson, N. Y., the son of Rev. Dr. Gregory Townsend Bedell, and was educated at Bristol College, Pa., and at the Virginia Theological Seminary. He was rector of the Church of the Ascension, New York City, from 1843 to 1859), when he was chosen Assistant Bishop of Ohio. In 1873, on the death of Bishop Mellvaine, he be- came bishop, and the following year consented to the division of his diocese by the formation of the new jurisdiction of Southern Ohio. He re- signed in 1889. His numerous works include The Pastor (1880) and Centenary of the Ameri- can Episcopate (1884).
BEDELL, William (1571-1642). A prelate
of the English Church, born at Black Notley,
Essex. He was educated at Emmanuel College,
Cambridge, and after his ordination, in 1602,
officiated as a clergyman at Bury Saint Edmunds.
In 1007 he accompanied Sir Henry Wotton as hig
chaplain to Venice. There he resided about four
years, deeply engaged in study, and honored by
the friendship of many distinguished men, in par-
ticular of Fra Paolo Sarpi, then engaged in the
composition of his celebrated History of the
Council of Trent. While residing here, he trans-
lated the English Common Prayer Book into Ital-
ian, which was highly appreciated by many of
the Venetian clergy. On his return home he re-
sumed his pastoral duties at Bury, where he lived
for some time in such retirement that when his
friend Diodati came to England, he inquired in
vain for the admirable Bedell, whose merits were
so well known in Venice. He had given up ho])es
of finding him, when one day he encountered liim
in the streets of London. In 1616 Bedell was
presented to the living of Horningsheath, a neigh-
boring parish to Bury. His retired life and his
Calvinistic theology long hindered the recogni-
tion of his merits. At length, in 1627, he was
unanimously elected provost of Trinity College,
Dublin, to which the fame of his learning and
piety had extended. He refused to undertake the
charge till positively commanded by the King.
At the end of two years he was promoted to the
united bishoprics of Kilmore and Ardagh, the
latter of which he resigned in 1633. While in
this diocese lie removed his lay chancellor, and
took upon himself the ancient episcopal jurisdic-
tion of hearing and deciding causes. His wisdom,
lirniness, and charity forced even his enemies to
revere him, and when the rebellion of 1641 broke
out his was the only English house in the county
of Cavan that was spared. Refusing to dismiss
his flock, he was imprisoned for a time, and on
being released ministered at a private house till
his death, at Drumlor, February 7, 1642. The
Old Testament was translated into Irish under
his direction, and besides some other works, he
translated the last two books of Fra Paolo's
history. His biography was written by his son
William, and this was afterwards edited by T.
W. Jones (London, 1872). Consult also Burnet,
Life of Bishop Bedell (London, 1685).
BEDELS, be'd'lz, or BEDELLS
(Ger. Pedell; see Beadle). One of the most ancient of academic officials, an attendant on the rector and the university crier. Besides the university bedel, there were bedels for the different faculties, 'nations,' and often for the doctors of the university. In Oxford University there are at present four bedels. The senior bedel registers matriculations, gives due notice to those who are to preach before the university, attends such preachers to and from the university church, acts as private secretary to the vice-chancellor, and gives his whole time to the service of the university. One of the sub-bedels constantly attends the vice-chancellor. The other bedel and sub-bedel attend at university sermons, at congregations, the admission of proctors, and all state occasions. All wear a round cap and particular form of gown, and must be constantly resident in the university. At Cambridge University there are two similar officers called esquire bedels, who attend the chancellor (or in his absence the vice-chancellor), preceding him with their silver wands on all occasions, and among other duties see that the university ceremonies are maintained, and that public business is conducted in proper form.
BEDESMAN, bedz'man.
See Bead.
BED'FORD (corrupted from AS. Bedican
ford, protected ford). The county town of Bed-
fordshire, England, situated on both sides of the
Ouse, here crossed by two bridges and navigable
to the sea, about 45 miles north-northwest of
London, and in the midst of a broad expanse
of rich pasture and agricultural lands (Map:
England, F 4). The town is clean, well paved,
and shows in its outward appearance and in the
number of its municipal undertakings the pro-
gressive spirit of its citizens. It was incorpo-
rated in the reign of Henry II. It sends one
member to Parliament. It has an excellent wa-
ter-supply, which nets it a substantial profit,
and has established an electric-light plant. It
maintains several parks and recreation-grounds,
public markets, and a cemetery. It is chiefly
famed for its charitable and educational institu-
tions, which are largely due to the beneficence
of Sir William Harpur, Lord Mayor of London
in 1561, who founded a free school and endowed
it with 13 acres of London land. The enormous
increase in the value of the property (from £40
to £15,000 or upward a year) enables the trus-
tees to maintain grammar, modern, and prepara-
tory schools for boys, the same class of schools
for girls, and also almshouses. The most impor-
tant manufacture of Bedford is that of iron-
ware, especially agricultural implements. Lace-
making and straw-plaiting employ many poor
women and children. A considerable traffic in
malt, timber, coal, and iron is maintained. Pop-
ulation, in 1891, 28,023; in 1901, 35,144. Bed-
ford is of great antiquity, and is mentioned in
the Saxon Chronicle under the name of Bedican-
ford, as the scene of a battle between the Britons
and Saxons in 571. It suffered much from the
Danes in the Eleventh Century. John Bunyan
was born in the neighboring village of Elstow,
and while a prisoner in the town jail, as a dis-
turber of the peace, he wrote his Pilgrim's Prog-
ress. A bronze statue of him presented to the
town by the Duke of Bedford adorns Saint Peter's
Green. Consult Porter, An Historical Sketch of
Bedford, England (Boston, 1891).
BEDFORD. A picturesque village of Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Canada, at the head of the beautiful Bedford Basin, nine miles north of Halifax, on the Intercolonial Railway. It is a favorite summer resort of the Haligonians. Population, estimated, 1500.
