Personal Visits to the Graves of Eminent Men

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1877 edition. Excerpt: ... ossa; " simply signifying, " In this grave lie the bones of the Venerable Bede." I knew, however, that this was not his original resting-place. I knew that he had been buried at Jarrow, and that his body had been stealthily transported from Jarrow to Durham, in order to transfer the gifts of pilgrims from one place to the other. Therefore, some years after, when I was advocating the claims of the Church Missionary Society at North Shields, finding that Jarrow was but " a Sabbath-day's journey," I walked to that place between the services, and was deeply interested by what I saw. It is said that when the monks selected a site for building, they generally made sure of three things--a stream for fish, good land for butter, and a hill for shelter and shade. Without saying that this applies to Jarrow, there was one thing which at that time they would certainly enjoy to perfection--profound quiet. A more secluded place at that time could scarcely have been found. But what a contrast now exists! The whole district is covered with collieries, and with stacks vomiting forth their smoke, while the neighbourhood abounds with dingy dwellings abutting even upon the churchyard. Still the Church is deeply interesting, and covered with the hoar of antiquity--its deep dark chancel reminding you of Saxon times. I shall never forget the hours I spent alone in Jarrow Church on that Sunday afternoon. I lived, as it were, during the time of the Saxon Heptarchy. I realised in my mind how different the state of society must have been when Bede was passing here his tranquil life in the studies of his cell and the devotions of the Church. How sparse the population! How low the state of civilization! How limited the area of knowledge! And how unsettled the state...