In  the  debate  I  spoke  of  my  early  pastor,  the  Rev.  John
Angell  James,  with  a  respect  due  to  one  who  was  for  many
years  the  minister  of  my  mother,  and  because  of  the  way  in
which  he  had  spoken  of  me,  at  a  time  when  one  less  generous
might  have  used  disparaging  words.  Mr.  Grant,  conceding
nothing  to  this  sentiment,  charged  me  with  inconsistency  in
the  expression  of  it.  He  construed  courtesy  into  an  offence.
On  the  other  hand  the  Rev.  Thomas  Binney  wrote  to  me
to  assure  me  that  he  thought  my  expressions  of  regard  for
my  £3rmer  pastor  creditable  to  me.  Mr.  Binney,  himself  a
Newcastle-on-T3nie  man,  was  one  of  the  figures  of  the  platform.
He  wrote  afterwards  a  notable  little  book  entitled  ''How  to
Make  the  Best  of  Both  Worlds.''  He  was  the  first  preacher  in
my  time  who  admitted  and  enforced  the  secular  side  of  New
Testament  teaching.  He  had  natural  vigour  of  expression,
boldness,  and  humour.  He  had  the  true  genius  of  the
preacher  ;  he  was  inspired  by  his  subject  and  his  audience.
I  once  heard  him  make  a  remarkable  speech  in  the  Town
Hall,  Birmingham.  Many  wanted  him  to  publish  it,  but  he
answered  it  was  impossible.  He  said  he  did  not  foresee  what
he  should  say,  and  could  never  recall  what  he  had  said.  I
think  he  was  like  Sojourner  Truth|  the  fiunous  negress  preacher


960        SIXTY  YEARS  OF  AN  AGITATOirS  UFE.
of  America,  who  uid  what  she  spoke  the  Lord  put  into  her
mouth  at  the  time,  and  she  did  not  know  before  she  began
what  it  would  be.  She  said  the  audience  went  to  hear  her,
and  she  came  to  hear  herself,  that  she  might  know  what  the
Lord  had  to  say  to  her.
