he construes them, is still a man of independent thought, out of which, by the nature of his constitution, is evolved a set purpose. To begin with, his aim is not controversy, nor does he for one moment desire to be “at daggers drawn with his fellows.” His attitude is quite different. “If controversy is unavoidable in the justification of action by conviction, let us by all means hold fast to conviction, come weal, come woe.” Such seems to be the spirit of the man, doggedly maintained. If others are not prepared to fall into line upon the plane of his adoption—well, that is not his fault. After all, no party is half so unanimous as a party of “one.” It beats Mr Balfour's famous Parliamentary “fourth party” out and out! But, as everybody knows, Dr Maclure has a large following not only in Lancashire but throughout the country.
The Dean of Manchester's interesting life began four years prior to the accession of Queen Victoria to the British throne. He received the baptismal names of “Edward Craig” and is of the fourth generation of his family born within the borders of Lancashire. His father, a merchant and a prominent Conservative Churchman in Manchester, resided at the time in Upper Brook Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, and his second son—“John William,” as he was familiarly termed in political circles arrived upon the scene two years later. The brothers, who were much attached to each other, were educated together at Manchester Grammar
