Page:Distinguished Churchmen.djvu/112

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84
DISTINGUISHED CHURCHMEN

Thus the nephew became grandfather to his uncle, and father to his own parent!

Although the new Dean was hailed with every sign of approval in the county Palatine, it must not by any means be taken for granted that he had embarked upon untroubled waters. Indeed, never was he exposed to so much criticism. Within twelve months of his settlement in Manchester his fellow-citizens had concluded that he was the right man for the chair of the local School Board, to which, in spite of elections and conflicts, he has been re-elected four times unanimously—proposed by a Progressive, seconded by a Roman Catholic, and supported by a Churchman. This connection brought him into national notoriety, with the result, that when the School Boards Association of England and Wales was formed in 1893 he was prevailed upon to accept the presidency. Dr Maclure's re-election on eight occasions constitutes weighty appreciation of his services in that capacity, as also does the fact that he takes prominent part in every educational movement in and around Manchester, occupying the chair of several of its charities and institutions. He is also a prominent figure in the Lower House of the Convocation of York, and Chairman of its Parliamentary Committee.

So far, so good; but the rewards have not always been so agreeably sandwiched between the hostilities in regard to other matters. By virtue of his office as Dean he was, of course, bound to look