Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 1.djvu/277

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Burbidge
257
Burbidge

[q. v.], and subsequently from 1870 to 1877 by Sir James Knowles [q. v. Suppl. II]. Bunting remained editor until his death, conducting the 'Review' on liberal lines. He enlisted the services of foreign contributors with whom his endeavours in social reform had brought him into touch, and he encouraged all writers, whether or no of established fame, who could adequately present salient phases of contemporary theology, science, art, literature and politics. He maintained in the 'Review' a moderately advanced religious tone and gave topics of social reform a prominent place in its pages.

In 1902 Bunting succeeded Hughes as editor of the 'Methodist Times' and carried on the work concurrently with the 'Review' until 1907.

A firm believer in international amity, he joined in 1907 the journalists, and in 1909 the representatives of the churches, on visits to Germany, and he aided in the formation in the summer of 1911 of the Anglo-German Friendship Society. He was knighted in 1908. Subsequently his physical powers slowly failed, and he died somewhat unexpectedly on 22 July 1911 at 11 Endsleigh Gardens, N.W. Bunting married on 21 June 1869 Mary Hyett, daughter of John Lidgett of Hull, a London shipowner, and aunt of the Rev. John Scott Lidgett, president of the Wesleyan Conference 1908-9. Lady Bunting, who survived her husband with two sons and two daughters, was a co-worker with him in many of his activities. Bunting contributed to the volumes entitled The Citizen of To-morrow' (1906) and 'Christ and Civilisation' (1910), and wrote many pamphlets concerning the movements in which he was engaged. To the 'Contemporary Review' he was an occasional contributor, his articles including 'Reminiscences of Cardinal Manning' (1892), 'Nonconformists and the Education Bill' (1902), 'The White Slave Trade' (1902), 'The Journalistic Tour in Germany' (1907), 'Convocation and the Bishop of Hereford' (1911).

[Information from relations; personal knowledge; The Times, 24 July 1911; Contemporary Review, August 1911; Manchester Guardian, 24 July 1911; Methodist Times, 27 July and 3 Aug. 1911.]

J. E. G. de M.


BURBIDGE, EDWARD (1839–1903), liturgiologist, born on 9 Aug. 1839 at Laura Place, Upper Clapton, London, was younger son in the family of two sons and two daughters of William Smith Burbidge, distiller, of London, by his wife Sarah Jane Peacock. Privately educated owing to delicate health, he was on 26 May 1858 admitted to Emmanuel College, Cambridge. In 1859 he was elected to a Whichcote scholarship and to an Ash and Browne exhibition. In 1860 he won a Thorpe scholarship, and graduated B.A. in 1862 with a second class in the classical tripos, proceeding M.A. in 1865. He was ordained deacon in 1863 and priest in 1864. After serving curacies at Aldbourne, Wiltshire (1863–8) and at Warminster (1868–73), he became in 1873 rector, and in 1882 vicar of Backwell, Somerset. In 1887 he was appointed to a prebendal stall in Wells cathedral. On resigning his living in October 1902, he retired to Weston-super-mare. There he died on 7 Feb. 1903, and was buried at Backwell. He married on 21 April 1869 Susan Mary, youngest daughter of William Topley Humphrey, vicar of East Stockwith, Lincolnshire, who survived him with four sons and three daughters. Burbidge took an active interest in education, especially in the improvement of voluntary schools, and for many years he acted as diocesan inspector. But he was chiefly known as a zealous student of ancient liturgies. His valuable 'Liturgies and Offices of the Church' (1885), to which was prefixed a catalogue of the remains of Archbishop Cranmer's library, formed a scholarly commentary on the original sources of the Book of Common Prayer. It was generally recognised as a standard work, and was quoted as authoritative on 21 Nov. 1890 by archbishop E. W. Benson [q. v. Suppl. I] in delivering judgment in the bishop of Lincoln case. Burbidge also published: 1. 'The Parish Priest's Book of Offices and Instructions for the Sick,' 1871. 2. 'A Plain Manual of Holy Communion,' 1878; 2nd edit. 1882. 3. 'Peace with God,' a manual for the sick, 1880.

[The Times, 10 Feb. 1903; Brit. Mus. Cat.; information from Mrs. Burbidge.]

G. S. W.


BURBIDGE, FREDERICK WILLIAM (1847–1905), botanist, born at Wymeswold, Leicestershire, on 21 March 1847, was son of Thomas Burbidge, a farmer and fruit-grower. He entered the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society at Chiswick as a student in 1868, and proceeded in the same year to the Royal Gardens, Kew. Here he showed skill as a draughtsman and was partly employed in making drawings of plants in the herbarium. Leaving Kew in 1870, he was on the staff of the 'Garden' from that year until 1877.