his patience and gentleness, his warm generosity and kindness of heart rendered him friendly to all. In the case of the native Christians and clergy he was especially patient over their shortcomings, preferring in the exercise of the highest charity to hope all things with regard to them. He recognised the enormous temptations to which native Christians are subject living among their heathen relatives ; and he dealt very tenderly with those who failed to live up to the standard of Christianity. High or low, rich or poor, he commanded respect and set an example of perfect living, as near as it can be perfect in this busy workaday world. The opinion recorded of him that he consistently presented in his person and teaching a high ideal, that he was devoted to the thorough performance of his duty, and that he was influenced by the highest and purest motives was endorsed by Christians and non-Christians alike. A remarkable testimony to this opinion was given in the columns of the leading native newspaper of South India, 'The Hindu,' which wrote as follows :
In his retirement Madras loses the influence of a great character. We are not Christians ; and we cannot pretend to be in any sense enthusiastic about the results of the propagation of the Christian gospel. But a pious man is a pious man, whether he be a Christian or a Hindu. Practical religion religion as concretised in thought, feeling and conduct is unsectional, above and beyond all forms and dogmas, and universal. And, as true Hindus, we are large-hearted enough to recognise in Dr. Gell a saintly personage in the presence of whom all sectarian strife is stilled, and the thought of petty outward difference is not.'
His deeds of charity were innumerable, and were performed with humble secrecy ; frequently in the case of personal relief they were known only to the recipient himself. One of his most striking characteristics was
