with which they were followed was prompted by the desire to note whether the slightest variation was introduced into the narration.

For a time, after taking his degree, Mr Bateman followed the custom, usual in those days, of combining tuition with parochial work, in which double capacity he for a short time assisted the late Mr. Isaacson, at Freshwater. After serving in one or two curacies there came in 1861 a somewhat unexpected vacancy in the united Rectory of North with South Lopham, in Norfolk. This is one of several livings subject to an old trust, the owner of the advowsons being bound to present a Fellow of St John's. Mr Bateman's father had acquired this qualified right of presentation, and naturally presented his son, who was still on the list of Fellows.

Mr Bateman's predecessor, the Rev James Barrow (of St John's, B.A. 1815) had been instituted to Lopham 2 January 1823, and left it for the Rectory of North Wingfield, near Chesterfield; the latter living he held until 1878, and he died at Southwell 12 April 1881, aged 87.

Mr Barrow had been an easy going man, and Mr Bateman found full scope for his energies in his new cure. The following extract from The Diss Express, for April 26, gives some account of his work at Lopham :

Noticing the recent death of the Rev J. F. Bateman recorded in your paper, I feel that a man so long connected with the district of Diss needs a few comments on the life now ended. Though Mr Bateman left this district more than eleven years ago he retained an interest in it to the end of his life, and regularly took in the Diss Express to keep himself conversant with the events of the neighbourhood where he had spent 34 years of his life. Mr Bateman went to Lopham in 1861, just after his first marriage. The first few years of his life there were not very comfortable. He succeeded an easy going, good natured man of means, who took matters very easily. He found both churches in bad repair, a Trustee School at South Lopham, and no Church School at North Lopham. He also found parish matters casually administered, but before he had been ten or eleven years in the place both chancels had been restored, a schoolhouse called the Albert Room had been built at North Lopham, the crowded churchyard at North Lopham

had been enlarged, and the charities in the North parish had been placed by the Charity Commissioners on a sound foundation. Mr Bateman being a man of strict order himself could not be satisfied until everything with which he had to do was of the best order he could manage. In a few years more the naves of both the churches were restored and new rooms added to the Rectory. He had deep sorrows whilst Rector by losing his wife in 1874 and his only child in 1886, and though his later days were cheered by the devoted affection and help of his second wife, Lopham always had its sad side to him which made the place more endeared. In 1887 he threw himself heartily into the celebration of the first Jubilee in both parishes, one farmer being heard to say, "Our Rector has quite come out; he has set his purse open with a crotched stick, and lets us all put our hands into it." He was probably the first Rector in the district to do away with the old Tithe dinner, and this caused some unpopularity, but later on he was in the habit of substituting a dinner to the officials of the two parisheschurchwardens, guardians, overseers, and other leading residents and these meetings were much appreciated. Cricket had been the favourite game of his youth, and he always ardently supported it, for many years gathering together the young public school boys and others from long distances to play in what became known as "Bateman's match," the sides being composed of lads East and West of Lopham Rectory, from Banham on the one side to Thornham or Mendlesham on the other. During the last few years of his life he was secretary of the Clerical Society in his district, and also Rural Dean of Rockland, in both of which offices he carried out the same business habits which were a part of his life. The well-ordered side of life always attracted him more than the sentimental, and he was felt to be on all sides a practical man. His heart, though, was much set on his old parishes and district, and he took the deepest interest in the welfare thereof, paying frequent visits after he left, and, as before said, reading everything he could about the neighbourhood. He has now passed to where, doubtless, comprehension is greater still, and his works follow him. He did what he could whilst here in the best way he could, and we trust this may be said of all of us when we, too, have passed from sight.

On leaving Lopham Mr Bateman retired to Hampstead and

devoted much of his time and energies to the business of various church societies, a sphere of activity in which he had always been interested. This kind of work he thoroughly enjoyed. It is difficult to conceive of a man who could be a more assiduous attendant at meetings of all kinds, whether designed for some purpose of religion, or charity, or simply social. He undertook also the superintendence and assistance of the infirm people in an almshouse in his neighbourhood.

He was a man of singular simplicity and modesty of character and was liked by all. He had a turn for business, however dry; there was perhaps an inability to grasp the motives or views of others, which perhaps tended to limit his usefulness, and prevented his securing that influence which sometimes came to his inferiors in capacity. Still no sense of disappointment marred his peace, if he had none of the fiery zeal of the enthusiast, he had a singular serenity of temperament, and if one enterprise was not wholly satisfactory, he cheerfully turned his energies in another direction. The one thing which, perhaps, did pain him, was that of his not being taken in the spirit in which he took other people-with the simplest intention. to do good. It is gratifying to think that if in some cases misunderstandings arose they were all removed long before his death.

Among other enterprises in which Mr Bateman always took a keen interest was the College Mission in Walworth. Soon after it was started he assembled all Johnians within many miles of Lopham; he summoned Dr F. Watson and Dr A. Caldecott from Cambridge to enlist local sympathy. By his untiring demand for sixpences for a College Sermon, which he printed, he provided a considerable part of the fund which he raised to provide an Organ in the Lady Margaret Church. His tall figure will be missed at future meetings of the Mission.

Only a short time ago he transferred the limited right of presentation to Lopham, above described; this he had inherited from his father. The advowson is now therefore absolutely in the hands of the College. In giving directions for the legal conveyance he laid great stress on the point that the transfer was made "in consideration of the great love and affection" he bore to his College.

It may be mentioned that the church of South Lopham is

one of a character that would make it a notable Norfolk Church, were it not seven miles from any station and not near any great road; the Norman central tower has great dignity and beauty. North Lopham is of interest as one of the last villages in which the weaving of damask, as a home industry, survived. There are still one or two linen merchants there, but the weavers' looms are things of the past.

For thirty-four years this fine specimen of a country rector represented the College in South Norfolk, he represented it well and in these pages we need attempt no higher praise.

OUR CHRONICLE.

May Term 1907.

The Governor General of India, with the approbation of His Majesty the King, Emperor of India, has appointed the Honourable Sir Denzil C. J. Ibbetson (B.A. 1869), K.C.S.I., to be Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab and its dependencies; Sir Denzil Ibbetson took over charge on March 5th.

The Secretary of State for Scotland has appointed a Board of Trustees for the National Galleries of Scotland; Sir Thomas D. Gibson Carmichael, bart. (B.A. 1881), has been appointed a member, and is to be Chairman of the Board.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has appointed the Right Hon Sir John Tomlinson Hibbert, K.C.B. (B.A. 1867), Chairman of the Lancashire County Council, to the post of Constable of Lancaster Castle.

Sir C. Kinloch Cooke (B.A. 1878) was elected a member of the London County Council in March last; he has been placed on the Parliamentary and Teachers' Superannuation Committees.

The Ecclesiastical Commissioners have appointed a Committee to promote the creation of a Pension Fund out of the resources of the Commission, for facilitating the retirement of aged or infirm clergy holding poor benefices. Sir Lewis T. Dibdin (B.A. 1874), Dean of the Arches, is a member of the Committee.

Baron Kikuchi (B.A. 1877), President of the University of Tokio and sometime Japanese Minister of Education, has been delivering courses of lectures under the Martin White benefaction in the University of London. He lectured in May on "Japanese Educational Administration at the London School of Economics and on "Japanese Education" at King's and University Colleges in the months of April, May, June, and July.

Baron Suyematsu (B.A. 1884), who was sometime ago made a Privy Councillor by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, has now been decorated directly by the Mikado with the First Class of the Order of the Rising Sun for his services to his country during the late Russo-Japanese War.

VOL. XXVIII.

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