tenderest love to all; full of sympathy for every pain
and sorrow, and devoting his days and nights to lightening the burdens of
humanity; utterly patient of insult and enmity; utterly fearless in
speaking the truth and rebuking sin; ever ready to answer every call, to
go wherever bidden, in order to do good; wholly without thought of self;
making himself the servant of all; patient, gentle, and untiring in
dealing with the souls he would save; bearing with ignorance, wilfulness,
slowness, cowardice, in those of whom he expects most; sacrificing all,
even life itself, if need be, to save some."

Those who knew How best said it was almost a perfect description of his
own life and character.

When Queen Victoria, in 1879, made him Bishop of Bedford, with East
London as his diocese, he was tireless in his efforts to alleviate
conditions in that poverty-stricken district. When he first began his
work in the slums, people would point to him and say, "There goes a
bishop." But as they came to know him better, they said, "There goes
_the_ bishop." And finally, when they learned to love him, they
exclaimed, "There goes _our_ bishop."

Bishop How's most celebrated hymn is "O Jesus, Thou art standing." It is
based on the impressive words of the Saviour in the Book of Revelation,
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: If any man hear my voice, and
open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with
me."

Though the language of the hymn is commonplace, there are striking
expressions here, as in How's other hymns, that arrest the attention of
the worshiper. In the first stanza we are reminded that there are many
nominal Christians bearing "His Name and sign" who yet are keeping the
waiting, patient Saviour outside a "fast-closed door." In the succeeding
verse we are told that it is sin that bars the gate. Then there is the
concluding stanza with its gripping appeal, picturing the surrender of
the human heart to the pleading Christ.

The imagery in the hymn was, no doubt, suggested by Holman Hunt's
celebrated painting, "The Light of the World." This was executed by Hunt
in 1855, while the hymn by How was written twelve years later. Those who
are familiar with the Hunt masterpiece will remember how it pictures the
Saviour standing patiently and knocking earnestly at a fast-closed door.
The high weeds, the tangled growth of vines, as well as the unpicked
fruit lying on the ground before the door, suggest th