  In sending forth this brief account of my long chaplaincy in Paris, I desire to say that I do so at the request of many friends, who were kind enough to express their interest. It is not intended to be an account of life generally in Paris, or a description of the beauties and treasures of the City. There are many books which do this better than I could hope to do, for the life of a chaplain in Paris is a very strenuous one—every day bringing its work, and often much unexpected work, that it was difficult to give much time to sight-seeing. My predecessor, Rev. T. Howard Gill, said to me when I accepted the position, “Do not stay more than seven years—it is enough for any man.” I stayed nearly seventeen. I have not attempted either to give any full account here of the spiritual side of my work—I would only say that I have every reason to thank God that I went, both for the work He enabled me to do and the experience that I have gained. There is an erroneous impression in some minds about Continental work, viz., that it unfits a man for Parochial work at home. I heard this expressed upon my appointment to my present sphere. The fact, however, is very different. The work is so varied, so constant, and often so unexpected, that one gains as much experience in six months in a city like Paris as British Chaplain as one would gain in a much longer time at home. It may be true that in small chaplaincies in lonely places, with but few English people in residence, men get out of touch with Church life and work in England, but it is not the same in the permanent chaplaincies in thickly populated places. In Paris we had our organisations much as at home. Daily Services, Sunday Schools, Mothers’ Meetings, Visitors, etc., and although the numbers attending (owing to distance) were not so great as at home, the work was much the same. I have given several hints which I trust may be useful to parents intending to send their children abroad for education, and also to those who may be purposing to reside in Paris. As we are going to press the notice appears in the papers of the death of Sir Edmund Monson, formerly Ambassador in Paris. The country loses in him a distinguished and faithful servant, and all who knew him will regret a kind and generous friend. H. E. NOYES, D.D. St. Mary’s Vicarage, |
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