is yet another characteristic which
claims emphatic mention in any attempt to estimate his influence.
He was conspicuously and essentially a gentleman. In appearance,
manner, speech, thought, and act, this gentlemanlike quality of his
nature made itself felt; and it roused in such as were susceptible
of the spell an admiration which the most meritorious teachers have
often, by sheer boorishness forfeited.

Time out of mind, a Head Mastership has been regarded as a
stepping-stone to a Bishopric--with disastrous results to the
Church--and in Butler's case it seemed only too likely that the
precedent would be followed. Gladstone, when Prime Minister, once
said to a Harrovian colleague, "What sort of Bishop would your
old master, Dr. Butler, make?" "The very worst," was the reply.
"He is quite ignorant of the Church, and would try to discipline
his clergy like school-boys. But there is one place for which he
is peculiarly qualified--the Mastership of Trinity." And the Prime
Minister concurred. In June, 1885, Gladstone was driven from office,
and was succeeded by Lord Salisbury. In October, 1886, the Master of
Trinity (Dr. W. H. Thompson) died, and Salisbury promptly offered
the Mastership to Dr. Butler, who had for a year been Dean of
Gloucester. It is not often that a man is designated for the same
great post by two Prime Ministers of different politics.

At Trinity, though at first he had to live down certain amount of
jealousy and ill-feeling, Butler's power and influence increased
steadily from year to year, and towards the end he was universally
respected and admired. A resident contemporary writes: "He was
certainly a Reformer, but not a violent one. His most conspicuous
services to the College were, in my opinion, these: (1) Sage guidance
of the turbulent and uncouth democracy of which a College Governing
body consists. (2) A steady aim at the highest in education, being
careful to secure the position of literary education from the
encroachments of science and mathematics. (3) Affectionate stimulus
to all undergraduates who need it, especially Old Harrovians. (4)
The maintenance of the dignity and commanding position of Trinity
and consequently of the University in the world at large."

To Cambridge generally Butler endeared himself by his eager interest
in all good enterprises, by his stirring oratory and persuasive
preaching, and by his lavish hospitality. As Vice-Chancellor, in
1889 and 1890, he worthily maint