As a chairman Canon Hoare was unequalled. His kindness to opponents and his fairness in stating their case disarmed prejudice and won their approbation. A barrister who had been contending vigorously against some project which Canon Hoare was anxious to advance said at the close of a meeting in which he was taking part: “I have no more to say. Mr. Hoare has handled his brief ably, and I retire from my former opposition.” Some now in Tunbridge Wells will remember a meeting of publicans who had been invited by the Vicar to come to the Parish Room and discuss in a friendly way the Bill for the Sunday closing of public-houses. They proved an unpleasant audience, and often indulged in bitter and insolent observations, all of which he took in the most gentle Christian spirit. At last one fellow shouted out: “You clergy are the biggest Sabbath-breakers going; you are working hard all Sunday, and why shouldn’t we?” “No, no,” answered the chairman with a beautiful smile, “what we do on Sunday is not work; it’s _happy rest_ from first to last.” A Nonconformist who was present remarked afterwards to the writer that he would never forget that look nor those words as long as he lived. * * * * * In questions relating to the interests of the town or of the country at large he was always to the front, gauging public opinion and leading it in the right direction. In actual politics he took no part until the Home Rule question was brought to the front by Mr. Gladstone; then he lectured in the Great Hall against it, and more than once spoke in public on the same topic. Again, when in 1885 the Liberation Society announced a lecture by Mr. Guinness Rogers, and the Great Hall was filled with a noisy, excited audience, at the close of the lecture Canon Hoare ascended the platform; and though at first his words could scarcely be heard in the tumult of cheers and hootings, yet his manliness and skill in debate soon gained way for him, and though the lecturer and chairman both made insulting remarks, he so entirely turned the tables upon them that, when the Liberationist motion was put to the meeting, it was rejected by a majority, and the whole thing collapsed ignominiously. * * * * * Many years previous to the event just narrated, when the Volunteer movement was making itself felt throughout the country, a large meeting was held in Tunbridge Wells to consider the question of establishing a Volunteer Corps. The chairman, a local magistrate, threw cold water on the proposal by reminding them that all their strength was needed for foreign service.