our proceedings, but as we went on we took additional care that the cathedrals should always have the last word, and the alarm, I imagine, disappeared. If we erred at all, it was in showing too much tenderness to the cathedrals. In all this there was no absolute obligation that our statutes would be approximately adopted, but we were satisfied with the strong presumption. Let me say at once, the accounts the cathedrals had to give of themselves were, as a whole, most creditable. There was much and increasing zeal for the service of God, while their shortcomings, which we detected, were mainly attributed, not to deficiency of will, but to insufficient legal powers such as we existed to remedy. With a great respect for cathedral bodies when I joined this commission, I left the commission with a very much higher regard for them than I had when I first went into the room. Flippant journalists have represented the commission as a penal commission, but that was not the case. It was conciliatory throughout, and put the successive cathedrals on an equal footing, and under the wise chairmanship of my right reverend friend, as previously under that of Archbishop Tait, we gained a great deal of minute and valuable knowledge confronted as we were by the differences between the old and the new foundations; and alive as we were to the merits of the former we yet strove to make the new foundations, not merely copies of the old, but in borrowing the best parts of the old system, and mixing it with the new, without reducing all the corporation to a cast-iron uniformity. For instance, the older chapters had got rather crystallised, the cathedral offices were offices for life, and there was no guarantee that the whole of the office bearing canons, the quartuor persona, at any one cathedral might not become from age or ill-health incapacitated. So, in assigning, as had not been done before, specific duties to the canons of the new foundation, we allowed an exchange not as of a dignity or a life office, but of a duty. We give, I say, the power of changing one duty for another, so that it should be a matter of conscience to the cathedral clergy to perform in reality and with efficiency their duties. In the future there will be the greater chapter at the cathedrals of the new foundation, composed of residentiary and honorary canons. We have created the greater chapter anew, not for the pecuniary business of the cathedral, which now will be left in the hands of the lesser chapter, but in reference to those spiritual concerns which be outside financial considerations. I may note that in the Pluralties Act lately passed, which is really a Church Discipline Act, there is a recognition of the greater chapter, of no great moment indeed in itself, but valuable as a first step. It is that the representative of the chapter, who is hereafter to have a seat on the commission of enquiry over the impugned clergyman will be elected by the greater chapter; so already a kind of side-door has been found by Parliament for the greater chapters to enter. I must, also, before I sit down, refer to our creation of the diocesan chapter, consisting, in addition to the greater chapter, of the rural deans, summoned and presided over by the diocesan. This, strictly speaking, has little or nothing to do with the cathedral. But it is a Church-like and consultative practical standing diocesan council. But having the chance of creating such a body, we thought it well not to forego the opportunity. have not left myself time to speak of that which, after all, stands in the forefront of our recommendations-a lengthened term of residence when the income of the stall makes this possible. The Bishop of Carlisle hopes that Parliament will accept and pass the scheme of the commissioners. I am afraid that such success is a pious opinion, and not a matter of faith. But even if he be disappointed, I refuse to call our work a failure. I am convinced that a great deal of what we recommend may be carried out by bye-laws, chapter orders, and so on, proprio vigore. Notable reforms, I am certain, may be brought about by the power and privileges already in the hands of our cathedral bodies, strengthened as they will be by the public opinion engendered by the recommendations of the commission.

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The Rev. EDMUND VENABLES, Precentor and Canon
of Lincoln.

THE word cathedral may be applied in two senses. It has been applied this afternoon to the institutions which vivify the building-but I will speak of the cathedral in its other sense-the fabric. With regard to these glorious fabrics, the inheritance of the piety and the God-given genius of past ages, the word cathedral is really an

adjective. The full form is "Cathedral Church," "Ecclesia Cathedralis," i.e., the church in which the bishop has set up his throne or "Cathedra;" his "bishop's stool," as it was called in Anglo-Saxon days. For instance, a bishop has planted his stool at Liverpool, and the church there becomes the cathedral church. The great paramount object with all churchmen, especially with all who have the honour and responsibility of being officially connected with our cathedrals, is that the utmost possible use may be made of them. How is this to be done? Now let me in the first place, with all reverence and humility, call on the bishops to make their cathedrals the centre of their diocesan work. They should, if possible, reside under the shadow of the walls of the cathedral. Of course there are dioceses in which the bishop must reside many miles away, and therefore it is not possible for him to use his cathedral as he would otherwise do. But at least fourteen of our bishops have their palaces beneath the cathedral walls. Every diocesan work has its real centre at the cathedral, which should be the fountain of life and light for the whole diocese. Let me earnestly but respectfully urge on our bishops to identify themselves more with their cathedrals, and to make all possible use of them. Though it may be needless to do so, I would exhort the cathedral chapters heartily to welcome their bishop, and afford him every facility for using his cathedral for diocesan work. The cathedrals do not exist for the dean and chapter, for they are only the trustees of the building for the time. The bishop would not, of course, interfere with the two services of the day, but there is no reason why he should not use the cathedral as freely as possible at other times. Our own dear Bishop of Lincoln is making our cathedral the centre of his work, and we have been thankful to be able to assign him an old chapel where he can vest himself, meet his clergy, and enjoy devotional retirement. Every bishop should have a place in his cathedral, which he can regard as his own. To proceed, the cathedral is the church of the diocese, and it is the spiritual home of the whole diocese. Let it be so employed. The chapter-house should be used for synods and other meetings of the clergy. The cathedral clergy should not stand too much on their dignity, but do their utmost to make the parochial clergy feel that the cathedral is truly the church of the diocese. Give them a hearty welcome instead of a grudging permission with the expression of a hope that what is granted will not be construed into a precedent. Let their Sunday Schools, scholars and teachers, and Temperance Societies hold their annual festivals there. The Bishop of Lincoln rejoices to meet such gatherings, and speak plain words to them in the cathedral, and send them away strengthened and refreshed. Another matter is very near my heart, and that is the use of the chapels for the various diocesan societies. It is grievous to see the empty and bare chapels in our cathedrals. I should like to see them assigned to various Christian guilds and bodies of Christian workers, where on certain days they might know where they could go and meet their brethren and sisters in Christ, and with them receive strength for their work by the Blessed Eucharist, and by the sense of corporate unity.

The Rev. THOMAS F. CROSSE, D.C.L., Vicar of Holy Trinity, Hastings, Canon and Precentor of Chichester.

I MUST ask you for a slight amount of indulgence, for I have never before spoken at Church Congress, and I had made up my mind never to do so. I could not, however, listen to the first paper without saying a few words. I speak both as a parochial clergyman of thirty-three years standing, and as a canon residentiary of Chichester Cathedral. It is not for me to say whether it is desirable, in the present state of affairs, with the question even of the establishment of the Church before the country, to speak as the Dean of Wells has done of the cathedral chapters.

The DEAN of Wells.

I spoke of the remote past.

The Rev. DR. CROSSE.

Nevertheless, I think that those placed at the head of cathedral chapters should not indulge in philippics on the remote past when they might say something in their

favour as regards the present. I am a plain person, but I may, perhaps, state what is going on in my own cathedral, and I think I can look at it impartially, not as a residentiary canon, but as a parochial clergyman. Our dean is a man who will get up at five o'clock every morning, and while never missing the services in the cathedral, either morning or afternoon, works hard in his study all day. My excellent archdeacon has told us, in his paper, we must have a learned clergy. Our dean's writings are before the world, and I submit confidently that he is a man who fulfils all the requirements of a literary dean. I next come to the senior canon, the archdeaconhe is not my archdeacon, so I can speak of him freely. He is a man always moving about the diocese, he has no parochial preferment, and he is incessantly preaching in the churches. This is an approach to another ideal the canon missioner. Our second canon is the head of the theological college at Chichester, and is constantly at work in teaching divinity to his students. Then we have Bishop Tufnell, who was appointed that he might assist the bishop, but although our bishop is the oldest prelate on the episcopal bench, there is no bishop more active than he is. Bishop Tufnell, therefore, is, to a considerable extent, a power for the future, though he has at present full occupation. Our bishop is perfectly competent to perform his duties at the age of eighty-three. I put myself last. I have been a parochial clergyman at Hastings for thirty years. I am the rural dean there, which is not a sinecure. represent the diocese on the committe of S. P. G. I am chairman of the Diocesan Council on Temperance, and secretary of the Sunday School Committee of the diocese. I also represent the diocese on the Central Council of Conferences. All this means labour, and I cannot even say that the three months residence at the cathedral are free from business anxieties. Now I think that bodies of men thus engaged as I have described, should not have disparaging shadows reflected on them. Reference has been made to the cathedral commission. When we went up to it we found Mr. Beresford Hope our best friend, and I am glad to find the clause on diocesan chapters has been adopted since we ourselves devised it in the interest of the parochial clergy. I think altogether that the public has got something for the money the system of cathedrals cost, especially as under present circumstances the whole of that money is not always forthcoming.

I

The Rev. EDGAR NORRIS DUMBLETON, Vicar of St. James's, and Prebendary of Exeter.

This is the

I THINK we had better let the past be past with respect to cathedral failure, and the future be as noble as our best thoughts and prayers can make it. There may be, as the Dean of Wells said, the difficulty of obtaining from the cathedral clergy a due performance of their duties after they are definitely allotted to them. case in every human thing, but I think there is one way in which this can be met and remedied. It has been pointed out by the cathedral commission that the cathedral was once, and may become again, a great religious community. This community principle is lost, but let us revive it. It should mean in the case of cathedrals, union in prayer, in consultation, and in work. It means that power which each one derives from the felt sympathy of many. We ought to be very grateful to the Bishop of Carlisle and the commission for their work; but I think the commission has been too lenient, and the money which now goes to maintain a very small number of canons might, in many cases, be so applied as to secure the services of more men. matter was submitted to the commission by the vote of a diocesan conference, of which I am a member; but we were surprised to find that the commission took no notice of the hint. I will ask how is it possible that the diocesan officials can be maintained, or the work of the cathedral services carried out by four or five men, half of whom may be laid up by infirmities? Our recommendation was that instead of the canons being paid £1,000 each, they should have £750, and with the fund thus created we could have three or four men besides, at much lower stipends to undertake diocesan work. I hope we shall get a hearing on this subject. We want many more public men to work in every diocese. What comes of many proposals made at our diocesan conferences? They are suggested and talked about, and acknowledged to be of value, but there is no one with time or power and position to work

This

at them; and so they are dropped, and those who start them are doomed to disappointment and discouragement. We want public men to work for great public objects, and this being one of the prominent wants of the Church, I hope there will be a movement from our cathedrals in this direction, and that in the case of large endowments the money may be allotted so as to secure the work of more men than four or five. I was thankful to hear several speakers say they hope to see greater chapters in action again, and that we may look for much healthful change from within. This commission is rather a shame upon us. It seems to say that we cannot reform ourselves. Have we no consciences? Let members of cathedral bodies meet and consult together as in the presence of God, and I believe we shall come to a conscientious reform brought about by the Spirit of God, independent of cathedral reports and the cathedral commission.

F. J. CANDY, Esq.

I RISE to protest against the multiplication of altars in our cathedrals. One church, one altar, was the principle established at the Reformation. Those who would, if they could, put together the pieces of Nehushtan, piece together the superfluous altars that were then broken down. If any body of churchmen want an altar for themselves, they make themselves into a sect. As long as the Wesleyans came to the parish church for the Sacraments, they were in the church, but when they set up altars for themselves, they then became a sect.

The Right Rev. GEORGE RIDDING, D.D., Lord Bishop of

Southwell.

I WISH to ask what you would do with an entirely open future before you on the subject. I have come into the charge of a new See, and I am attached to a cathedral which is not a centre for my diocese. It is in a village. It is a question whether my cathedral, with all its beauty, can be a centre in the diocese without being in the midst of the people, and is it wise to concentrate on such a place work which will reach so few. It seems to me that in constituting a cathedral, it is worth while to consider whether making a cathedral out of a parish church in a small village is any con tribution to the diocese; whether it is not better to have a new one altogether where it will be most useful, or to do without a cathedral at all, rather than have an existing one which is a hindrance. No one has a greater reverence for a cathedral than I have, but how are we to make a cathedral a centre which is not a centre, and how is a building which is out of reach to be the home of the diocese, and how can we concentrate the diocesan work so as to work up a white heat in a small place? I shall be glad to hear the opinion of this Congress upon the question—What is the proper place on the creation of a new See for the cathedral, to make it the centre of the life of the diocese ?

The Rev. ALEXANDER FRANCIS KIRKPATRICK, Regius Professor of Hebrew at Cambridge, and Canon of Ely.

I WILL not venture to attempt an answer to the bishop's question whether it is altogether wise to choose a church in a village, however noble that church may be, for a cathedral. But as being connected with a cathedral which stands in a small country town, I have often felt the question forced upon me-What is the meaning of this magnificent pile standing where no adequate congregation can be found to fill it? Do not these costly services, carried on day by day, seem to be a waste? And the

answer which comes to my mind for such questionings is just this: For the glory of God. Past ages have left us that splendid monument of their devotion; it would be faithless in us to have it, like a soulless body, without that daily service, maintained in the most stately and solemn way that is practicable. All who look up to its lantern and tower from the great fen plain, can feel that continual intercession is being offered there for the diocese and for the Church at large. I confess I think that it is a valuable protest in these utilitarian days. Then from time to time the cathedral serves a most useful purpose for diocesan gatherings. At the triennial choral festival we have had as many as 1,200 or 1,600 voices, and a vast congregation, filling the whole nave. And might not something more be done to interest churchmen throughout the diocese at large in their cathedral? Bring them to it, and let them learn to know it and to love it. For example, a friend of mine lately brought over a party of 40 or 50 of his communicants, to enjoy the beauty of the building and its services. I spent a most happy afternoon in showing them round, and I am sure they went back to their homes with minds refreshed and elevated, and hearts drawn upwards to contemplate the majesty of Him, to Whose honour, art and architecture offer in such building one of the noblest tributes which human weakness can render

The Right Rev. the PRESIDENT.

CERTAINLY the questions asked by the Bishop of Southwell are important, and one is apt when you see a cathedral in a small place to think it is a pity it is not in a large town, but what Canon Kirkpatrick has said gives us comfort. I recall to my mind as one of the many memories of the past, that when Bishop of Ely I sometimes wished the cathedral was at Cambridge, and yet it was to me very dear. I never saw anything so beautiful as the gatherings which took place there. I can remember my own ordination, and I never was so impressed with the dignity of the cathedral as I was then, yet it was almost a ruin-a grand ruin. That is more than forty-five years ago, but I still remember it quite well. Then when I myself was enthroned as Bishop of Ely the nave was lined with the militia who were then in training, whilst there were 200 or 300 clergy in the choirs; it was one of the finest scenes I ever saw. Then there were magnificent choral services in the cathedral on various occasions, and I am quite sure that the people went back to their homes all over the diocese deeply impressed, and I hope very much edified. Then, again, we had our diocesan conferences, we had gatherings of every kind and sort in and round the cathedral, and all our occasional services were impressive and important. The last occasion I remember was the grandest, being the commemoration of the 1200th anniversary of the abbey. The special services lasted for five days. The cathedral was sometimes crowded with worshippers from the altar to the west door, even the triforium was full, and there was danger of death from the greatness of the crowd. On the Sunday I preached in the morning, Canon Kingsley preached in the afternoon, and the Bishop of Peterborough preached one of his grand sermons to 6,000 souls, his voice penetrating to the utmost limits of the church. On the last day of the five we had a choral festival, again filling the church to its greatest capacity. A cathedral that can do all this is not unimportant even in remote and sparsely populated parts of the country. Canon Kirkpatrick called our attention to the fact that our forefathers were not so practical as we are. However, perhaps, we ought to rejoice that we are a practical people. On the whole I am thankful for the reports of the cathedral commission; for they do seem to offer a most excellent basis for legislation. There are some things in the recommendations I value very much. One is that they would make the cathedral more intimately connected with the bishop. The great fault now is the isolation and separation of the cathedral from the bishop and the diocese. These reports would tend to do away with that. I rejoice in the proposed creation, not only of the greater chapters but also of the diocesan chapters or councils. I know the need of a diocesan council. Every bishop wants council, and the older one grows the more the need is felt. One speaker reminded me that the bishop can take counsel of his chapter, but while he may take counsel of the dean or of some of the canons it is exceedingly difficult to get the opinion of the whole chapter. The chapter, as provided by the Commission, would be of the greatest possible value to the bishop in many ways. I should be delighted to consult such a chapter about all my patronages. Even now I always consult the chapter on the cathedral patronage. Then I am delighted to hear