EXTRACTS.

Auckland Times, Volume 2, Issue 92, 15 October 1844, Page 1

EXTRACTS.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE SONS OF THE CLERGY. The great anniversary Festival, as it is termed, of the "Sons of the Clergy/'' was commemorated yesterday afternoon in St. Paul's Cathedral. Of late years this annual celebration has generally constituted a sort of episode in the metropolitan spring season, inas much as, independently of the claims of the charity itself upon public patronage and support, great numbers have always been attracted ——a* some to charrh repair, Not to bear doctrine, but the music there. by the pompous programme of sacred compositions which were usually performed on these occasions. It has even been said that at this festival only was a fair opportunity afforded to the lovers of ecc'esiastical music of hearing the celebrated Dettingen «'Te Deum"' of Handell, which has, hitherto, always been one of the stockpieces at the anrual performance in St, Paul's. Be this, however, as it may, we sincerely rejoice that the practice of converting our cathedrals into sacred concert-halls has been abandoned by the friends of this charity, and is gradually falling into desuetude elsewhere ; highly gratify ing is it, moreover, to be enabled to attribute this fact in a great degree to the improved spirit of the age in reference to matters of religion. Such was the case yesterday. No longer were the public compelled to adopuhe

alternative of remaining excluded from the Cathedral during the com memoration, or obtaining a passport through the instrumentality of their purses ; but they were freely allowed to enter without the disagreeable preliminary of paying for admittance ; ion was etit of the charity after divine service, according to the ordinary custom pur' sued in ah our established churches Again, instead of a formal programme of sacred riiusic being announced for the purpose of attracting the multitude, the performances were confined to a full choral service, accompanied only by the magnificent organ, which rolled its rich volumes of sound into the remotest recesses of the noble edifice. In short, we had the simple, but solemn, cathedral service in all its venerable beauty, and the effect of- our sublime and sacred choral harmony in such a place and on such an occasion may be easily imagined by those who are in the habit of frequenting cathedrals.

At a quarter before three o'clock the doors of the. Cathedral were thrown open to the public, and, as the great bell struck the hour, divine service commenced. Amongst the more distinguished portion of those assembled we remarked His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, K. G., (who attended the festival for the ninth time.) his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of Armagh, the Bishop of London, the Right Hon. the I ord Mayor, Mr. Sheriff Moon, Mr. ■ iusgrove,.' the Recorder, many other civic dignitaries. The ant- ems after the lessons were Att« wood's " t'antate Domino," and " Deus Misereatur" (both in D); the anthem after the collect was Green's" "I will sing,"" and that before the sermon, Puree IPs " O, give thanks !" The Rev. H. Mellville then ascended the pulpit and delivered a most eloquent and highly impressive sermon in support of the charity, from the' 50th chapter of Isaiah, verse 4 ; in the course of which the reverend preacher commended the abolition of the orchestral accompaniments hitherto used on the festival days. Croft's chorus (Isaiah xh\ 6.) was then chanted ; and the Bishop of London having pronounced the blessing, the congregation dispersed at about half-past five o'clock. The attendance was very numerous indeed, and we, therefore, hope that the pecuniary interests of the charity may not have suffered in consequence of their wise and prudent concession to the recent expressions of public opinion in reference to the discontinuance of the practice already mentioned.