WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 556, 10 July 1909, Page 9

WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

The Dean of Westminster's refusal to find a place for George Meredith's ashes in the Abbey Church has brought down upon him a storm of indignation (says tho "Church' Times"). The matter has even been brought before" Parliainent by two members, in whose opinion the time has come for transferring the right of deciding who may bo buried •in the Abbey Church from the Dean and Chapter to the State. One. of the members' in question gave it as a reason: for the change that the Abbey has developed into the "national Valhalla." U'e confess that our . feeling in the matter js of a mixed character. Undoubtedly, the sentiment of the place is infinitely deepened by tho association with it of names that are famous in our national annals. On the other hand the senseless lumbering of one of tho noblest buildings* in Christendom with pretentious monuments, by which process it has developed, as we are told, into a national Valhalla, is a thing that cannot too greatly be deplored, and wo should much rejoice if, the present stir over the .Meredith* case were to revive the efforts made a few years ago to provide a now shelter for the statuary, and funeral masonry that disfigure and block that glorious* building. \ We would further suggest that the question whether a man is worthy of a restingplace in the Abbey should not be decided immediately he is dead., . Tho question Is as broad as it is- lon#. An error of judgment is possible in either direction, that of refusal or that of consent. Would it not be well in future to wait'for the verdict of a few years later? Some measure of the delay involved in the process of, canonisation should be required in the bestowal of the last honour th&t England has to give to those who have deserved well of hel' by their services.