MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1126, 13 May 1911, Page 9

MUSIC.

(Br Tkedlb CLEr.) Kichtcr's Retirement. Though the air is filled with tho report of Dr. Hans Riehters retirement (says the London "Daily Telegraph") it will rejoice the hearts of his admirers to hear that his retirement, at present, at any rate, is to bo confined to tho concert platform. For Dr. Richter is to be conductor-in-chief of tho season of German opera to be held at Covcnt Garden in tho autumn, under the auspices of the Royal Opera Syndicate, and, further, the great musician purposes to make his home in England, and no doubt will aiford his admirers many a further opportunity of hearing his reading of "Der Ring," "Tristan and Isolde," and, above all, "Die Meistersinger"—all in English, perhaps, as well as "in German. The news cannot but be welcome to all who have the interests of opera in this country at heart, for truly there is but one Hans Richter. A Sensitlvo Piano. A piano-tuner employe.! by a city firm was sent to a certain suburb to tune a piano. He found tho instrument in good condition and not in the least need of attention. A few days later tho firm received a letter from the owner of tlio piano, a lady of musical intention, saying that the piano had not been properly tuned. It was no better than before. 'Aft ■: rccoivi.v-; a reprimand from his employer, the hapless tuner made another trip to the suburbs, and apain tested every note, only to luid as before no fault with the instrument. This time he told the lady so. "Yes," she said, "it docs seem all rfcht, doesn't it?—when you play on it—but as soon as I begin to sing it gets all out of tune again."—"Exchange." Notes. A big German sinning festival is to be held at Philadelphia (U.S.A.), from Juno 29 t;i July -I next year. It will be the twcntv-tliird National Sacugerfest of the North-eastern Sacnserbunil of America. Mr. Charles Lcencq, well known as a writer of li«lit opera, dird in iho Island of Guernsey recently. His hcslkiiown works wimt '"La fillo do Mine. Angol' , and "Girolle-Girofla. ,, His operas attnined world-wide popularity in their dnj.

RELiQIOUS ACTIVITY.

UNION OF "HE CHURCHES,

THE CONGREGATIONAL lOINT OF

VI.KW

At (he half-yearly meeting of tho Congregational Union of New South Wales, which has just concluded its sittings, the question of the union of the Protestant Churches —Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational—was strongly commented upon by Rev. M. L. Johnson, of B.ihnain, while speaking on "Organic Church union on the definite baf.is of a errodal standard, and the establishment of a system of Church courts, having special reference to tho doctrinal statement drawn up by the committee." The .sneaker said that in contrast with the simplicity of the Apostles' Creed, which left room for life and growth, tho new creed, as proposed, was as modern as a still-born babe, and as lifeless. It aimed at a precision consistent with nothing but menial paralysis. It covered up tho red-hot embers of controversy with a few ashes, and invited Congrcgationalists to sit down upon them. It was wide enough to shelter all the unclean birds of the air, and yet narrow enough to exclude some of the saintliest and most effective servants of Christ. It was a patchwork creed, built up on compromise, and expediency could never bo the basis of permanent agreement between the Churches. .Further, in the interpretation of creed, the worst were the judges of the best. A good man might bo judged by a few who were skilful in controlling and dominating a popular assembly. In tho past this sort of thing had led to the rejection of men like Robertson, Dr. M'Leod Campbell, Dr. Morrison, F. D. Maurice, and others, and in a like manner by this proposed crccdal standard Isaac Watts and Phillip Doddridgo would bo rejected. Even worse tilings than these were possible. There was tho disturbance of devout souls summoned to defend their faith before a Church Court, tho silencing of men who had the prophetic gitt. and also the intimidation of others." ff it be said men wore more tolerant, this is largely because them is so little positive belief, and many aro tolerant of others because they themselves sit loosely to their creedal obligations. But the most serious danger of all was that at the present time they never know when some now scientific conception as farreaching as that of evolution might arise at any time and cause great disturbance whilo it was being assimilated. Should they take paii in erecting a standard of doctrine which shon'd forbid a now world to be born, and, while ineffectual, increase:] the anguish of the birth pangs? Further, there was the undoubted fact that there vfcra many aspects of Christian truth awaiting expression and development, and no hindrance to this must be permitted. It must bo made impossible for a Christian man to bo excluded from the Christian Church before consent could be given to a union with other Churches. These statements led to a spirited controversy among the clergymen and laity, who expressed views ' botb in favour and against the sentiment. , ! given voice to by Rev. Johnson in his remarks. NEW CHURCH AT NAZARETH. AN- INTERESTING DISCOVERY. A correspond mt travelling in the Holy Land writes to tho "Tablet" (London) from Cass Nova, Nazareth: "It will bo of interest to many of your readers who hav-i visited the iioly Land to li-arn that on March 19 of this year Holy Mass was celebiated again in the. crypt of the new church of St. Joseph which tho good Franciscans aro erecting on the original foundations of the ancient church mentioned in the treatise, on tho Holy Places of tho sixth century, and also by Arculf—and commonly called the Church of tho Nutrition or House of St. Joseph. Destroyed in the eighth century, it was rebuilt by the Crusaders, and tho good Fathers of St. Francis, after years of waiting, have at length been able to acquire the site, and alter removing the Moham--1 medan, houses hav.> been rewarded by the discovery of the lower layers of a beautiful church of Roman architecture with two apses and three naves 05 feet long by 4$ feet bruad. They have also discovered the cistern montior.cd by early pilgrims to which a channel once conducted tho waters from the 'Virgin Fountain' —a crypt in tho rock said by tradition to have formed a part of St. Joseph's house, and above it a cistern paved with early mosaic, to which a few steps give access. The new church follows the lines of tho ancient one, and whether or not tho site be identical ■ with tho placo whore Jesus lived and worked—at least tlio Catholic world will hero again join hands with the early Church in perpetuatinq; devotion to tho early life of our Divine Saviour." A SPUROGON JUBILEE. SOME MEMORIES OF SOUTH LONDON TABERNACLE. The late C. 11. Spnrgcon and his great work at the Metropolitan Tabernacle were held in special remembrance in iUarch, 'when the jubilee of the opening of tile famous church was celebrated. Although tho church as an organisation dates back to 1052, the present" building can only boast an existence of fifty years, having been opened on March 18, lSu'l, amid scenes unprecedented in tho history oi tho London Baptists. Tho building cost £31,000, and was opened free of debt. It was gutted by firo in 1893, and restored at a cost of £45,000. Ono of Spurgeon's most valued colleagues, Mr. I V. J. Charlesworth, tho Superintendent of the Stockwcll Orphanage, has given some of his reminiscences to a representative of the "Daily News." "Mr. W. E. Gladstone came several times to hear Mr. Spurgeoti," ho said, "and I well remember when the great statesman stayed at the close of one of tho services to have a personal talk witli the preacher. I. took Mr. Gladstone to Mr. Spurgeon's private vestry, and they held a long and animated conversation." "Lord Roseberj was present on ono occasion," continued Mr. Charlesworth, "and I have a distinct recollection of President Garfield, of the United States, sitting in rapt attention at the feet of tho preacher. One of Mr. Spurgeon's most treasured letters was from the widow of tho murdered President. Mrs. Garfield wrote: 'It is a choice treasure from my storehouse of beautiful memories that I sat beside General Garfield in the Tabernacle one bright summer Sunday morning in 1807, and listened to your voice. I have this morning re-read from his journal his account of that day.' "Wo have had some of tho most famous speakers of the day on the Tabernacle platform. It was here that Mr. John "Bright gave his celebrated oration on religious equality at the Liberation Society's meeting, and two or three years later Mr. Joseph Chamberlain gavo a. stirring speech on the samo subject. Two of the greatest orators of 'their day—Mr. .1. B. Gnugh and Henry Vincent—lectured there to crowded audiences. "When tho first building was destroyed in IS9S 1. was the first to discover tlirtt tlio fire had broken nut in the north-west corner. The annual conference of tho Pastors' College was ill session, and [ was in charge, of the rnmmir.sariat department. The fire, broke out behind the wood panelling in the gallery, and I saw that tho building was doomed, for the wood was old and dry. In two hours it was comDletelj jzutted.' l

Tlio church was roonencd on Sepleml)or 10, I'M, free from debt. "The most impressive ?cones I have witnessed in the Tabernacle were associated witli tlio death and burial of Mr. Spiirgpon. Services of various kinds were held for a whole, week. About 60,000 persons walked through the Tabernacle in one day to view tlio coffin, and on the day of tho interment thn funeral procession extended for miles, and publicans put up black shutters on their windows."

AUSTRALIAN METHODISM

WELCOMES AXD FAREWELLS,

During the nast few weeks tho air of Australian Methodism has been full of welcomes and farewells (says the "Southern Cross" of April 28). Throughout the various States scores of ministers have been transferred to now spheres of labour. To their children, no doubt, the experience of transit and of settling in another homo has been one of immense delight; they have revelled in tlio excitement and joy of travel, and have found tho now parsonages to bo fine fields of exploration, yielding joy upon joy of curious discovery. They have had tho gladness of surprise to tho full, .and have felt shock after shock of the quivering pleasures which their entry into now conditions has provided. It is uoon tho ministers' wives that tho system boars the hardest. To arrange for tho "nitting" from tho old home, and to direct tlio process of "staling down" in tho new One, is a double task making largo demand upon domestic skill and resource. In many a parsonage tired and bravo and cheerful women will reflect with comfort that tho "remove" is through once more. As for tho ministers, after tho varied toil of packing, and the strain of personal good-byes and farewell gatherings—in which they probably have listened to some astonishing and heartening things concerning themselves and their ministry—they have now to meet tho ordeal of facing the new congregations, and begin again. Yes, aaain. Therein is tho sadness and tho wisdom of the'system. As far as it affects tho ministers, perhaps the philosophy of the situation can best be summed up in tho colloquialism, "Better to go when they want you to stay, than to stay when they want you to go."