CATHEDRAL GUILD.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1344, 5 June 1878, Page 2

CATHEDRAL GUILD.

A meeting of the Cathedral Gfuild was held last night in the College Library. The Ven. Dean of Christchurch presided, and there was a very good attendance, notwithstanding the unfavorable weather. The proceedings began with the usual devotional exercises. The Chairman, in his opening remarks, regretted that the weather prevented the assembly being, as it otherwise would have been, the largest yet brought together. He called upon Mr Mountfort to detail what progress had been made with the Cathedral. Mr Mountfort produced the ground plan of the Cathedral, and pointed out upon it how far the work had gone. Seven columns were now built, the eighth was all but executed, and but for the bad weather would have been built. Two of the arches were upraised, and a considerable amount of the work already ordered was done. In six weeks time all the stone work of the arches between the pillars would be built up to the spandrils. The clerestory would have to bo completed before the roof be begun. Considerable delay was caused by the size of the stones, which bad to be brought from a quarry somewhat difficult of access. The weight of the stones was as much as one and a half tons in some cases ; many were 18 cwt. Mr Mountfort showed sketches of the ornamentation which might be worked upon the stone. He believed the commission intended to carry out, the whole design as far as the first four arches. They would want the filling in of the west end, which would bo nearly wholly occupied with the rose window. He would be glad to receive directions to go on with that window now, as he had fourteen of the best workmen in town at present engaged, but would be compelled to discharge some if he did not proceed with t e window. Tho window would be twenty-threefeetin diameter. He had all the materiel. Two-thirds of the nave it was proposed to roof in, but lie thought it was a’piiy that the Commission should he unable to roof in the whole of tiro nave. The Chairman regretted (hot he could not say what funds were in hand. He had expected that the treasurer would have been present. The Commission had determined to propose to the G-uild to make the rose window the next work. When the public saw this beautiful window they would be encouraged to increased contributions. The Chairman then reported that he had

succeeded in adding eleven members to the Guild since the last meeting. . The Rev. Mr Bowen said he had obtained twelve new members. The Chairman then, on behalf of the Commission, moved—“ That the next work undertaken by the Guild at the Cathedral shall be the rose window, after column and arch No. 1 have been paid for.” The Rev. Mr Stack seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to. _ t A very pretty quartette, (l God is a Spirit, having been sung, The Rev, De Berdt Hovell then delivered an address, taking as his subject the death of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas A’Becket. The circumstances which led to the Archbishop’s murder were briefly alluded to, and the details of the crime, as given by the old chroniclers, were graphically described. This was followed by an equally graphic description of the penance performed by King Henry two years after A’Becket’s The address concluded with a summary of the character of the Archbishop, in which the lecturer agreed with Hume in the opinion that A’Becket was a man who, according to his light, had tried to do his best. Mr Hovell added a few words expressing his gratitude to his friends in Christchurch, whom he regretted that he was about to leave. The Chairman, in moving a vote of thanks, expressed his regret at the departure of Mr Hovell, and assured him of the good wishes of his Canterbury friends. He (the chairman) was glad to know that Mr Hovell would not leave New Zealand. The meeting accorded the vote of tnanks by acclamation. The duet, “ O Lovely Peace, having been sung, The Rev. Mr Stack read Nathaniel Parker Willis’s poem, “The Leper.” A vote of thanks to Mr Stack and to the lady and gentlemen who had contributed to the musical selections having been cordially given, the meeting closed in the usual manner.