CATHEDRAL GUILD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2007, 30 July 1880, Page 3

CATHEDRAL GUILD.

The College Library was crowded I ait night to hear Mr Neville G. Barnett’s lecture on “Choral Service.” The Very Beverend the Dean o£ Christchurch, who occupied the chair, opened the proceedings by conducting a short service suitable to the occasion. In the course of his introductory remarks, the Dean informed the members of the Guild that he expected the tower of the Cathedral would be finished in time to be opened at the same time as the nave. He also stated that he expected to hear definitely about the organ by the incoming mail, which if now in the colony, and that there was a rumor that a peal of bells were to be presented by some person or persona for the Cathedral. Mr Neville O. Barnett, F. 0.0., then delivered a lecture on the “Choral Service.” After a careful analysis of the rubrical directions in the Prayer Book, the lecturer sketched the history of the growth of Church music. The various objections to choral worship were .next carefully considered and exhaustively argued, following upon which a great amount of favorable testimony was instanced. Speaking of the power of music, he entered at some length into what ho termed its “ psychology,” defining its nature and influence, and showing its value in connection with religion. Different methods of choral responses were mentioned and advised upon, in the course of which some interesting illustrations of the old way of writing music, with the melody in the tenor part, were given. The ferial responses, as arranged by Mr Barnett himself, were especially worthy of notice as well as of general adoption, since they were evidently a genuine endeavor to arrange Church music upon the truest principles of expression. The remaining part of the lecture dealt in a practical manner with the other chief parts of Church music, and contained many suggestions of practical value, which were evidently the result of extensive experience as well as study. The lecture, though rather long, wag sufficiently interesting to retain the attention of the audience, and the well chosen illustrations were effectively sung by a choir of ladies and gentlemen. A vote of thanks was carried unanimously amid applause.