THE CATHEDRAL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2102, 18 November 1880, Page 4

THE CATHEDRAL.

TO TEE KDITOB OV THB PBB3S. Bib, —In yesterday's issue of your paper •under heading " The Cathedral," is a letter from " Onlooker " regarding the rumored appointment of a " minor Canon." I know not whether any such appointment has yet been raada or confirmed, though, like your correspondent, I have also heard that the dhoioo of a "Preoentor " or "Minor Canon" boa been made ; but it appears to me a moat unheard of proceeding to question and cast reflections (especially in a newspaper) upon the action taken presumably by the Bishop and Dean, with concurrence of the Chapter. Surely if the Bishop or Dean have acted in tho tvutocratic manner that " Onlooker " ascribes to them, it ia not for the publio but for tho Chapter to question their proceedings, and I must add that it does soem to me to be in the worst possible tasto to draw an unfriendly inforence, without having first proved that the foundation on which the inference is drawn is true. There are no doubt hundreds among us who look forward with pleasure to the opening of the Cathedral, and who wish power in preaching to be the rule there, rather than the exception. We all of us prefer to listen to an eloquent preaoher, rather than to an indifferent one, but we should be falling into a lamentable error if we considered the success or failure of the Cathedral depended upon the preaoher'o powers. The writer of the letter in question evidently overlooked the faot that prooohing, however good and to be desired, is far from being the fcighost part of the service. I would also re.mind "Onlooker" that unless the minor Canon has very different duties allotted to him here to those attached to our Cathedrals at home, he will seldom if ever be heard as a preaoher. His duties as " minor Canon" and "Preoentor" will consist Bolely in intoning tho services, while to him will probably also belong the training of the choristers and lay olerks, and no doubt the general supervision of the choir will rest upon him, subject to the direction of the Doan. The Bishop, Dean, «nd Canons will of course be the* regular prcaohers, though I believe opportunity is to fca given to every licensed clergyman in the diocese of preaching in the Mother Churoh once in every year. I cannot but think that this is opening the doors of our Cathedral too wide in thus admitting all indiscriminately, whether good or indifferent preachers. I would greatly profer the Bishop or Dean and Chapter making choice of select preaohcrs. Their duties would be the sama as those who bear the title of honorary oanons in England. Yours, &0., Otttsideb. November 16th.