OPENING OF THE CATHEDRAL SCHOOL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2252, 17 May 1881, Page 3

OPENING OF THE CATHEDRAL SCHOOL.

This school was opened yesterday morning at 9 30 by the Rev. W. H. Elton, precentor of of the Cathedral, and Mr G. H. Merton, the masteV. There were about fifty boys present, of whom from twenty to twenty-four are to be members of the Cathedral choir, and receive their instruction free. These had been chosen on the previous Saturday, after a trial of their voices by Mr H. Wells, the organist of the Cathedral. Nearly forty have offered themselves in all, and some, who are not yet sufficiently qualified, have been chosen os probationers. Of those selected, about one-half have previously been members of parish choirs. It was thought a fitting thing to open the school with a religious ceremony, which took place accordingly yesterday morning, at eleven o’clock, in the presence of the boys and some of their parents. The Bishop, accompanied by the Dean and the Revs. Canon Oottorill, W. O. Harris, and W. H. Elton, entered the schoolroom in their robes at the bour'abovo named, and",when they had taken their places at the upper end of tho room, where Mr H. Wells was already seated at a harmonium near which the newly chosen choristers were ranged, tho Rev. W. H. Elton began to intone the service, beginning with the words, “ In the name of the Father, and of tho Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” Thou was said the Lord’s Prayer, followed by versioles and responses. The 34th psalm was then chanted, after which tho Dean read a short lesson from the Old Testament, Deut. vi, v 4, 10. Hymn 343 (Ancient and Modern) 11 God Eternal, Mighty King,” was then sung, after which a lesson from the New Testament, S. Luke ii., v 40, to tho end, was read by the Dean. Tho jubilate was then chanted, after which tho Apostles’ creed was intoned, fol- I lowed by some collects and special prayers. At tho close of these his Lordship the Bishop addressed a few earnest words to the boys, urging especially those who had been chosen members of the Cathedral choir to endeavor to realise tho privilege and responsibility of their office, and impressing upon all alike that they had been consecrated in their baptism to a holy priesthood, and that they should strive accordingly to keep God in their thoughts, not only in church, but in the school and the playground also, and to honor him iby leading a life of Christian love and godliness. Hymn 163 “ Three in one and one in three,” was then sung, after which the Bishop pronounced the benediction.