SINGING IN CHURCH

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 487, 9 July 1890, Page 2

SINGING IN CHURCH

Attending service not long ago in an elegant church edifice where they worship God with taste in. a highly aAthetic manner, says an exchange, the choir began that Scriptural poem. ■ that compares Solomon with the lilies, of the field, somewhat to the former’s advantage. Although never possessing a great admiration for Solomon, still a pang of pity for him was left when tlie choir, after expressing unbounded admiration for tlie lilies of tlie field, which it is doubtful if they ever observed, very closely, began to tell t|io congregation, through tiie voice of the soprano, “ that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed.” Straightway the soprauo was reinforced by the bass, who declared that Solomon was most decidedly emphatically not arrayed —was not arrayed. Then the alto ventured it as her opinion that Solomon was not arrayed when the tenor, without a moment’s hesitation, as if it had been officially announced, proclaimed that “ lie was not "ai'rayed.” Then when the feelings of the congregation had been harrowed up sufficiently and Our sympathies all aroused for poor Solomon, whose numerous wives ullowed him to go about in such a fashion even in that climate, the choir altogether j in a most cool and composed manner, informed us that the idea they intended to convey was that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed “like one of these.” These what ? So long a time had elapsed since they sang of the lilies that the thread was entirely* lost, and by “these” one naturally concluded that the choir was designated ! Arrayed like one of these? We’should think not, indeed ! Solomon in a Prince Albert or cutaway coat ? Solomon with an eyeglass or moustache, his hair cut pompadour ? No, most decidedly. Solomon in the very zenith of his glory was nut arrayed like one of these.

Despite the experience of the morning, the hope still remained that in the eveniug a scored song might be sung in a manner that would not excite our risibilities, or leave the impression that we had been listening to a case of blackmail. But again off started the nimble soprano with the very laudable though rather startling announcement “ I will wash." Straightway the alto, not to be outdone, declared she would wash. Arid the tenor finding it to be the thing, warbled forth that he would wash. Then the deep chested basso, us though calling up all his fortitude for the plunge,belle wed forth the stern resolve that he also would wash. Next a short interlude on the organ, strongly suggestive of escaping sj.tpyir, orjsplash of the waves, :after which t'lie 'efjtfir individually arid; collectively asserted the firm unshaken resolve that they would wash. At lasc they solved the problem that they proposed to VVaifli their hands in innocency, so will the altai of the'Loid he compassed.”

VICTORIAN ? . V. : d- ■ Tub /ollowing is a cou..-. ... .... ; the-,- New'. Victorian Ib> summary has been prejutAll residents in the Colony and upwards are elicildo for ;• afforded in the following case- : - 1. Desertion for, three years or more . husband or wife. 2. Habitual Drunkenness, with ern- A iind neglect, by husband or wife. 3. Imprisonment for three -years -m upwards under commiited'st.ntence capital crime by a husband or wife. 4. Frequent conviction for crime (on part of husband- o-nly) -during past five years, leaving, as,.a sequence, the wife unsupported. 5. A conviction within past year of attempted murder of eiflier party by the other. 6. A conviction within, past year of an assault with intent to indict grievious bodily harm. 7. On proof (otherwise than by legal conviction) of repeated assaults by either party upon the other. 8. On proof of adultery by either party since date of marriage, and of passing of the late Act. Cases may be heard in Chambers, and if heard in Court, the Judge has power to forbid publication ot the evidence. As to No. 8 in this list, both parties are, for the first time placed on an equal footing, THE SUPREMACY OF LONDON ' .IN DANGER. It may seem incredible to most people that London.with its five million inhabitants should be in danger of falling from its present superiority over the other great cities of the world. In our own day it seems hardly reasonable to suppose that it ever will so fall. But it is rot at all impossible that before another century has passed, London will only be the second city of the British Empire. The completion of the Manchester Ship canal will work wonders throughout the district which lies between the city and Liverpool. From Liverpool to Manchester will run continuous quays, on which will be discharged and loaded merchandise from all parts ol tlie woild. Around tbesequayswill spring up streets, squares, manufactories, mills, offices—all that goe». to make a great city. It will be impossible to say where Liverpool begins or Manchester ends. This- vast city will be the greatest and richest ever known to the wot Id—at any rate, since history began. Some people may laugh at this ns mere foolishness But let us turn to statistics, which, like all other facts, are awkward things to set aside. 'I be present population of Manchester and Salford is over 600,000 ; the population of Liverpool, i? .nearly 000,000. A long the 1 i ue* of the Ship Canal .are ' crowded ci<nttoo of-'industry, which help," to sftell tile iuinibers i trim mean degree. • It may safely' be sail that the. present population -between, and including,-' Liverpool and Manchester,, is'-two millions. Now, iiu one will deny that with the completion of the//nip.Canal this imm.ber 'iv’ili be 'largely-.increased. v And how will the extra population increase ? Let us ttnn to statistics again. ■ The entire population’of Middlesex, in 1801 was 845.,0b0 ; in' 18.51, it was 1, 1 86,000-; in 1881 it wits' 3,ooo,Out)’' The population of London (Middlesex and Surrey sides) Ul-TBS-1 was 2,0uu,00 ; it is now 5,000,000. The population of Lancashire in TBOT was 600.000 ; it is now close upon 4,000,000, Granted a great influx of trade to the Liverpool-Mnn-ehester-Canal district, the present population will increase from 2,000,000 to 10,000,000. And the trade will not he wanting. There is no place in the., whole world so well fitted in every 'way- to become the centre of the commercial universe as the district under notice. London, compared to it, is out of the way. To the Liver-pooi-Mauchesfer of the future will ruii all the great railways Of the world, and all the great shipping lines will have their home in its midst. Gigantic docks and storehouses,such as engineers hardly dream of, will open out from the canal. It Is within an hour’s run of the great woollen district, within three hours of all the great coal and mineral fields. A great line of steamers, specially constructed, will bring in every hour of the day the produce of America to be distributed amongst the teeming millions of Europe. A great Trans-Continental line of railway will pass From it across England, through the Channel Tunnel, across Europe, and over the Russian Empire, into the farthest bounds of many millioned China ami India. The names Liverpool and Manchester will have to tie abolished, and the new city called Metropolis.

It may he that London will always remain tlie home of arts and sciences, and that politics will still find a resting place at Westminster. London will be our historic city—the city of culture, fashion, and intellect. But whoever lives long enough will find that the great city on the banks of the Mersey wiil be the commercial city of the future.—Tit Bits.