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militia band, wpeciallg the drnmmers, with the ordinary
singers of the cathedral staff, some of whom took the +lo
parts, and with a volunteer chorus of young men and women,
a very plwing and impressive performance of the greatest of
oratorios wag given. What was wanting in the skill of the
singem, or power and technical correctness of the orchestra
and chorus, was far more than made up by the loveliness of
the octagon dome beneath which it took place. The performance
was preceded by a short service, the congregation
joining in the hymns and responses, nnd by a brief address.
Afany hundrsds of people attended, including palpable dusty
labourers, railway porters, engine drivers, militiamen, and
people of all ranks, It is not my purposo in this book to
enter upon theological nor oven religious topics, SO that I
can only speak of such performances from a layman's point
of view. But in any case I find it difficult to imagine
how the House of God can be desecrated by pure and
sacred music, the deepest products of feeling of the mind.
The cathedral churches of England have long been in a
may the national schools of music, but I trust that they will
do more and more in this way for the future. And I do not
see why evory considerable parish iu tho kingdom should not
have its musical society, for the cultivation of high class and
principally sacred music.
There is no place which needs the means of pure recreation
more than the East End of London, and I may venture to
suggest that an admirable opportunity for making the first
experiment there exists ready at hand in the Columbia, Market.
It is sad to pass through tho beautiful but deserted arcades of
this intended market, and then discover a magnificent Gothic
hall, occupied only by a few old chairs and tables, which Beem
as if they were forgotten alike by dealers and purchasers.
The Baroness Burdett Coutts would amply retrieve her one
grab failure if she could be persuaded to make this nobIe
bailding into model place of recreation for the East of
London. Slight alterations would convert the market hd
into an excefient music gallery, where some of our social
shonld be allowed to provide good but simple