The National Register. — London, England, 1813-11-28 00:00:00

E NA 766 — ?s=-~ . • . . THE WATcHMA.N. r~ :r~s No. 4. • • Piluit of the Nigh, ? Ye can discern the face of the sky ; but, eon ye not discern the Signs of the s •• • • BIBLE. ABUSES IN THE CHORAL REGIME OF ST. PACL'S CATHEDRAL. Nothing is considered as insignificant when connected !'. with subjects in ctrl mselyes of mornert. It is upon this prin ciple, that the attention of the readers of these papers is so licited on the pre,ent occasion, though the subject itself is , of more importance than super tidal spectators would sup- I pose, and calls for the inquisitorial investigation of those . whom it wiil be found mme immediately to affect. Three years have nearly elapsed, since an intelligent and estimable Lady, strange as it may seem, set herself to ex . pose certain abuses in the Choral Regime of the Cathedral of our Metropolis ; and she has, during the • whole of this period, bboured incessantly, although hitherto withont suc cess, to obtain some remedy for the evils she was the first to detect and point out. bindin g her efiln is to be fruitless. eltilc imploringly heard, she has, at length, made a firm appeal to the law, exchanged the language of remonstrance for proceedings in Chancery, and is determined to bring the question of these al:uses to an issue. It would he most dis ingelltlOU', on the part of the present writer, .to, nomr to deprive such an informar,t, ecpeciatly whz.n her sex is consi dered, of the ercoirt tO which such illy be en. titled, by attesting to - conceal the source to which the Public is indebted for the commooteatHit of this day.* " Surrounded as the Church is known to be," ol,serves this,.Lady, " with spies upon her conduct, iinpogners of her Ir ceremonies, and enviers of her possessions, is it a time to give cause of triumph to the watchful enemies of the Pic rarely, by permitting any apparent neglect of duty Adverting to the latte:ly ,neglected state 4'f the Choristers t l of St. Paul's Cathedral, paqicularly respecting education, II we :re a•Ftired bv 'her, that, notwithstanding such negli• li Fence, the Founders and Benefactors of their Ancient School made every requisite provision, statutes and ample !I endowments, to render thene Poem fire*ov;,..wtri e 4 ary en •af ter the Metnbers of thefhoir ceased to exi.t as a Commit- I pity) wcut! y - of admission into the hallowed pa's; beinz provided for by ondowineurs resting on the szine authority with .those from which the Digoltaries of the Cathedral de sive their own emolument. "The sublime, the celestial effect of Cuoftiso SERV ice," continues Miss Hackett, " de pends almost entirely upon the abilities and the behaviour of the'Vr cal Performers, among whom these poor neglected Children hold a conspicuous place; while a very trifling sa critiee on the par t of the Chapter might restore the Choi is to such a degree of respectability as would be cons'st ent with the angelic service they cei form, and would not sully the sacred robe they we.tr. If," she here adds, "it be recollected what an immense Revenue is appropriatcd to'St. I Paul's Cathedra!, and from which the pubic have oo return f except the per for - mance of the Service, will it not he thoroAt indispensable to lender that bery ice as-impressive and solemn as possible ?" Every thing in r'cferern to religion should be holy. Not only must the priests of the. temple hie consecrated to the divine office, but all who : , ssist in its service shoold he sera rate for this-end, where even the vessels themselves are de-•1 dicatcd to their shec•ifie use. It is not without gri.!f, there fore, that affec;ionate adhcreuts to our ectlestic.►l. etlablish-; . .. AL REC N merit will learn the. deplorable. condition of the Chorister Children of - our Metropolitan Cathedral, • for some 'Years past. instead of their forming part of the Dean's house hold, as in the better ages of the church, being likewise in those times maintained and educated from the funds (.:f their richly-endowed cathedral, it now appears that many of these children are dismissed to reside :V a_considerable (Its• tance from their church, and from their Singing-Master ; and, to remunerate' kini 'for his *trouble, are, sad to tell, hired out to. p.ub!ic concerts, abandoned to walk the streets at midnight, and find their own home as .they are able. While a great part of their time is consumed in loitering about the strect.:;,. h ;ring no one to call them to account ; stiil, provided they appear in their places at the, hour erf service, no thought is bestowed on their conduct duriiig the remain der of the day. " What elect this vagabond life," says Miss H. " at so early an age, is likely to have upon their morals, in most instances, may be cash imagined !" Nor has their eduction been cultivated with more care. Al though their board and education, together wit h cont ingeucies, were anciently provided for, out of eslates more than axle- . _ . (rate to these ends, yet now, except that they attend a Singing-Master for the requisite lessor's to enable them get through the Choral Service, and that they arc 4.uminoned to respeat their Catt•chism, some few times in the year, these poor Children arc kept without instruction ! " It is very probable," subj.)ins our fair writer, " the Chapter may con sider that they have made better bargains with the Bo)s' rents; but justice, humanity, nay Religion - herself', calii upon their .Reveten , l Guatdians, responsible in some mea cure for their principles and conduct through life, to place; them in the same situation in which they Were left at the- Reformation." . How lamentable, in the mean time, is the predicament in which tilde ' infant Servants' of our Cathedral Church are placed, contrasted with their . circumstances in former times—when their Precentor and Soccentor were held re spitrisib!e for their musical attainments; when their Music- Master stood charged to watch over their moral conduct, as well as their professional skill; when two Cardinals. also superintended their conduct, together with that of their Masters, observed their deportment while chaunting, other wise instructed them in their religious duties, and reported their progress to the Chapter ; When they were educated by the Catheral Schoolmaster, at St. Paul's School ; and when, so scrupulously were they guarded, a careful Conductor was appointed to attend their walks, even in going to school ! It may afford sonic satisfaction to us to reflect, how ever, that the neglected situation of the Children of St. Paul's Choir presents not one of those many evils which it is useless to deplore, be c aus e it is impossible. they ghoul(' he remedied ; but that, on the contrary, there• is every reason to believe in the practicability of restoring*, them to something like their plist.ine state :. for, it seei;ns, " the right of the Abbey-Choristers to their education at Westminster School was, likewise,, become nearly extinct, but has lately been recovered for them by the laudable and unremitting exertions of their Music Master," since which event the different character and appearance of the children is such as to impart. the must lively satisfaction .to those who have witne•sed the change. . . Religious education is of the first importance to all rams of society, but it is absolutely' indispernible to those who arc desi gne.! to be occupied, more or less, in religioUs sert vices. While " the sublime effect of our ChOral Service" .I so much depends on. 44 the infant Servants of the Church," put of whose mouths, although but-bab es and sucklings, %re ' perfect praise, s;i11, for any thing we kuowi the Chorister .. ' • : . 1