The Express.
London, England, 1855-08-13 00:00:00

PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL.

We have great pleasure in giving extended pub-
licity to the following letter, which has been addressed to
the Northampton papers:
" me to call your attention to the following
circumstances, of which I was a gratified spectator:—On
Monday last (July 30) the cathedral of Peterborough pre-
sented as appearance such as as not often shown. There was a
great gathering of temperance societ'es in the city, and the
dean and cheptes, at the request of the managers, had post-
posed the morning service from 10 to 11, in order that
visitors by the special trains might have the opportunity of
attending the cathedral, if so disposed. The result was
that every seat in the choir was filed, and every corner
erowded, and cotta forms so blocked up the floor that a
pilaw weld scarcely be gained for the Dean and Canon
Peathwhen they went to the lectern to read the lesson,.
There must have been at least 800 people in the choir and
galleries, and an equal number in the nave and aisles.
Though many bad never heard cathedral service
before, some probably never been within a church,
as the use of the Prayer Book seemed to porde
theta, yet the conduct of the congregation, on the
whole, was mast becoming and decorous. The music was
appointed by the Dean appropriate for the °coulee, and on
the suggestion and selection of the managers of the meeting
themselves. They showed much judgment in their choice,
and though the anthems were very long, the excelleat per-
formance of the choir, in full strength, rivetted the atten-
tion of all present, and in ' Contort ye my people,' and the
' Hallelujah Chorus,' must have raised the hearts of the
dullest and the coldest. In the ' Old !Landreth,' which was
also sung, the great body of the people joined ; many had
brought their Prayer-books, some their music. The atten-
tion of the vergers and other officials in offering places and
books was very noticeable, as being so thntrary to the re-
ceived notion of such person', and as showing how soon the
spirit of obligingness and wish to accommodate may be made
to pervade a whole body when once heartily adopted in
bead quarters. The same may be remarked of the choir,
who evidently were animated with the desire of giving
the best affect to the part assigned them. la the afternoon
the cathedral was almost equally crowded; the people join-
ing is the Evening Hymn, the only inconvenience arising
from want of sufficient room. Had benches been placed in
the nave, a far greater number might have been accommo-
dated, and a greater stillness have preveiled. Tsough thou.
mods after service walked round the aisles of the cathedral,
and viewed all its objects of interest, not the slightest irre-
gularity occurred, nor did there appear any marks of that
scribbling propensity which so often defaces the walls of oar
most narrowly watched public budding" The church end
country at large owe great thanks to the Dean and Chapter
of Peterborough for being the first to throw open their ca-
thedral, without fee, to all comers; but in continuing to de-
velope this principle as they did last Monday, and offering
every facility for the attendance of a large body of the
middle and lower classes collected in the city for a great
social and moral object, they have done more to pope-
holes the cathedral and endear them to the mass of the
people, than the recommendations of • tithes cathedral
commissioners. The success of this libel's' course is more
remarkable, because however menus the chapter may he to
stem the evils of intemperance, they ate far from beisg
identified with the particular societies who assembled on the
occasion, or with the mode of action they prescribe, the balk
of the members of total abstinence societies being, probably,
dissenters; but surely the spirit was Christian sad catholic
that bade the doors of the only house of God that could
contain so vast a multitude lilt up their heads and give
a free welcome to all who would enter. It may be
that many were not ;strictly worshippers on this occa-
sion, that curiosity and love of novelty or excitement
and of sweet sounds drew them into that glorious
House of Prayer ; hut few could have gone away
altogether unimpressed with the service, at lout they
must have had their hearts softened towards a church
that did for them all it could. Nor is the devotion of
oar own congregations so reasonable nod as devout, se
exemplary and edifying, s to allow us to scrutinise too
deeply the feelings and behaviour of a company who for the
Rut time in their lives found themselves affectionately in.
cited *tibia cathedral walls. The kindness of the chapter
was not bousded by thus adapting their cathedral to the
wants of the day ; they placed at the disposal of the
meager' of the festival an adjoining field, where the booths
for refreshments were erected, orations made, and games
carried ea till the shades of evening broke up the nappy
and well-conducted party. These who were presstat will
best be able is time to come to answer the question,
What is the use of our cathedrals?' One use, at
least, may be, to sanctify a people's holiday—to do
for those great gatherings of our countrymen, wbieh the
keilliq of ezounion trains will daily more sad more