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

E NA

766

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. 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. binding 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 tl
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 e4ary 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-;

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AL REC

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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- .

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(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, because 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-babes and sucklings, %re
' perfect praise, s;i11, for any thing we kuowi the Chorister

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