The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-21 00:00:00

Hereford Muslcal Festival.

lIEREFORD, Aug. 20.
The Festival opened this morning with great suc-
cess. The early service in the Cathedral, in the
musical part of which most, if not all, the members
of the Three Choirs took part, was attended by a
very large congregation. The civic authorities were
there, in accordance with traditional custom, attired
in their robes of office. The first lesson was read

by the Rev. Mr. Evans, Canon of the Cathedral,
the second by the Hon. George Herbert, Dean of
Hereford. Dr. Wesley presided at the organ. Tho
musical service comprised chants from the well-
known Psalter edited by the Rev. Mr. Mercer. The
Anthem—from "Chronicles," chap. i., verse 29
(" Blessed be Thou, Lord God of Israel")—was 3
long and elaborately constructed composition by
the Rev. F. A. G. Ouseley, Mus. Doc. (Precentor
to the Cathedral). The sermon was preached by
the Dean, who took for text the Epistle to" Titus,"
chapter i., verse 13—" To the pure all things are
pure." The substance of this discourse (which
is not invariably the case) related exclusively
to the matter in hand. Without preliminary
the reverend preacher at once dealt with various
objections which, from time to time, have
been entertained by zealous and well-meaning per-
sons against the festivals in general, and the em-
ployment of the cathedral for the musical perform'
antes in particular. To the argument that musical
performances in the church are all wrong, he urged
that these festivals promote a taste for genuine
sacred music, and at the same time assist the ends of
charity, while, owing to recent arrangements, they
no longer interfere with daily service. To the argil'
ment that the use of sacred subjects for the mere
purpwe of artistic display was equally to be con-
demned, he replied that if poets and painters were
not only allowed but encouraged to illustrate sacred
subjects by their art, he could see no reason
why musicians should be debarred from the same
privilege. He even believed that the presentation of
such themes through the aid of the " divine art'
very frequently proved more persuasive and irre-
sistible than any other medium of appeal—hare
pily instancing, as an example, the " Messiah" 0.1
Handel, and what it had been the means of achiev-
ing. Against the last important objection, that
festivals tend to encourage dancing, feasting, he''
he simply maintained that sin lies in the abuse,
not in the use, of such intrinsically innocent
diversions. The Dean's peroration was an ear:
nest, animated, and eloquent appeal on behalf 01
the fund for the widows and children. The dis-
course had the recommendation of being both short
and to the purpose. After the sermon, and win°
the choir sang the Old 100th Psalm, in
the congregation heartily joined, a collection
made at the doors for the charity.
All we can say at present of the first performallce
of sacred music, which began at noon and terrolo
nated some time after 3, is that it comprised
a
overture to Spohr's " Last Judgment," followed
the same composer's 84th Psalm (Milton's version)9
solos by Miss Edith Wynne, Madame ra,,,tel
Whytock, Messrs. Montem Smith and Weiss ; Pro
Sebastian Wesley's fine anthem, " Ascribe unto tv
Lord" (solos by Mdlle. Titiens, Miss E. Wrylil3°'
Miss Julia Elton, and Madame Patey Whytock);
conducted by the composer ; and last, not le3s,;
Handers great Biblical oratorio, " Israel in EgYP,t,'e.
entire. In the oratorio the solo singers were Maii'o
litiens and Miss E. Wynne (sopranos), Miss Jail,
Elton and Madame Patey Whytock (contraltos)'
Messrs. Montem Smith and Sims Reeves 00001:
Messrs. Weiss and Santley (basses). Mr. ToAi!,
hend Smith conducted, and Mr. Done (Worceate"
presided at the organ. 0213 t
The first miscellaneous concert comes off to-n 470
in the Shire-hall, and Madame Lind-Groldsc hr*o
is to take part in the performiinee of Mendelssoil
" Elijah" at the Cathedral to - morrow morning.

THE CATTLE PLAGUE.—The Gazette of last Dig,
contains. two Orders in Council, dated the 19th inst., relfta
two to the cattle plague. The first rescinds an order d3te,
the 29th of January last permitting cattle brought 1-1 Ae.,
from any place out of the United Kingdom to and lantle%,
the Southampton docks, in the port of Southampton, iu t-to
town and county of that name, to be removed by railwaY
sold
the Islington Cattle Market for the purpose of being the
there for immediate slaughter. The second order
of
r.
19th inst. rescinds an order of the 11th of April last P'4,
,
witting cattle brought by sea from any place
to
United Kingdom to and landed in the port of 11.
to
the
the county of Essex, to be removed by railway t°lleo
Islington Cattle Market for the purpose of being sold
t
for imriaccii* §loSlavr. out
.of