The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-04-03
For the VIRGINIAN.
A Sunday in London.

UCGt duVdHttIC 10 Qat ulSCusoCu d poi ~
of Americans on the morning of their first
Sunday in London. s'There are Mr.. Spur
geon ana Canon Farrar, Westminster Abbey.
st, Paul's Cathedral, the Temple, and doz-
ems OF old churches intensely interesting
from al! sorts of associations; everybody
vote-viuG voce p The majority favoring
st. Margaret's, Of which DR.. Farrar is Rec
tor, our friends were soon driving thither-
ward, and eventually reached the destina-
| ton amid the s'rhyming and the Ginning of
the BELLS" This ancient church stands al
most under the caves OF Westminster Alb.
hey. 1t was founded by the Confessor to
commemorate the Martyrd0m of Margaret
OF Antioch. Here the Houses of Parlia ment,
the Assembly Of Divines and Scots Com
missioners met for prayer before taking the
Covenant A. D. 1913. It was also preach
ing place for the Puritans. The church
yard is literally paved with tomb-stones,
while within are many interesting monu-
ments and tablets. Sir Walter Raleigh was
buried beneath the altar, and here are the
graves OF Cromwell's mother and the second
wife of Milton.
While standing in one of the crowded
aisles, with little prospect for any other &C.
commodation, the Americans endea vored to
see what was to see be seen.-There is
the famous East Window which has ex-
perienced so many vicissitudes since first
presented by Ferdinand and Isabella for
Henry VIIth's chapel when Katharine of
Arragon married Prince Arthur. 1t repre-
sents the cruclfxon. Over the altar is a
copy of Titlan's ''Supper at Emmaus." At
the west entrance is the curiousy carved
seat where loaf of bread and sixpence are
given every Sunday to sixteen poor widows.
in accordance with the will Of some good
lady OF the sixteenth century. But now ''the
holy organ, rolling waves Of sound on
roof and floor,'' seems the signal for re-
moving the silken tables from the aisles, and |
our friends, being alert, secure comfortable
seats, commissioning che many outsiders less
fortunate.
Canon Farrar possesses pleasing perso- |
nal appearance and distinct, meodieus ut
terance. His subject was humility, founded |
on the words. "This man receiveth sinners"
The sermon presented no s'views" peculiar |
or startling. 1t was pre-eminently practical |
sensible and spiritual, and received through |
out the profound attention of the immense |
audience. At-.the close of divine service, |
our party found it exceedingly interesting
to stroll amidst these historic surroundings
TO walk about the old Abbey and ''tell |
the towers thereof;" to stand upon West
minister Bridge and view the exquisite river
front OF the stately new Houses of Parlia-
ment, while below s'the river glideth at its
own sweet WILL" Looking at the number
less steamers plying up and down the
Thames, it occurred to the tourists that moth
ing could be more appropriate than their 60
ing to st. Paul's by the water route to at
tend afternoon service. Accordingly, hav-
ing renovated the tissues" with first
class luncheon at the Westminster Palace
Hotel, in the Immediate vicinity, they re-
paired to the nearest pier and in few
moments were aboard little vessel with
very high smoke-stack, or funnel as the
English say. In passing under the various
bridges, it was curious to see this tall funnel
suddenly drop to level with the deck, and
envelope the people at the stern of the boat
In a cloud of sulphurous smoke, then when
clear Of the obstruction, again assume the
perpendicular; all accomplished by invisi-
BILE machinery. At the different landings
the Americans could nos fail to notice how
quickly, yes quietly, and without hurry or
confusion, the exchange of passengers was
effected. In due time they reached the
Cathedral which Hawthorne describes as
''unspeakably grand and noble" The CEN
trail space under the dome is occupied for
the Sunday afternoon service, and the large
congregation appeared as but handful
when one looked off through nave, tran
septs and ''long drawn aisles, crowded
with magnificent tombs, statues and monu-
ments. Printed slips on every chair gave
the entire programme for each Of the three
services of the day, and our party found
that the preacher for this occasion was Bish-
op Potter, who, by the way, had been their
| fellow-passenger in crossing the ocean,
But the glorious old Cathedral, with its dim
religious light, the Episcopal robes, the pro-
| cession, the mace-bearers and all the beau
tiful and impressive surroundings, so chang
ed and glorified the venerable prelate, that
he could scarcely be identified with the at
tenuated, elderly gentleman who somewhat
feebly promenaded the deck of the Bothnia.
giving a kindly word aud genial smile to all
An intelligent looking English lady sitting
near, insisted upon an exchange OF chairs
with one of her American sisters, that the
stranger might enjoy more favorable view
of the stained window in the choir, and al
so, with true poiteness, volunteered to give
any information in her power, connecte'
with the Cathedral and its services, which
offer was gratefully accepted of course
Said the ignorant tourst-''I see by this pa
per the Bishop of Colombo" OBLIGATED this
morning, where is this See 20
ssIndeed, I cannot tell, but the one for
this afternoon, the Bishop OF Pennsylva-
mia, has charge OF missionary diocese III
the East Indies, tour Bishop Potter J while
the preacher for the evening, the Bishop OF
North Carolina, mast be a North American.
They are all attending the Pan-Angelican
Council
s'Oh, thank you! Many thanks now
shall be under still greater obligations if you
will be so good as to explain the dlstlnc-
tive vestments of the various orders OF the
clergy, that 1 may be able to distinguish
) Deans, Prebendaries, Canons, &c.
On this point the kind instructress was
perfectly an fat, at least her pupil kne"
nothing to the contrary. Here entered the pro
cession of choristers, sixty-eight in number
when our English friend said :
s.You will now hear the very finest sur
plced choir in Great Britain, perhaps In thu
world,'' and then she gave an interesting
account of the thorough training OF thes'
! BOYS in St. Paul's Chorister's School. Ant
surely, it is not possible to Imagine music
more sublime and elevating than
"The glorious swell
OF chanted psalm and prayer,