The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-25
WAKEMAN'SW ANDERINGS
DESCRIPTION OF A CANTERBURY
PILGRIMAGE.


The Tabard Inn at Southwark.
stour Valley and Ancient Csnter-
bury-Tho Cathedral Vast and Gilt
tering, But Lacking in Winsome-
ness and Repose.
(CoABTaht.)
CANTERBURY, ENGLAND, Sept. "a
Despite the huge proportions, the beautiful
interior and the still EXISTING evidences OF
splendor in treasure and ceremonial in the
olden days of the cathedral at Canterbury
drst-established seat of the episcopal power
10 En- gland, the present see of an arch-
bishop, primate of all England and metro
uolitan-both the cathedral and city seem
70 impress the visitor with an inde1nable
ssnse of sadness and unrest nowhere else ex-
perienced ia the old cathedral towns Of
England.
This is not easily analysed and made clear
TO Others. 1t is true, however, that at
Worcester, at Exeter, at Lincoln, at w ellis,
at Winchester, at Gloucester, at Salisbury,
at Lichfed, ct Chester, at Ely, and even to
some extent at the huge aud shadowy min
ster Of York. there is something SO warm
and sunny in the immediate SURROUNDINGS
20 deep an affection Of townsfolk for the
venerable edifoes is apparent, something SO
hushed reposefol and soothing is felt in the
calm Of close, cloister and church itself, that
one imperoeptibly yields to the gentle spell
and is touched by the sweet and tender in
huence
At Canterbury the entire interpreta tion
Of locality, history, association aud struct-
ural lmpressiveness is different. The sea
and another land and tongue are too close
90 give the cathedral and town that COM
plete and harmonious setting and environ
mout peculiar TO nearly all other cathedrals
Of England. Somehow there are too
many splatches of blood upon Canter-
bury's cOnsecrated stones to prevent a
chill and a shudder as you come close to
the place OF historic and dreadful TRACE
dies aud one OF the foulest murders Of the
Christian era gave this cathedral its yastest
treasure and greatest renown. The shrines
OF Canterbury are Of kings and prelates
only. The heart is not greatly stirred by
these. The humble shrine of old Izaak
alton warns the human affections mere
to the one venerable cathedral where
the gentle angler lies, and the
POETS Corner" or the one little
slab bearing the name "ChRrles
Dickens" in Westminster, holds the affec-
ton closer to Londonis abbey church than
oil the tombs of kings, prelates and saints
IN immeasurbly moro splendid Canterbury.
AMI the majestic and priceless dreams in
stone in this gl1ttering and princely cathe-
dra, while they compel an intellectual sub
miisiyeness akin co age, still possesses a
repallent grandeur rather than that mel
low and tender winsomsness which twines
every tendrn OF ones heart, close as their
msssss and ivies. in and around all other
old cathOdrRls and cathedral towns Of Eng
land.
When Caesar with his Roman legions
crossed the straits OF Dover and pushed on
to London to subjugate the entire island
a save Scotland, Wales and portions of Corn
Wah, he found British hamlet at a ford of
the river Stour fifteen miles from Dover
and hfty-six miles from London The Ro-
mans utilized this strategic place as q base
Of supplies and military station, and gave
1t the name Of Durovernun. After the Ro-
mans retired from England aud the Saxon
n domination began, the present county of
Kent became kingdom, It's chief city and
capital, the former Roman Durovernum,
was then called Cantwarabyrig, aud the
name Canterbury OF to-day is simply a
slight corruption Of the city's old Saxon
title.
The manner in which Canterbury became
the seat of the primate of the Anglican
church was in this wise: Pope Gregory the
Great, in 596, conceived the idea of Cnrist-
laniAng the inhabitants of England, indie
N pendent OF the splendid missionary labors
oI the followers of st. Patrick in Ireland
ana upon the western coast of Scotland
wales ana Cornwall. Augustine, called the
apostle OF the English, originally a monk in
81 .ue convent OF st. Andrew at Rome, where
be was educated under Pope Gregory, was
selected TO undertake the conversion of the
British
conditions were favorable TO this mis-
son. Ethelbert was then the fourth King
VI Aeat. bis wife, Bertha, daughter Of
oleFe5ert, King OF France, was a Christian
M IIlUCl-e h,I -kf.
e45tcSe OF her religion in her marriage
contract. Her 1nfiueuoe upon Ethelbert was
S SGu as to assure Augustine and his
tollo"eIs OF hospitable reception
non after Augustines arrival King
ii-.ucIoert not only embraced Christ
lal.y and caused, by royal command, the
M conversion and baptism of his mobiles and
people, but also granted the city of Canter-
, u4'E and It's dependencies to Augustine
"uo uad been iave'ted with archiepiscopal
otsuiIy by Pope Gregory. The pope soon
"''eE sent additional missionaries and em>
p3%eieu Augustine to constitute a bishop
- 10TH, but this in such a manner that Au-
e-'I'Ae OF Canterbury aud each Of his sue
England.
Aasustine died in she year GOA at Cantor
49,. lie was buried in the church yard of
h-usA augustine monastery, the cathedral
tfI'N'lg Then not being completed After
M rsru- Sulal was colsecrased his body was
Inv TO the north porch, where 1t re-
s'niu until 1881, When it was placed
I'M the cathedral All this is interest
t f. oFloLy traced, as it gives exact data as
rSa.-S origin of episcopacy in England;
60 lue source and circumstances of the
E, ION Of eccles!astic primacy at Canter-
terb,,,.t ana IS evidence that the original Can
VIII cathedral, an important portion OF
ys' wal intact within the present cathedral
Ise. was IN progress of construction at
''G Et 40 yearo ago.
ter 1rY ordinary modern pilgrimage to Cam
S41tIy Is made over the London and
hi, Ss ern railway, and a pleasant one
oya, o., ut far pleasanter one is to saunter
in >, 'ue ancient way taken by the pilgrims
a Tb-,,-'-'se Gays when the shrine OF st.
Land l1S Beckett was to the plous of Eng
MAJ "hAJ Mecca is to the followers OF
~ ESr,tt'Lust This leads from out through
for ''u."ark, in Surrey, over into Kent aud,
fe]isa Dout nifty miles, past the lavender
M yats,, we straw berry farms and hop vine
land VI the most fruitful portion Of Eng
tlra-. Eugh Southwark is now merely por-
has WI london, like Chelsea on the west, it
st1sIA1y characteristic old time bits worth
Cbs3sl and any one familiar with
The 1lasr VIII find pleasure in idling about
T-eT--0e Where stood the old Tab ,rd inn.