The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-12-28

many of them are composed. But in VIII 1T
ever condition they are found, stranger
is impressed with their size and grandeur
The stone pillars which support the roofs
look like grand trunks of trees, and the
beautiful stained glass windows are books
in which the most ignorant can read chap
ter after chapter of sacred history. In every
church is box to receive donations for the
restoration Of the building, and with the
money much good has been accomplished.
Chester Cathedral is Of red sandstone, and
as the various parts Of the building have
monious in its general outline, which as you
know should be that of Latin cross. Part
of it has been restored and part OF 1t re-
mains bare and desolate. The chancel is
carving i'm England. Service is held in the
Cathedrals every day, and never will for
get the glimpse Of Heaven which saw one
afternoon in the old red Cathedral at Ches-
ter. Fortunately l obtained seat inside
the chancel, very near the choir. The old
carved seat was black and smooth from CEN
turies of use, and like all its fellows had a
quaint Latin inscription carved on its top.
All around were richly tinted windows Of
rare workmanship, while the high altar at
the end Of the aisle, glOwsd with color and
flashed with liLht. High up in the heavens
of the building the golden pipes of the organ
reflected the lights below, while soft music
stole out from the arched ceiling and came
trembling to beg entrance into your heart.
Then the measured tread OF the chOisters
was heard as they swept into the chancel
from transept, and then the voice of the
priest, calling on us to praise our God and
Creator. Is it any wonder that every head
was bowed and silence brOoded for mo-
ment over the entire congregation; then fol-
lowed such music as never before heard.
Two long rows of sopranos in front of two
long rows of bassos and tenors. had new
er even dreamed that the human voice could
produce such divine music as heard from
the lips Of the boys in the front row, sweet
er than the voice of woman, softer than a
gentle zephyr, and yet clear and distinct as
a silver bell. They seemed not boys, but
angels. and dull indeed must have been the
listener who did not feel the enhancing eff
feet of their music; and the bassos, how
robust and muscular they sounded in con-
| trast to the sopranos-One, the voice of a
suppliant pleading for mercy, the other
praising God for his grace and goodness and
both uniting in triumphant chorus to His
majesty and glory.
The service was nearly all rendered to
appropriate music, even the Lords prayer
and the creed being chanted by all present.
AT its conclusion ] walked around the
cathedral and noticed the various eptaphs
4 and mortuary tables to the memory OF i.s
distinguished worshippers. In this respect
Chester does not equal Litchfeld, for the
latter has a goodly number of recumbent
statues to the memory of noted divines and
other great men. The finest, as everybody
knows is to the memory Of two children and
represents them life size, sleeping upon
their couch. They lie with their arms
around one another, and you feel like walk
ing on tip toe lest you disturb their sleep,
so peacefully natural is their appearance.
In the chapter room OF this cathedral are a
number Of stone stalls where pilgrims used
to wash their feet in olden times. In an
other room are shown some Of the cannon
balls with which Cromwell destroyed the
central of the three towers which nov adorn
the exterior of the building. No wonder
the grim old icohoclast felt impelled to work
Gus in those days that they lost sight oi
their duties to their fellowmen. So at least
thought as / realized how much energy
was uselessly expended by the various
canons. priests, and other church officers in
the daily service.
Beautiful as it is it degenerated into q
mere ceremony in which each actor does his
part with mechanical precision unless in.
deed he also worshps in spirit as well as in
form. The divinity is not alone expressed
by rites and ceremonies but also by divine
actions; such as feeding the poor and loving
your neighbor. The Christ can not be re-
stricted to the cathedral building, to do 81
would be to lower Him to the level of tn,
numerous statues and pictures with which
it is adorned. His temple is the heart o
man and His glory is manifested wheneve
we do a brotherly deed to our Deighbor.
: This morning ! attended church at st
Mary's. Eoglishmen make business o
, their religion; TO go TO church Is o habi
, formed in early youth and assiduously cul