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LLANDAFF CATHEDRAL.

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LLANDAFF CATHEDRAL. OPENING OF THE NEW ORGAN. On Tuesday last, one of the largest and most respec- table assemblies eTer congregated in the ancient city forming the centre of this diccese, attended at Llandaff, to witness the inauguration of the elegant and costly organ recently erected there. From an early period of the day preparations for tie celebration were observable in the usually quiet vicinity of the cathedral; and as the suc- cessive trains reached the railway station (Ely) nearest to Llandaff, vast crowds pressed hastily and with evi. dent interest, towards the scene of attraction. The elite of the diocese, from nearly all its points, were present, with an immense body of the clergy, a larger number pro- bably than ever previously assembled within the once- dilapidated, but now restored Cathedral. The appear- ance of such a numerous gathering of clerical gentlemen in the secluded village suggested a contrast between the unpretending hamlet and the extended ecclesiastical organisation of which it is the nucleus. It is, however, a gratifying reflection that the restoration of the Cathe- dral has rendered the seat of the bishopric ecclesiastically more worthy of the important relation it sustains. The work of renovation, although not complete, has pro- ceeded far; and, judging from what has been accom- plished, we should suppose satisfactorily. The result is a monument of the zeal, liberality, and energy of those who have prosecuted the work, and must be a ground of unfeigned satisfaction to its promoters. We imagine that strongest among the feelings experienced by the assembled clergy on Tuesday, must have been one of deep and hallowed pleasure at witnessing the chief rep?«»«ifi»fikjal structure of the diocese, at no very remote peri)-4 a ruined fragment of its former splendour, again pre^nTine, in its principal features at least, its ancient atirrrtiveness and grandeur. We shall not speculate unnfiVcttngly on the effect likely to be produced on eonsreinuons from sacred temples being allowed to fall into ptfoat ruin, and to remain in a state of decay simply suggpst ve of desolation and neglect; but the information obtained on our visit to Llandaff on Tuesday, as to the past and ore^ent interest shown in the Cathedral services, remir.de 1 us that dreariness and dilapidation in the sanctuary may exert a repelling influence upon those who mi^bt be expected to attend it. It is a fact within the memory of Hving men that the beautiful edifice so densely throngrd on Tuesday ]as!, has, in its period of partial ruin, been thrown open fir public worship with- out a single person, beyond the minister and the clerk, being seen within its portals. As the ordinary Sabbath tervices are now well attended, it may be assumed that a revival of religious feeling has been associated with the effort to restore the edifice to its proper condition. For the purpose of setting forth clearly the extent and character of the work of restoration, and of what remains to be done, we cannot do better than quote from the lucid report on the subj sct issued by the Dean and Chapter about three months ago. This document says Four yeara have now elapsed since the partial re-opening of the Cathedral, on the 16tb of April, 1857, and as the principal portion of the subscriptions so liberally promised on that occasion towards its entire restoration, has been both collected and expended, it seems but right at the present to state the results of the movement which was then inaugurated. "The once ruined section of the nave has been thoroughly restored-its arcade and its western front repaired its clerestory and its side aisles rebuilt-its walls pl&istered its windows glazed, and a new roof thrown over its whole lpaD. The partition wall, which so long severed it fiom the portion still in use for public worship, has been removed, and from the western entrance the original design of the architect is once more manifest in all its beauty. "The roof of the side aisles of the eastern end has also been restored, with the exception of the two bays which extend beyond the Chapter House, and which are separated from the others by a small vaulted chapel. The Bishop's throne is nearly completed, and a portion of the stalls, with the screen on one side, has been erected, while contracts have been entered into for another section of the work. The progress of restoration has indeed now advanced so far that only those who have actually seen the Cathedral in former years can either realize its extent or picture to themselves the half-ruined condition of the fabric but a short time ago. Much, however, still remains to be done, —the ce-constrnetion of the roof of the two bays alluded to Wore-the completion of the stalls with their appropriate canopies,—the permanent flooring of the western portion of the nave, an 1 of the two side aisles-the repairs of the monuments—the finishing of the parapet of the southern aisle-the provision of new doors for the great western entrance, and for the two Norman doorways in the northern and southern aisles. '• The rebuilding of the southern tower may perhaps be looked upon as a separate work, and as one which admits of temporary delay but it is deemed very desirable, both to reach the height of the clerestory wall. The chapter room again which, if not an integral portion of the Catbe- dral, stands to it in something like the relation of a transept, requires a considerable outlay and the entire re- construction of its windows and its roof. For the cost of these two works no estimates have as yet been made it has, however, been ascertained, that to finish the roof of the side aisles -to complete the parapet of the southern aiale-to lay the flooring—to provide the doors-and to finish the stalls-all works which should be immediately undertaken, and which would, when accomplished, almost crown the work of restoration, would involve an expen- diture of but £l.iOO." ■The dignitaries present on Tuesday were the Bishops of Winchester, Bangor, Si. David' ,and Llandaff, the Dean of Llandaff, Archdeacons Crawley and Blosse, Canons Morgan and Bevan, Chancellor Williams, &o, &c. About 161) of the clergy of the diocese were also in attendance, with a very large number of the neighbouring gentry. We refrain from an attempt to present the names of the clergy, as any list we might make would be necessarily incomplete. The scene, when the vast congregation had assembled, was of the most imposing description and although many were unable to find sitting accomodation, not the slightest confusion was observable during the three hours occupied by the morn- ing service. A full choral service was performed-Sir Ftedeiick G. Ouseley, Professor of Music in the University of Oxford, presiding at the organ. Boyce in A was the service selected and the manner in which the vocalists acquitted themselves, evidenctd careful previous ti-ai I; i" g and a high degree of skill. On the whole the purts went smoothly and sweetly together, the organ, with its "full, rich tones, rather sustaining than overpowering the vocal parts. The organ, constructed by Messrs. Gray and Davison, is sweet in tone, though not remarkably powerful, if we may assume that its full capabilities were developed. Tbe sermon was preached by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Winchester, who selecttd as his text parts of the second and third verses of the 14th chapter of Revelations—" And I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps and they sung as it were a new song before the throne After descanting upon certain peculiarities of this remarkable vision, the Bishop wbaerved that there was no great difficulty in under- standing who the celestial harpers referred to by the evangelist were-they were unquestionably the hundred and forty and four thousand mentioned in the 7th chapter, and with these thousands of Israel there were also mingled the redeemed from every nation, and kindred, and people, and tongue. They were assembled in the presence of God, in a region of unclouded glory; and to them the Divine Being disclosed himself unre- servedly. This was no partial or local manifestation, like that in the tabernacle in the wilderness or in the temple at Jerusalem: they saw his face, and there was no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the Mn for the Lord God giveth them light." Then they might observe their situation—they were before the throne and the Lamb proclaimed and acknowledged them as his own, in aecordance with the language he used on earth—" Father, I will that they also whom Tiou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory." They were also arrayed in white robes-emblematic of thtir purity, and of their hem* cleansed from all the defilement and pollution of tlarl iI- purity being a leading characteristic of the ttfi end assembly and church of the first-born." The ltv. prelate then remarked upon the contrast r >t'1. between the character and enjoyments of the J*„,d in heaven and the dispositions and aims LicevnU nt, even in the Church, upon earth following <n I a., observations by urging upon his hearers the ful ivt tion of a Christian spirit as the only preparation for f abodes of the blessed. Moreover, they must not flurlook the fact that the celestial harpers were engaged iu singing a new song; not the song which the angels pouttd forth when the foundations of the earth were laid, and the morning stars sang together for joy-that via not a song about redemption; nor was it a song in which there was merely an ascription of glory to a song they might, nay, they must sing but theirs was to be emphatically a new song—a song of the redeemed, and the subject of it redemption.- In heaven they all struck the same chord-all joined io the same Dote-" Worthy is the Lamb that was flain." This also was a song in which all joined—all nnite'd in singing this new song and so it should be on earth. Christ would have all united in purpose and in actin Christian enbrt-DOt merely presenting an ap. Pearacce of uternal union,. but nOlted 10 object, UDlttld ,11 b. one, .• thou, Father, art m me,, .nd I » thee that thev all may be one in us. In conclusion, ke would remark that they might learn a that day's service. Met together in that beautiful edifice, they had doubtless enjoyed the strayis of the fine organ for the opening of which they had assem- bled. But while they appreciated the skill and pro- ficiency of the performer upon that instrument, they must remember that though the taste for music was probably innate, the delicate touch, the rapid manipula- tion were only acquired by patient practice and diligent study.. 8o also if they would join in the harmony of heaven, their hearts and voices must to attuned to the lofty anthem of the skies while they were upon earth. The praises of God must burst from their lips here if they would sing the song of the redeemed hereafter they must be like-minded with the harpers whom John heard harping with their harps—they must remtmbej whose they were and who was their Master, if at the last it was to be said of them, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." The above is but a meagre outline of the sermon, which, we regret to say, was inaudible to those members of the congregation who, like ourselves, were at any considerable distance from the pulpit. A collection was made at the close, the amount received exceeding JE400. More than L300 had, we are informed, been previously received in private contributions, by the Dean and Chapter. The evening service, which commenced at six o'clock, was somewhat less numerously attended than that in the morning. Tne Bishop of Bangor preached, the text being a part of the 9th verse of the 3rd chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians-" For we are labourers together with God." The sermon was practical and impressive. The collection at the close exceeded J6200, making, with the amounts previously contributed, a sum approaching JB1000. In the interval between the services, a numerous party partook of luncheon at the invitation of the Bishop and the Dean and Chapter of Llandaff.

SECOND BATTALION OF MONMOUTHSHIRE…

ABERGAVENNY.

ABERSYCHAN.

ROCKFIEJuD.

,CARDIFF.

1 BRECON.

BLAENAVON.

TREDEGAR.

MONMOUTH.

CHEPSTOW.