Page:The Jubilee, or what I heard and saw in London.djvu/17

Rh way. The door opens, the crowd rushes in; every individual must hasten and secure a good place, for the ear as well as the eye must be consulted on the present occasion.

There is a want of historic association in St. Paul's Cathedral, which is rendered the more striking by the previous services in the Abbey. The style of architecture, too, is not so suggestive of Christian ideas. Still it must be acknowledged that, after all deductions are made, St. Paul's is a dignified and noble temple.

The congregation soon becomes densely crowded. There are not perhaps equal indications of subdued feeling as in Westminster Abbey. The people have more generally the air of those who have come to see a striking spectacle. The noble organ now peals forth its thunders, and the English, Scottish, Colonial and American Bishops enter in procession, passing up the vast length of the nave to their places in the choir. The Archbishop of Canterbury takes his appropriate place, and is fronted by the Lord Mayor of London in his robes of office. The Bishop of London occupies his throne, with the Bishop of Michigan on his left. "Welcome to St. Paul's, good and fearless Bishop M'Coskry!

The service with its elaborate music is over. Bishop M'Coskry appears in the pulpit, repeats the "bidding prayer," and takes as his text "All ye are brethren." Matt, xxiii. 8. He declares that by blood men are one, but that Christians are one in Christ. They become members of Christ in holy Baptism, wherein alone Regeneration is effected. Yet to those who sin after baptism, conversion and renewal are necessary; and that not only once, but often: for without