If he is an improvable person, it would be highly desirable to send him for a short time to some place where he can obtain instruction, and where his taste may be benefitted by the opportunity of hearing simple and pleasant Psalmody.

But while he is preparing for the choir, the choir must be preparing for him; and I incline to think that this had better, for a short time, be a separate concern. In any place where there is a daily boys' or girls' school, the elements of this choir may be found. At first it will be but a feeble affair; yet once well begun, and singing established as a regular part of school tuition, the Clergyman and his people will be secure of a succession of tolerable vocalists. Though the children pass off from the school, some remain in the village; and these, whether in the gallery or in the body of the Church, are useful both by their better singing and better taste. To train the school well, then, is the main matter. A few young people may be found who will join in practice, and at first strengthen the choir; but, as it is not likely these elder pupils will have time or inclination to submit to learn thoroughly, the principal and final dependence is on those taught in the school.

But how to teach the school well? In my own village great advantages have resulted from pursuing a method, first proposed and employed with beautiful effect by an excellent musician, Miss Glover, of Norwich. Her plan has been much objected to, on the one hand as being novel and presenting many difficulties to musicians, who feel themselves obliged to go back, as it were, and learn a new alphabet; and, on the other, as not being sufficiently comprehensive. Both of these objections have weight; but as I have the experience of its being most effective in promoting accuracy of tone and time, and a precise idea of the intervals of musical sound-as I find singing in parts is learnt with remarkable facility by its means, and a pure and severe style formed by the necessity of giving every note a name, and slurring over nothing; I cannot but speak highly of it. It is difficult for me to give a precise account of the method in the reasonable compass of a letter; but the books which explain it, and which furnish the requisite lessons, accessible.*

are very

Perhaps I shall best give an idea of its practical results, by stating what I have seen accomplished by its means. About three years ago, I

These are, "A Scheme for rendering Psalmody Congregational," price 2s. 6d. "Guide to Solfaing; containing Canons and Tunes in both notatious," price 3s. "German Canons," &c., price 3d. Jarrold, Norwich.

sent to Miss Glover for a pupil from her school. A child, twelve years of age, who brought me lessons and a harmonicon (a small instrument, made also in Norwich, and very useful in instruction), was selected for the purpose. This little teacher chose ten girls out of thirty-one, the number of which our school consisted, and, in the space of a fortnight, taught them several canons, in two, three, and four parts, and two psalm tunes, each in two parts. I was then obliged to part with her, and endeavour to learn the plan myself; in consequence of which, it made, for a time, very slow progress, and tunes and canons, though well learnt, were acquired in a leisurely way. But they were learnt by the whole school, and the second part of every tune was taken before the first. Had I retained the young teacher, and had it then been the object to train a choir for the Church, I have no doubt that a very respectable one might have been raised in half-a-year. But, for two years, this was not proposed. At the expiration of that time, however, the school was invited to take place of the old choir of amateur singers; and, with the assistance of a paid leader, has retained its station for somewhat less than that period; having gained a knowledge of a sufficient number of simple tunes in parts to carry on the Psalmody in a manner which does not at least offend the feelings and taste, and in which the congregation can join with pleasure.

I have been led to think, therefore, from what I have seen, that any young person, of from twelve to fifteen or sixteen, who has a good voice and ear, and has acquired Miss Glover's system, may train a village choir, and keep it in a very effective state, provided she is supported by the authority of the master or mistress. The chief requisite is, to procure the services of such a teacher for a sufficiently long time to insure the system taking good root in a place, after which it may be easily kept up.

When it is considered how easily, in most cases, employment might be found in some respectable family for a girl, whose wages would of course be but of small amount, it seems as if the matter were capable of being brought into a very narrow compass, and the whole power of selecting tunes, &c., would rest with the Clergyman, or anyone to whom he might depute that office.

The peculiarity of Miss Glover's plan is, that the syllable do being always the key-note, whatever may be the pitch of the tune (provided it is in the major), the succeeding intervals, signified by the syllables ra, me, fah, &c., are as precisely fixed in the mind of the learner as the terms second, third, fourth, &c. Each tune, and each part of a tune, are at first taught by pointing to these intervals, as arranged in what is

called "The Musical Ladder," and any change of key is marked by a change into one of two columns: that to the right raising, or rendering the pitch sharper, that to the left depressing it, or rendering it flatter.

Whatever may be the difficulties which the plan presents to the previously instructed, I am persuaded that, to children and the untaught, it is extremely simple; that they acquire a knowledge of the constituent parts of the scale, the tone and the semitone-not nearly so easy of attainment in learning from the staff, which represents one uniform alternation of line and space, making no allowance for the real difference of the interval, or only providing for it in a cumbrous manner, by carrying the eye back to the signature, and greatly obstructing the simple idea of all keys being alike in their structure, from whatever root they may spring. Objections, no doubt, may occur to many, from the consideration that, although the Norwich plan admirably teaches the natural laws of sound, it does not teach the universal language by which sound is represented. In reply to this, its advocates maintain that it forma no obstacle to, but rather assists in the farther attainment of the established mode of notation; that it teaches much of musical science, and prepares the way for better comprehension of the whole subject; and that, for the mere cultivation of vocal harmony, the new process is shorter, simpler, and more precise.

It answers, also, the purpose of breaking loose from vulgar turns and flourishes, and, by associating a succession of articulate syllables with the notes, enables the learner to dispense with words till he has well learnt the tune.

The Norwich plan having been already adopted in many places, and having received the sanction of the cathedral organist of that city, Mr. Buck, may be considered as having taken its station among tbe useful and valuable devices of our day. Nor have I yet heard of an instance in which, after a fair trial, it has been given up. The great point, as it appears to me, is, to allow sufficient time for grounding the school, or, at any rate, a part of it, in the principles and practice of singing, before making a public use of the acquisition; and, unfortunately, this is seldom done. When once, indeed, a number of the head children are pretty well versed in it, new scholars will readily fall in, and present no obstacles; for it is a rare thing to meet with so untunable an ear and voice as to resist the effect of example, when the general tune is good; but it is very important to continue the services of the first teacher for some time, and to let at least six or eight tunes be well learnt, in both parts, before any public choir is formed from the school; otherwise, the ne

CONFIRMATION SERVICE.

cessity of variety will induce a carelessness and incompleteness which will render the whole thing slovenly and ineffective.

*

Sincerely wishing the success of any plan which may improve the performance of this delightful part of our worship, I am, Sir, yours, &c.,

March 12th, 1940.

E. T.

CONFIRMATION SERVICE.

MR. GRIFFITHS in his "Tract on Confirmation," observes, that the best way to understand this or any other ordinance of the Church is, to study the Service in the Prayer-book. The following short analysis is given here as a help to, not a substitute for such study.-E. D. W.

At Confirmation we do homage to our spiritual King, and therefore it is that the Bishop, the representative of Christ in his kingly office, presides. We have grown up in the Family of God, and we now enter into his Army; we were all born into His Kingdom in Baptism, and now each of us takes up his position as a Sworn Defender of that Kingdom, and of his own birthright in it. But not only does he bind himself to count the enemies of his King his enemies; he also pledges himself to be his true and loving liege; and lastly, he engages to obey all his laws as a good subject.

All this, which was promised for him in his infancy, he now ratifies, boldly and without qualification, for himself. The laudatory ejaculations in which he takes part with the Bishop, explain why he ventures to be thus bold in taking on himself such mighty engagements: he recognises that settled doctrine of the Church which her chief Minister now declares" our help is in the Name of the Lord;" and he derives not his confidence from any special or transitory sense of God's love to him and willingness to assist him, but from that Name which standeth fast for ever-that Name which is the foundation of the Church in which he was baptized, and which has been compassing him about ever since.

I am told that a new method has been recently imported from Paris, and that it is now in process of being carried into effect in a National School at Battersea, under the superintendence of a skilful musician. Of this plan I much wish to know more.

Then follows the prayer for the Holy Ghost. The person prayed for has been born again, made an actual member of the holy Body of Christ, which is always under the influence of His Spirit; but hitherto he has been as a babe in whom life and growth rather than strength and action are found, and now he desires to have his position as a Man appointed him, and he confirmed in it: now the Church prays for him that the Holy Ghost the Comforter may descend on him, as He did in the day of Pentecost, and abide with him as a Person, strengthening him and causing him to increase in all those gifts of grace which are at once properly human and truly divine. She asks that the day-star may arise in him, and that his eyes may be opened to behold its brightness; she asks that this light may become the law of his will, and that he may be strong and resolute to act under its guidance; she asks for him the sceptre of knowledge, that he may reign over all nature, and the crown and robes of godliness, that he may reign in the image of his Maker; she asks that he may be filled with that holy fear which will guard him at every point from all that can injure or defile him in thought, word, or action. And it is the spirit of all those precious gifts that the Church prays for, that so they may be fountains of life springing up in him from their Source, the Lord and Giver of Life, now and for ever.

Imposition of hands (which comes next) is explained to express the restriction and concentration of the blessing prayed for to the person on whom they are laid, and is an act of authority which, when duly performed, has in all ages been believed to be not without fruit; by it those confirmed are "certified of God's favour and gracious goodness towards them.”

According to the uniform method of the Church, her Minister then proceeds to pray, that what he has now done on earth by virtue of his commission, may be ratified in heaven; that so the hand of the Father may recognise and protect, the Holy Spirit actuate, and the Word inform and direct those for whom he now makes supplication.

This collect is preceded by the accustomed solemn preface-" The Lord be with you, and with thy spirit "-and the Lord's Prayer as the universal model; and followed by a suitable collect from those appointed for the conclusion of the ordinary Sunday Service, together with the Benediction. And the whole of this "Order of Confirmation takes the form of an enlargement and adaptation of the Shorter Litany, which immediately succeeds the Creed in the Morning and Evening Prayer; the introduction of which form into so many of the occasional Services produces a sense of harmony between them and the Daily