SCULPTURES OF WELLS CATHEDRAL, 67 
of God’s House.* All might conduce to holy thoughts and 
devout aspirations. The cleansing the building, to purity 
of life—the strength of the walls, to firmness of purpose 
and constancy in action. The christian knows well that 
the kingdom of God does not consist in structures of wood 
and stone, nor in the ceremonies performed within them, but 
he is also convinced devotion and praise may unquestionably 
be aided and heightened by the beauty of the sanctuary— 
“ the pealing anthem and the pausing choir.” Let it not then 
be unjustly said that we attach undue importance to these 
aids. In taking his leave of opponents, or lukewarm friends, 
he would say, in the words ofa brother antiquary, on a like 
occasion,f “ Give us but a fair trial. We desire to proceed 
with judgment and caution as wellas vigour,” and to adopt 
those things only which the church sanctions and approves. 
“When you find us devoted to frivolous and superstitious 
notions, deaf to the voice of reason and friendly counsel, 
and to the injunctions of lawful authority, then leave us 
and oppose us, but, remember, that the most prudent way 
is to join us, and direct our course.” 
The Rev. D. M. CLErk, after thanking the Dean and 
Chapter for the use of the Liber Albus and Liber Ruber, 
commenced reading a paper on Wells Cathedral, which is 
given in the second part. 
The next paper was on Roman Occupation, by the Rev. 
W. Pnerps, the historian of Somersetshire, but the allotted 
time having expired, it was not presented to the meeting. 
A paper on the cathedral, by Mr. BrırTTon, and another 
by the Rev. F. Gray, on Pilton Church, were withheld 
for the same reason. 
* Transaetions of the Exeter Arch. Society, vol. iii. part 3, p. 201; 
a work which cannot be too highly commended. 
T Inaugural Address, by Rev. W. L. Nichols, m.a.—Exeter Trans- 
actions, vol. iii., part 2, page 21. 
K 
