THE CANTERBURY CHORAL UNION. 43 



if possible, with a view to establishing branches. 

 Other duties, however, had intervened which had 

 prevented him from carrying out this idea in its 

 completeness. He hoped that his remarks on this 

 occasion would have the effect of inducing many of 

 the parishioners of Erith to join this Choral Union, 

 which could not fail to produce good results in per- 

 fecting the service of song in the house of the Lord. 

 Then, after touching upon one or two incidental topics, 

 he concluded his remarks by saying that there were very 

 few country churches indeed in which would be found 

 musical services conducted as they were at Erith. 



Now, of course, the Bishop's rapidly approaching de- 

 parture for his distant diocese involved the resignation 

 of his post as Precentor of the Choral Union ; and he 

 was at this time searching for some duly qualified man 

 who might succeed him. The vacant post, it is true, 

 was temporarily filled, but the holder was very anxious 

 to resign it, and had, indeed, signified his intention of 

 doing so after the following festival. And so the idea 

 occurred to the Bishop that, if my father could produce 

 such a service in such a parish, he would surely be the 

 right man to occupy the vacant position. Quite un- 

 expectedly, therefore, he one day paid us a visit, and, with 

 the full concurrence of the cathedral authorities, asked 

 him to take up the work which he himself had been 

 obliged to relinquish. My father, after due considera- 

 tion, consented. And so, in 1868, he found himself 

 responsible at the cathedral for the greatest service of 

 all the year, with the musical .department resting upon 



